Ebenezer Baptist Church

One hundred and fifty years ago, Ebenezer Baptist Church was founded by a small group of Christians who migrated from Virginia and two natives of New Brunswick, Hannibal Brown and his mother, Mrs. Betsey Ann Brown. Services were held in the members’ homes.

Ebenezer is the daughter of the First Baptist Church of New Brunswick who poured out spiritual and financial support for many years. The first church, whose edifice faced Comstock Street, was built in April 1875 on the land that was bequeathed to us by Samuel Ballard, a resident, and trustee of the First Baptist Church. Reverend William Wallace was the first pastor.

The Church was incorporated July 14, 1913, after a notice was posted ten days prior at a place where members assembled for public worship at the church building corner of Lee Avenue and Comstock Street. Fifty members were present and the church was named Ebenezer Baptist Church out of respect for the devout founder Mr. Ebenezer Midgett.

In May 1922, First Baptist Church, under the pastorate of Rev. J. Bruce Gilman, turned over the property to Ebenezer free and clear. Under the leadership of Reverend Charles C. Weathers, the ground was broken for the present building on Sunday, August 12, 1923. The church was completed in 1926 at a cost of $40,000. Ebenezer Baptist Church is the third oldest Baptist church established by blacks in New Jersey.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, the block of the street where Ebenezer stands was re-named “Rev. Dr. Lonnie Ford Place” in honor of Dr. Ford who was Ebenezer’s pastor for nearly 32 years, the longest period of leadership for any other pastor in Ebenezer’s history.

The Reverend Dr. Gregory L. Wallace, Ebenezer's fourteenth pastor, retired on June 6, 2021, after serving for twelve years.

Today, Reverend Lauren M. Carrington serves as the Interim Pastor. She is the first woman to serve in this capacity at Ebenezer.