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Mount Aery
Baptist Church draws its name from the Biblical Mount Ararat
where Noah's Ark is believed to have come to its final rest.
The church had its beginning in the home of Mrs. Simon Woods
at 36 Wallace Street, in 1923. From Mrs. Woods' home, the
group moved to a storefront on Hurd and Goodsell Street. The
original members were Reverend James D. Wilson, his wife, Mrs.
Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Gomes, Mr. and Mrs. David Thomas
and Mrs. Jessie Steward Edwards.
In the year
1925, the group was compelled to move because of lack of
space. A site at 86 Wallace Street was purchased. How proud
the congregation was to march from Hurd and Goodsell Streets
to the Wallace Street site.The
church was incorporated January 15,
1926. As time passed and more room was
needed, the lot across from 86 Wallace
Street was purchased and in 1938, the
congregation
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Old Mount Aery on
Wallace Street. |
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marched across the
street to 73 Wallace Street. Reverend
Wilson passed in 1941 and
Reverend Arthur C. Bass was called as
the second pastor. The mortgage of 73
Wallace Street was burned in 1943 under
his leadership.
Also under his
pastorate, rental property next to the
church, 63-65 Wallace Street was
purchased.
Reverend Bass served as pastor for 30
years. He went home to be with the Lord
in 1972.
The Reverend David Smalls was
called to pastor the church on January
21, 1973 as the third pastor. The
church benefited educationally by
reactivating classes in Bible and
Baptist Doctrine. The residence of the
late Reverend Bass at 386 Greenwood
Street was purchased for use as a
parsonage. Reverend Small passed in
1975.
In December of 1975, the congregation
called Reverend Fredrick Jerome Streets
to serve as pastor. The building fund
was instituted , and a property was
purchased from Kaufman Electronics for
$169,000 at 73 Frank Street. Under the
leadership of Reverend Fredrick Jerome
Streets, our new church is a reality.
A consortium of seven banks namely; Bank One of Connecticut,
Lafayette Bank and Trust, Mechanics & Farmers Bank,
Connecticut National Bank, Union Trust Bank, State National
Bank of Connecticut, and Peoples Bank financed its
construction. With God's blessings, on April 28, 1981 the
groundbreaking for 73 Frank Street church site took place.
The design for the new church building was inspired by Mark
15:38; "And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from
top to bottom." The architectural design; a square, divided
by the windows from top to bottom, allows the focal point,
the cross, to be visible from the interior of the main
sanctuary. The cross was raised on Maundy Thursday, April 8,
1982.On Easter Sunday, 1992, after seventeen years of diligent labor,
many hearts were broken when God called Reverend Streets to the
larger community of Yale University to assume the post of University
Chaplain.
In April of 1994,
Reverend Anthony L. Bennett was called as the fifth pastor.
Under the Gospel teaching ministry of Pastor Bennett, Mount
Aery has seen a significant increase in spiritual growth and
leadership development. Additional attention has been given
to the training of officers and leaders in the church. Mount
Aery has deepened its commitment to extend itself to the
Bridgeport community. Various ministries are being
established to meet the growing needs of the church and the
community.
On Resurrection Sunday 2002, by the divine principle of
Faith Claiming the
Mountain, Not Equal Giving But Equal Sacrifice,
Dr. Bennett and Mount Aery gave sacrificially to successfully
complete its 1996 goal to liquidate the balance of the church
mortgage, which at that time totaled over $777,000. Mount Aery
honors its founding disciples for without their sacrifices, prayers
and faith in God, this current triumph would not be possible. Mount Aery Baptist Church has served and continues to serve as a
strong beacon of hope to its congregation and to the community by
providing sound spiritual leadership and charitable support for many
religious, civic, and community efforts. Through the consistent
commitment to improve the lives of others, the disciples and
ministries of Mount Aery Baptist Church will continue to help expand
the cause of Christian Faith. We Diligently strive to advance the
work of the church, serve others effectively to sufficiently meet
the needs of the community.
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