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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
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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 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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