Join us as we celebrate Thanksgiving in a Spectacular way
November 15, 2008 at the Union County Performance Arts Center :
Tickets may be purchased online at www.UCPAC.org, onsite at the UCPAC Box Office (732)499-8226 or at the St. Paul Baptist Church Administrators Office, 85 Hamilton Street, Somerville, NJ (908) 722-0217 or 2103. 
THE HISTORY OF ST. PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH
The St. Paul Baptist Church began as a Mission over 75 years ago when various ministers came to Somerville at different times and ran services for short periods. Among them were the Rev. Mrs. Brickhouse of Philadelphia and Mr. Henry Vanderveer.
Rev. Joseph Aaron Lacy came to Somerville in 1926 and revived the mission on December 10th. On February 20, 1927, Rev. Lacy properly organized the mission as the St. Paul Baptist Church with recognition from the permanent council of churches of the New Jersey State convention with Rev. Lacy as pastor.
The following persons, members of the mission became members of the church: Richard Van Ness, Jerry James, Mary Clark, Junious Clark, Frances Lacy and William Sermons. After the mission was properly organized, gradually new members were added and on May 9, 1929 a deposit of $150. was placed on two lots at Third and Hamilton Streets and later lost.
Rev. Lacy resigned as pastor and the Rev. Charles A. Collier of Westfield, NJ answered the call on May 29, 1930. At this point in time the meetings were being held at 51 Hamilton Street.
On July 15, 1931 the church purchased a house and a lot (present church site) for the sum of $1500. After rendering four years of faithful service Rev. Collier resigned on August 31, 1934 and was succeeded by Rev. Henry L. Morgan of South Orange, NJ. Rev. Morgan served from January 1935 to November 1, 1940.
In 1936, the Rev. Cornelius H. White joined the church and was placed on the trustee board as honorary trustee. Later, he assisted Rev. Walter H. Williams who began his pastorate on a trial basis on July 1, 1941. Among Rev. White’s self-made contributions to the church were the illuminated cross which now hangs in the Sanctuary. He assisted Rev. W.H. Williams until his death on January 13, 1957.
Under Rev. Williams untiring efforts, the church began to rise again to the hopes once anticipated by the few faithful members who worked unceasingly from the days of the mission, and in June 1942, the mortgage on the church property was paid in full. In 1947, Rev. Williams with his officers broke ground for a new church building. A year later the basement was completed and used for worship purposes.
One of the greatest achievements of the church was reached on September 27, 1953 when the new building with its new pews and furnishings and a Hammond organ was dedicated. The cornerstone for this building was laid on June 6, 1954 and a few months later the Baptismal Pool was installed. The entire indebtedness of the church was paid and on Sunday, November 25, 1956 a public mortgage-burning service was held, culminating three decades of Faith, Works and Perseverance.
Rev. Williams remained as pastor until his death in March 1970. During the few remaining months of Rev. Williams’ illness, Rev. William Brockett of Madison, NJ began serving as Pastor. Under Rev. Brockett’s preaching and teaching, the St. Paul congregation reached a new level of insight into the world of Christian life and duty. During his ministry here, it was the privilege of the officers and members to burn the mortgage on a forty thousand dollar piece of property on Southside Avenue. Rev. Brockett resigned in October 1972 and was succeeded by the Rev. Zebedee Lawton of Linden, NJ. Rev. Lawton served faithfully until his resignation December 31, 1976. Rev. James E. Sherman, Sr. succeeded Rev. Lawton on a three-month trial basis and became permanent pastor on June 22, 1977. Under Rev. Sherman’s leadership many new members were added to the church. Rev. Sherman left St. Paul in 1979.
Rev. Mitchell A. Walton accepted the call to pastor St. Paul Baptist Church on January 25, 1981 . Under Rev. Walton's leadership the focus was upon living a Christ Centered Life. The Vision for life commitment and purpose was "A Sanctified People In A Sanctified House Serving A Sovereign God". Under his leadership in 1984 the church purchased additional Real Estate, which was rental properties. In 1985, the $50,000 mortgage for the church was burned during the Church Anniversary Services. In 1986, the Church purchased a new van. In 1989, the parking lot was resurfaced, the bathrooms were renovated and we completed the payment on the Church’ van. In January of 2002, God implemented changes on the St. Paul Church congregation to move His Church forward in the direction He had already plan for this congregation. Rev. Walton was then moved to another area of the Somerset Community and a ‘New Ministry’ was brought forward for the St. Paul Church family.
At the start of that ‘new ministry’, we were spiritually led by the Chairman of the Deacon Board, Deacon Henry Jones. Deacon Jones was instrumental in arranging all guest ministers and in keeping the St. Paul Baptist Church family together. We thank Deacon Jones for his untiring and undemanding efforts in keeping St. Paul Baptist Church active.
St. Paul Baptist Church has been blessed with a new Under Shepherd, Rev. Reggie Hall Sr. Pastor Hall was ordained in the Baptist Faith on February 22, 2004 and installed as pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church on March 28, 2004.
May God continue to bless our endeavors as we in fear and trembling, work out the salvation of our individual souls. We are working not in order to be saved, but because we are grateful for having been saved by the Grace of God.
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Be it resolved that the purpose of this church, St. Paul Baptist Church, Somerville, NJ, shall be the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. It shall seek to attain this through the public worship of God, the preaching of the gospel, consistent Christian living by its members, personal evangelism, missionary endeavors and Christian education.