Abyssinian Baptist Church
This image show 132 West 138 Street. This is the location of the Abyssinian Baptist Church. Image: Block 2006, Lot 52. Source: 1940s Tax Department photographs, New York City Municipal Archives,
https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_57c73d75-e980-40f8-8bdf-a80272ed6caf/ Date: 1939-1941
“The most popular religious denomination in Harlem is the Baptist, and Harlem has the world’s largest church of that denomination, Negro or white—the ABYSSINIAN BAPTIST CHURCH, 132 West 138th Street. Founded in 1808, it is the largest, oldest, and most influential Negro church in New York. It has a membership of more than 13,000, and more than thirty auxiliaries of the church are actively engaged in religious and community services, including a forum where Negro and white men and women of national prominence speak. Its pastor is the Reverend A. Clayton Powell, Jr., outstanding civic leader. The building, erected in 1923 at a cost of $334,000, is an imposing structure of New York blue stone. Of combined Gothic and Tudor styles, it was designed by a Negro architect, Charles W. Bolton, and has served as a model for other churches in New York and elsewhere” (New York City Guide, pp. 263-264).
Rev. Dr. Adam Clayton Powell preached to his congregation a convincing speech to move the Abyssinian Church to Harlem (Osofsky, 115). This church took advantage of low prices in Harlem and increased property values, to sale their property and buy at a lower cost at Harlem (Osofsky, 115).
Images
This image show 132 West 138 Street. This is the location of the Abyssinian Baptist Church. Image: Block 2006, Lot 52. Source: 1940s Tax Department photographs, New York City Municipal Archives,
https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_57c73d75-e980-40f8-8bdf-a80272ed6caf/ Date: 1939-1941
A newspaper photograph of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City from 1921. Source: Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division.
Accessed through: The New York Public Library Digital Collection.
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-a0da-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 Date: 1921
This image was taken in 1983 at 132 West 138 Street. This is the location of the Abyssinian Baptist Church. Image: Block 2006, Lot 52. There is not much of a change between the 1940s and 1980s photographs. The building has a Gothic architectural style that proves to be strong and resistant to damage. Source: 1980s Tax Department photographs, New York City Municipal Archives,
https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_6c3294f2-e526-467e-8c76-3c86a38bbed4/ Date: 1983-1988
This is a Google Street View image captured Nov 2022. It shows the outside of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, which is still in great condition. The most notable difference is the street as there was more space in the 1940s. A small fence has been added to surround the church. The sturdiness of the architectural design is proven by the street view of the church. Source: Google Maps, Street View.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Abyssinian+Baptist+Church/@40.8164074,-73.9415744,18z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x89c2f677317e3c3f:0x703067455694ba12!2sThe+Abyssinian+Baptist+Church!8m2!3d40.8166821!4d-73.9415561!16zL20vMDV6ODVs!3m5!1s0x89c2f677317e3c3f:0x703067455694ba12!8m2!3d40.8166821!4d-73.9415561!16zL20vMDV6ODVs?entry=ttu Date: Nov. 2022
Bounded by W. 139th Street, Lenox Avenue, W. 133rd Street and Eighth Avenue, Plate 151 The Abyssinian Baptist Church is found on Block 2006, Lot 52. Source: Lanbook of the Borough of Manhattan City of New York (Bromley, 1925).
Accessed through: The New York Public Library Digital Collection.
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e2-0b27-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 Date: 1925