1 10 2 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/30b353a2f43f046d8559a12b9f2feba6.jpg 4b86ebaab407ec435f668fb2ef003e37 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/e304c1260a4659d49fb202d5ee43c67e.jpg 6a9ce1b9ea0b324ba183bbed356ae575 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/2ec155aed7b99e8c6de1374b64c872e6.jpg aa3ee5347287843f75a4b3ac465fc631 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/42d3fbeb3de7c68dfb035ffb50bf07bd.jpg 63e95e20ffc2c245d350cefaf18f27d0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Date Started 1880 Type of Institution Religious Source of File Attached Colman, David. "Bethany Presbyterian Church." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bethany Presbyterian Church Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Bethany Church organized in 1915." The Record, 8 Sep. 1949, p. 24. Supik, Wilma. "The 'serving' church." The Record, 11 Apr. 1980, p. A17 Description An account of the resource Bethany Presbyterian Church has been one of the most important institutions in the history of Englewood, New Jersey. For more than a century, the church has served as a center of worship, education, cultural life, and civic leadership within the city’s African American community. Its story reflects both the local history of Englewood and the broader experience of African Americans within the Presbyterian tradition. The origins of Bethany Presbyterian Church reach back to 1876, when missionary outreach began among Black residents of Englewood. At the time, many African Americans living in the community worked as domestic servants, laborers, and tradespeople serving Englewood’s wealthy households. Members of the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood organized a mission effort to provide religious instruction, Sunday school classes, and prayer meetings for these residents. By 1880, the work had developed into Calvary Mission, which held regular worship services and community gatherings. Over time the mission grew into a stable congregation with its own leadership and membership. In 1911, the church was formally organized as Bethany Presbyterian Church, becoming the third Presbyterian congregation in Englewood and the principal Presbyterian church serving African Americans in the city. The congregation soon called Rev. William E. Griffin as its first pastor. One of Bethany’s most influential early pastors was Rev. Thomas J. B. Harris, who assumed leadership of the church in 1915. Rev. Harris believed that churches should serve not only spiritual needs but also the economic and educational advancement of the community. Under his leadership Bethany established an ambitious industrial training school designed to teach practical job skills. Courses offered included instruction in: <ul> <li> carpentry </li> <li> bricklaying </li> <li> plastering </li> <li> plumbing </li> <li> electricity </li> <li> painting </li> <li> printing </li> <li> tailoring and dressmaking </li> <li> millinery and design </li> <li> domestic science </li> </ul> Classes were held in the evenings so that students could continue working during the day. The program was intended to help young people who had left school early as well as adults seeking employment opportunities. Local newspapers praised Bethany as a pioneer in vocational education in Englewood, demonstrating the church’s commitment to social advancement and community empowerment. Local newspapers praised Bethany as a pioneer in vocational education in Englewood, demonstrating the church’s commitment to social advancement and community empowerment. This commitment to uplift extended beyond education into the organization of civic and fraternal institutions within the African American community. In the years following World War I, Bethany Presbyterian Church became an important gathering place for Black veterans returning to Englewood. Many of these men had served in segregated units such as the 92nd Division, fighting for democracy abroad while facing discrimination at home. Upon their return, they sought recognition, fellowship, and opportunities to participate more fully in civic life. In January 1920, a group of these veterans assembled at Bethany Presbyterian Church to organize the Henry Douglass Post No. 222 of the American Legion. According to contemporary newspaper accounts, the meeting was attended by Colonel E. P. D. Moore and representatives of Englewood Post No. 78, who explained the mission of the Legion and emphasized the importance of national service and unity. During the meeting, Moore highlighted the “splendid record” of the 92nd Division and affirmed that Black soldiers deserved “the same recognition as other troops,” a statement that was met with strong approval by those present. The newly formed post received financial support to assist in its early development, marking the beginning of an organized network of Black veteran leadership in Englewood. At the same time, fraternal organizations were also emerging as key institutions within the community. Among them was Henry Douglass Lodge, part of the Prince Hall Masonic tradition, which provided structured opportunities for leadership development, mutual aid, and civic engagement. Like the American Legion post, the lodge reflected a broader effort by African American residents to build independent institutions that could support their social, economic, and political advancement. Together, these organizations illustrate Bethany Presbyterian Church’s role as more than a place of worship. The church functioned as a central hub where community members gathered to establish institutions that would strengthen Black civic life in Englewood. Through the formation of veteran organizations and fraternal networks, Bethany helped foster a generation of leadership rooted in service, resilience, and collective advancement. Bethany Presbyterian Church was also deeply engaged with the intellectual and political life of the African American community. One notable event reported in local newspapers was a “Triple Affair” celebration honoring the legacies of: <ul> <li> Abraham Lincoln </li> <li> Frederick Douglass </li> <li> Paul Laurence Dunbar </li> </ul> The program commemorated Lincoln’s role in emancipation, Douglass’s leadership in the abolitionist movement, and Dunbar’s contributions to American literature. The celebration included speeches, community leaders, and invited guests from local political and civic organizations. Such events demonstrate that Bethany was not only a religious institution but also a forum for African American historical memory, civic education, and cultural pride. By 1926, Bethany Presbyterian Church had become a firmly established institution in Englewood. That year the congregation celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, marking half a century of organized ministry. The anniversary program lasted an entire week and included: <ul> <li> nightly church services </li> <li> public lectures </li> <li> musical programs </li> <li> guest speakers from across Englewood’s religious community </li> </ul> Prominent ministers from local congregations participated in the celebration, including representatives from Baptist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches. The anniversary events reflected the church’s strong position within Englewood’s religious and civic life. Bethany placed strong emphasis on developing leadership among young people. Newspaper accounts describe youth-led services in which the congregation’s young members conducted the entire worship program. Junior choir members opened the service with a procession, young speakers delivered short addresses, and church youth served as ushers. These programs helped cultivate confidence and leadership skills among the church’s younger generation. The church also organized recreational activities and outings. One example was the annual Sunday school picnic, where members traveled together by trolley to Grandview Park near Paterson for a day of recreation and fellowship. Such gatherings were especially meaningful during a time when segregation limited access to many public spaces. In later decades Bethany continued to sponsor programs that combined cultural expression with community service. One event featured the gospel musical “God’s Trombone,” organized by the church’s Women’s Day Committee. The performance was staged as a fundraiser for a proposed senior citizen and child day-care center on William Street. The production brought together performers from the Paterson Community Ensemble and regional theater groups, demonstrating the church’s role as a cultural center as well as a place of worship. Bethany Presbyterian Church also welcomed nationally prominent leaders. One of the most notable events in the church’s history was a visit by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, the renowned educator, civil rights leader, and founder of Bethune-Cookman College. Bethune spoke at Bethany after being barred from delivering a scheduled address at a local school in Englewood. The church opened its doors so that the community could hear her speak, demonstrating Bethany’s willingness to challenge racial barriers and provide a platform for Black leadership. Bethune’s appearance connected the Englewood congregation to the broader movement for African American education and civil rights. Bethany also celebrated the dedication of its members. In 1962, the church honored individuals who had belonged to the congregation for fifty years or more. At the commemorative dinner, longtime member William P. Rhodes spoke with three ministers who had served the church, including former pastor Rev. Thomas J. B. Harris. Events like this reflected the church’s emphasis on continuity and collective memory. The church’s history is also reflected in the lives of its members. Obituaries reveal the many ways Bethany members contributed to Englewood’s civic life. Examples include: <ul> <li> Katherine E. Lennon, who volunteered in the church’s soup kitchen and nursery school. </li> <li> Anna Bell Smith Jackson, who served as both an elder and choir member. </li> <li> Susan E. Jones, active in the choir and the Willing Workers Club. </li> <li> Wynnell M. Perry, wife of Englewood’s Board of Education president, who participated in church organizations and community charities. </li> </ul> These records illustrate how Bethany helped nurture community leadership across generations. The story of Bethany Presbyterian Church reflects the broader experience of African Americans within the Presbyterian denomination. Historically, Presbyterian churches were often dominated by white leadership and European religious traditions. African American congregations had to navigate the challenge of maintaining cultural identity while participating in a denomination with different historical roots. Scholar Rev. Dr. Randal Jelks has described this tension as a form of cultural marginality faced by Black Presbyterians. Congregations like Bethany worked to reconcile Presbyterian theology with the traditions of the Black church and the realities of racial inequality. Bethany’s history illustrates how African American Presbyterian congregations developed their own distinctive identity within this framework. Today Bethany Presbyterian Church remains one of Englewood’s most historic institutions. From its origins as a nineteenth-century mission to its role as Englewood’s oldest Black Presbyterian congregation, the church has served as a center of faith, education, activism, and community life. Through worship services, educational programs, cultural events, and social outreach, Bethany Presbyterian Church has helped shape the history of Englewood for nearly 150 years. Its story stands as a testament to the power of religious institutions to sustain communities, cultivate leadership, and preserve cultural memory across generations. “Bethany Church Is Fifty Years Old: Anniversary Program Is Now Being Observed,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 30, 1926, p. 6. “Founded 1876 – Bethany Presbyterian Church,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 24, 1926, p. 6. “Triple Affair: Lincoln, Douglass, Dunbar Honored at Affair at Bethany Church,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), February 12, 1936, p. 10. “Industrial School Classes to Be Held,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), December 8, 1924, p. 5. “Conduct Worship: Young People in Charge of Service at Englewood Bethany Church,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 27, 1936, p. 16. “Bethany Presbyterian Church Will Picnic,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 30, 1926, p. 6. “Church Honors Parish Elders: 50-Year Members Get Bethany Tribute,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), February 12, 1962, p. 8. Lorraine Matys, “A Musical to Rival Gabriel’s Trumpet,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 6, 1983, p. 18. “Bethany Presbyterian Church Marks 103rd Anniversary,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), April 3, 1987, p. 39. “Susan E. Jones,” obituary, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 20, 1994, p. 34. “Katherine E. Lennon,” obituary, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 18, 2002, p. A36. “Anna Bell Smith Jackson,” obituary, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), July 23, 1993, p. 62. “John H. Lewis,” obituary, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), November 26, 1990, p. 27. “Eleanor Alston,” obituary, The Teaneck Suburbanite, October 16, 2002, p. A34. “Perry Services Are Tomorrow,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 27, 1966, p. 22. “Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Speaks at Bethany Church,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), July 22, 1976, p. 53. “Colored Ex-Service Men of Englewood Form Legion Post,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 10, 1920. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Subject The topic of the resource Religion, Christianity African American Religion https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/f4f9aaf102e7c98545e8653fe243c4f2.jpg 69f50642b0762245b83f67b6b081b850 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Type of Public Space School Type of Place Schools Date Started 1933-01 Source of File Attached <div></div> Type of Institution Educational Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Dwight Morrow High School Description An account of the resource Dwight Morrow High School is a public high school in Englewood. The school opened in 1932 and graduated its first class in 1934. Named after banker, ambassador, and senator, Dwight Morrow, the high school brought students together from all of the city’s four wards and became one of Englewood’s few integrated schools. It has graduated numerous notable alumni. It currently shares its campus with Academics at Englewood. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Morrow_High_School">Dwight Morrow High School</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Apr. 2024. “<a href="http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/new-jersey/districts/englewood-public-school-district/dwight-morrow-high-school-academiesatenglewood-12539">Dr. Leroy McCloud Elementary School in New Jersey</a>." U.S. News.<a href="http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/new-jersey/districts/englewood-public-school-district/dwight-morrow-high-school-academiesatenglewood-12539"></a> Subject The topic of the resource Schools, Public Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Education