North Baptist Church

“North Baptist Church is located on Lincoln St., near Delaware Ave. Philip McDowell had coopershops located on the present site of the State Armory. He made barrels for the flour millers located on the Brandywine Creek. A small village surrounded these shops and it was called McDowellville. Mr. McDowell built a small chapel on the n. w. cor. of 11th and Dupont Sts., which he turned over to Delaware Avenue Baptist Church in 1871, to be used as a mission. It was known locally as the “Little Baptist Church.” Each year the members would gather up all of the children in the neighborhood and take them on a day-excursion to Penn’s Grove, N. J., where a pier and an amusement park were available.

The Wil. Baptist City Mission built a small mission building on Lincoln. St., near Delaware Ave., where the Lincoln Street Baptist Mission was organized in September, 1883. In December, 1888, Bethany Baptist Church purchased the property and took charge of the mission on Dec. 30, 1888.

In October, 1887, the Little Baptist Church at McDowellville combined with the Lincoln Street Mission. The chapel on Lincoln St. was rebuilt, sheathed with slate and a corner-stone was laid. The Sunday School room was opened on Sun., Feb. 19, 1888. The chapel was dedicated on Sun., Feb. -26, 1888, at 3 o’clock with the Rev. Moses Heath, presiding. The Rev. Henry G. Weston, D.D., President of Crozer Theological Seminary, preached the dedicatory sermon. Talks were given by the Rev. R. B. Cook and Washington Jones. The evening service was conducted by the Rev. George W. Quick.

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Text Source:

1. Frank R. Zebley, The Churches of Delaware, Wilmington, Delaware, 1947, p. 28.