Church History
Zion's History - The First Fifty Years!
Our history began in 1892 in the little home of the late Grandmother Strothers just across the street from the present church. Although the children of white Baptists attended Sunday School in a small frame building known as Whelan’s Hall, there was no Baptist Church for African-Americans to join between 1875 and 1893 in Ardmore. Blacks supported the church financially and helped raise money to build First Baptist Church of Ardmore. However, soon after the new church was built, some of the white members became concerned that too many Negroes were attending. Some of those attending the prayer meetings already being held in the home of Caroline Strother, were Emerson Stewart, Essex Reid, Carl C. Conway, David Lewis, Annie Wealler, William Bagsby and Robert Wright. After much prayer and a little planning, there was a vote to break away from First Baptist and organize a new church, which would be called Zion Baptist Church. Reverend Jeremiah P. Gregory presented the charter of Zion as a Baptist church on March 8, 1894, under the auspices of “Mother Zion” Baptist Church of Philadelphia. The thirty charter members included: James Byrd, Mary Byrd, Mary Harris, Lucy Overton, Joseph Strother, Joseph Price, Essex Reid, Caroline Strother, Carl Conway, Emerson Stewart, David Lewis, Annie Wealler, William Bagsby, Robert Wright, Abraham Armistead, Charlotte Armistead and York Nelson. Rev. Whelem from the Philadelphia Church was the supply minister, and later came consecutively Rev. Hewlitt, Rev. Cunningham, Rev. Thompson, Rev. Tilghman , Rev. Rich. Rev. Banks, Rev. Jones, and Rev. Pollard.
The first structure was a 10 x 15 foot room in a small-framed building supplied by First Baptist Church on the northeast corner of Cricket Avenue, opposite the present location of Merrick’s Apothecary. In 1894, a 90 x 263 foot lot was purchased for $1200 on the northwest corner of Greenfield and Spring Avenues. Essex Reid and Carl Conway were largely responsible for the sum of $1100 being paid immediately after the purchase. An ice cream parlor located on Lancaster Avenue where the old Ardmore Trolley Station and now Bella Italia stand, was moved to the newly purchased location and served as the main sanctuary until 1899. The foundation for the present church was laid in 1895 and construction was completed in 1899. The original frame building served as chapel until it was destroyed by fire in 1913.
The first wedding performed by Reverend John D. Hewlett in Zion was Abraham L. Armistead and Louise E. Hayes. Under the pastorate of Reverend E. Luther Cunningham, internal conflict around 1906 led to a split in the congregation. Those who left Zion formed their own church, which became Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Ardmore. Reverend John W. Thompson succeeded Reverend Cunningham. In May 1911, Reverend H. B. Tilghman became pastor of Zion, and in 1915, the chapel was rebuilt. Reverend Joseph B. Rich, followed Reverend Tilghman, who died in 1918. A new parsonage was built and he started a credit union to help members toward financial self-sufficiency. After sixteen years, Reverend Rich resigned and Reverend Joseph J. Banks was called in May 1935.
During his ten years of service Zion reached the Acme. Some of the highlights were an entire new roof at a cost of more than a thousand dollars, an entire set of new lights, new carpet on the floor, and the church was completely painted. Then in January 1944 a mortgage of more than $9,000.00 and of more than twenty years standing was burned by the pastor and congregation leaving Zion proud and free of debt.
The grand old Ship has reached is port, under the leadership of our very capable Pastor Rev. Dr. Banks, assisted by the Deacon Board of which B.W. Hill is Chairman; The Trustee Board with J. Ernest Lewis Chairman, the Mission Circle doing the work of the Master far and wide under the leadership of Mrs. Selenia Smith, the Senior Choir with Mss Lucy Sledge as President; the Banks Inspirational Chorus, organized and named for the Pastor, with Mrs. Sarah Banks as the President; The Ladies Aid Society with Mrs. Lillian Yates as President; The Star of Bethlehem Club, named for the Star of Bethlehem Church in Ossining, New York, of which the pastor was the builder, and this is also the Flower Club with Mrs. Angelee Newton as the President; the Ladies Usher Board, the largest usher board on the Main Line and one of Zion’s greatest financiers and the president Mrs. Luvenia Lewis has been its leader for the past thirty-three years since it was organized; the Men’s Usher board with Mr. Wilmon Smith as its President; The Junior Ushers, with Mrs. Eva Butler as its Supervisor and last but not least the worthy leader of the Youth of the Church Mr. W.W. Hines, Superintendent of the Sunday School.