Dobbs Ferry
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Union Baptist Church
The Beginning:
The history of Union Baptist Church began in May 1914 when seven God-fearing souls assembled together and built a church in the Manhattan Park area of Greenburgh. Manhattan Park was considered a rural settlement on the western outskirts of White Plains now known as Fairview. As far as it is known, those assembled on that historic May 1914 occasion included the first Pastor, Reverend Willis Coles; Mr. and Mrs. William Alston; Mrs. Amelia Coleman; Mrs. Julia Twine; and the first Chairman of Deacons, Mr. William Sledge and Mrs. Sledge.
The Grace
In 1918, Reverend Coles resigned due to the illness of his wife. In 1919 Reverend Louis W. Hughes was called from Peekskill, New York to pastor Union. Thus began an era that spanned nearly 43 years in which Union grew from the little one-room church on Elm Street to a primary institution in the White Plains/Greenburgh community. Under Reverend Hughes' direction, the present brick church was completed in 1928 at what was then considered an exorbitant cost of $60,000. There are still some in Union (Mrs. Virginia Hughes Henry and Mrs. Frances Hughes Bason, daughters of Reverend Hughes) who remember that glorious "Moving Up" Sunday, when the entire church body marched ceremoniously from Elm Street up to the big, new brick church on Manhattan Avenue to worship for the first time. Under Reverend Hughes' strong leadership, the church thrived and continued to grow through the Depression and two world wars.In 1955, the church was expanded with the addition of the Annex at a cost of $55,000.
The Sustenance
In December 1961, following an illness, Reverend Hughes died. In December of 1963, Reverend Charles Churn, Jr. was installed as pastor. Under his twelve year tenure, several programs were initiated. Four programs of note are: Alcoholics Anonymous; a Radio Ministry; the Union Baptist Greenburgh-Federal Credit Union; and the Union Child Day Care Center - now the Lois Bronz Child Care Center.
In June of 1976, Reverend Robert Lewis Mason was installed as pastor of Union Baptist Church. His tenure was earmarked by establishing a men's fellowship group, the founding of Union C.A.R.E.S, the purchase of a larger parsonage and the provision of a food service program for the homeless. Union also purchased property adjacent to the church for future expansion.
The Vision
After Reverend Mason accepted the call to another church, our prayers for a new Shepherd were answered when the congregation, being led of the Holy Spirit, received Reverend Dr. Verlin Darek Williams as Pastor on March 20, 1994. Pastor Williams, his wife Dorothy and their daughter, Candacee, joined our church family.
During Pastor Williams' leadership, Union's many accomplishments have included: the May 1995 renovation of the lower level of the church which resulted in a Fellowship Hall dedicated in honor of Deacon Grover Jones, Sr. The church's mortgage was also burned in December of that year. During Pastor Williams' tenure, Union's ministries have expanded to include:
In 1996, Union Baptist Church hired Minister of Music, Lisa D. Nelson. Under Lisa's leadership, Union's Music Ministry has consolidated choirs, and our choir director, Sister Vermel Robinson, has expanded the children's musical praise participation to unprecedented levels.Pastor Williams has labored for 16 years teaching and preaching the Word of God and motivating the disciples at Union to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church theme, "A Redeemed People, Growing, Going, and Giving for Christ", was developed in 2000 and describes who we are as a Church Family. The Church shield (our logo) was designed by Mr. Jonas Florance and has become the Union Baptist Ministry trademark.Pastor Williams, supported by Mr. Nathan Dolman, Chairman of Deacons, Mr. Thomas Grayman, Chairman of Trustees, Mrs. Lisa Moore and her successor Mrs. Rhonda Clark, Chairwoman of Deaconess, along with administrative staff, ministry leaders and members, by the grace of God broke ground for the new Worship Center in May 2007. In October 2009, the Church body celebrated the Grand Entrance into the new edifice.Glory to God for the great things He has done.
The history of Union Baptist Church began in May 1914 when seven God-fearing souls assembled together and built a church in the Manhattan Park area of Greenburgh. Manhattan Park was considered a rural settlement on the western outskirts of White Plains now known as Fairview. As far as it is known, those assembled on that historic May 1914 occasion included the first Pastor, Reverend Willis Coles; Mr. and Mrs. William Alston; Mrs. Amelia Coleman; Mrs. Julia Twine; and the first Chairman of Deacons, Mr. William Sledge and Mrs. Sledge.
The Grace
In 1918, Reverend Coles resigned due to the illness of his wife. In 1919 Reverend Louis W. Hughes was called from Peekskill, New York to pastor Union. Thus began an era that spanned nearly 43 years in which Union grew from the little one-room church on Elm Street to a primary institution in the White Plains/Greenburgh community. Under Reverend Hughes' direction, the present brick church was completed in 1928 at what was then considered an exorbitant cost of $60,000. There are still some in Union (Mrs. Virginia Hughes Henry and Mrs. Frances Hughes Bason, daughters of Reverend Hughes) who remember that glorious "Moving Up" Sunday, when the entire church body marched ceremoniously from Elm Street up to the big, new brick church on Manhattan Avenue to worship for the first time. Under Reverend Hughes' strong leadership, the church thrived and continued to grow through the Depression and two world wars.In 1955, the church was expanded with the addition of the Annex at a cost of $55,000.
The Sustenance
In December 1961, following an illness, Reverend Hughes died. In December of 1963, Reverend Charles Churn, Jr. was installed as pastor. Under his twelve year tenure, several programs were initiated. Four programs of note are: Alcoholics Anonymous; a Radio Ministry; the Union Baptist Greenburgh-Federal Credit Union; and the Union Child Day Care Center - now the Lois Bronz Child Care Center.
In June of 1976, Reverend Robert Lewis Mason was installed as pastor of Union Baptist Church. His tenure was earmarked by establishing a men's fellowship group, the founding of Union C.A.R.E.S, the purchase of a larger parsonage and the provision of a food service program for the homeless. Union also purchased property adjacent to the church for future expansion.
The Vision
After Reverend Mason accepted the call to another church, our prayers for a new Shepherd were answered when the congregation, being led of the Holy Spirit, received Reverend Dr. Verlin Darek Williams as Pastor on March 20, 1994. Pastor Williams, his wife Dorothy and their daughter, Candacee, joined our church family.
During Pastor Williams' leadership, Union's many accomplishments have included: the May 1995 renovation of the lower level of the church which resulted in a Fellowship Hall dedicated in honor of Deacon Grover Jones, Sr. The church's mortgage was also burned in December of that year. During Pastor Williams' tenure, Union's ministries have expanded to include:
In 1996, Union Baptist Church hired Minister of Music, Lisa D. Nelson. Under Lisa's leadership, Union's Music Ministry has consolidated choirs, and our choir director, Sister Vermel Robinson, has expanded the children's musical praise participation to unprecedented levels.Pastor Williams has labored for 16 years teaching and preaching the Word of God and motivating the disciples at Union to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church theme, "A Redeemed People, Growing, Going, and Giving for Christ", was developed in 2000 and describes who we are as a Church Family. The Church shield (our logo) was designed by Mr. Jonas Florance and has become the Union Baptist Ministry trademark.Pastor Williams, supported by Mr. Nathan Dolman, Chairman of Deacons, Mr. Thomas Grayman, Chairman of Trustees, Mrs. Lisa Moore and her successor Mrs. Rhonda Clark, Chairwoman of Deaconess, along with administrative staff, ministry leaders and members, by the grace of God broke ground for the new Worship Center in May 2007. In October 2009, the Church body celebrated the Grand Entrance into the new edifice.Glory to God for the great things He has done.