The History of Princeton

PULSE

(Pride Unity Leadership Sisterhood Esteem)

of Princeton High School

presents

The History of the African American Community in Princeton, New Jersey

CHURCHES

Religion was foremost to the colored residents. Before churches were built, services were held in some residents' homes.

1
Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church, located on the corner of Witherspoon and Maclean Streets, is the oldest Black Church in Princeton. In 1832, it was organized by Samson Peters, a preacher at the Trenton AME Church. The congregation met in a house on Witherspoon Street until 1835 when the first church building was constructed. The present structure was built in 1860. A tiny cemetery next to the church shows dates on the tombstones dating back to the 1850's.

2
Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church is located on the corner of Witherspoon and Quarry Streets. Members, who left the First Presbyterian Church on Nassau Street, started worshipping in what was then the First Presbyterian Church of Color, in 1837. The first communion was in 1840 which is the date given for the church's beginnning. Reverend William Drew Robeson, father of Paul Robeson, was a minister at Witherspoon for 21 years (1880-1901). Through the years church leaders and members spoke against slavery, led the effort to build Princeton's first integrated housing development in the 1950's and were active in the Civil Rights Movement.

Betsey Stockton started a Sabbath School at Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church.

3
First Baptist Church - corner of John Street and Paul Robeson Place.

The First Baptist Church is located on Paul Robeson Place. Formally known as the Bright Hope Baptist Church, it started as a prayer group in 1880 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Jackson who lived at 11 Green Street.

After moving to the Pat Riley house on Witherspoon Street, then Odd Fellow Hall (previously the Witherspoon School for Colored Children) the congregation purchased a plot and built their church in 1885. In 1930 the Church's name was changed to the First Baptist Church.

In 1958 the pastor, Reverend Parker, along with church and community members fought against a plan by the Mayor and Borough of Princeton to move the church from its present location. This was another time in the history of the African American community that an attempt was made to displace houses and establishments in what is known as the Witherspoon-Jackson community.

4
The Morning Star Church of God in Christ is located on Birch Avenue. The congregation worshipped in a small house next to the present building. The church was chartered on the fourth Sunday in June, 1941 and the present building was built in 1952.