Since 1854, Central Church has been a gospel witness to our surrounding community. Engaging worship, Bible-based teaching, quality Kids and Student programs, and local and global missions outreach have been our priorities. We invite you to learn more about who we are and what we believe! We hope that you will consider joining us on an upcoming Sunday!
This brief history does not cover every pastor and everything that took place over the 170 year period, but instead highlights significant events and leaders that had pivotal impact and reveals God’s faithfulness through the years..
“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” –Hebrews 10:24-25
In October 1853, the NJ Baptist State Convention sent Reverend James T. Wilcox to guide the revival of Second Baptist church, which was facing financial struggles after a church split. By April 30th, 1854, a small group of nine men and twenty women decided to reshape their identity as the Central Baptist Church of Trenton, the name emphasizing their central location in the city on the corner of East Hanover & North Montgomery Streets.
As the year 1861 dawned, the United States found itself on the brink of Civil War. In response to the nation’s call to arms, then Pastor George Darrow bravely volunteered to serve as a chaplain in the Union army on January 14, 1861. The church organized a Central Baptist Boys Brigade to get young men ready to fight in the Union army through training in leadership skills, discipline, Godly character and teamwork. Many of the students went on to fight in the Civil War.
Amid the darkness of the Civil War and without a senior pastor to guide them, a group of church officers embarked on a bold venture to raise significant funds for a remodeling project. With the arrival of Reverend Thomas S. Griffiths in 1863, the church swiftly expanded the building project to accommodate the growing number of worshippers. On March 4, 1864, a larger 700 seat sanctuary was dedicated free of debt because the final $3,000 of the $7,000 cost was raised that day. The church continued to grow, and at one time there were 11 prayer meetings and five Sunday school sessions every week! The courage of leaders like Pastor Darrow and Pastor Griffiths, and the steadfast commitment of the congregation during challenging times laid the foundation for a new phase of growth and spiritual renewal at Central Baptist Church.
During the reconstruction era between 1870 – 1895, there were a series of six pastors to lead the church. After the financial panic of 1873, finances became so strained that the church deeded the parsonage to the pastor in lieu of salary. Gradually, Trenton emerged as a major manufacturing hub for various industries like rubber, wire rope, ceramics, and cigars, and plumbing – leading to the iconic slogan “Trenton Makes, The World Takes.” Dr. Albert Wishart played a pivotal role in advancing the church into the 20th century, with progressive sermons that drew large crowds and fueled church growth and influence.
Reverend Don Clyde Kite shepherded the congregation for 29 years through the tumultuous years of WWI, the Great Depression, and the entry of the U.S. into WWII. When the financial crisis of the depression led to a mounting church debt of $50,000, several affluent church members stepped forward in 1941, liquidating their assets to raise $32,000. The Trenton Savings Fund Society demonstrated great generosity by adjusting loan terms to provide relief during these challenging times.
As millions of men and women enlisted in the armed forces and headed overseas for WWII, those remaining on the home front rallied behind the war effort in various capacities, bringing about a profound sense of unity and purpose within the church community. Women from the church joined the workforce in Trenton’s factories to contribute to winning the war. The church actively engaged with soldiers from Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base by organizing social events, and hosting card parties to raise funds for missions. The church’s financial support relied primarily on pledges from wealthy individuals rather than regular contributions from the congregation as a whole.
In 1944, the church experienced a significant shift when Dr. David W. Allen assumed the role of senior pastor. In his first year, Dr. Allen made the bold decision to discontinue soldier socials, card parties, and financial pledging. Instead, he encouraged the entire church community to place their trust in the Lord and embrace the practice of regular giving. This marked the beginning of Dr. Allen’s remarkable 38 year tenure as the pastor of Central Baptist Church, during which his conservative fundamental preaching brought about a spiritually revitalizing change within the congregation. Our church gym is named Allen Hall after the late Dr. David W. Allen.
By the late 1950s, a significant number of church members had shifted their residences from the urban setting to the suburbs, in part due to growing concerns about downtown Trenton’s parking challenges and rising crime rates. In response to these issues, the church successfully acquired 4.5 acres in Ewing Township, situated opposite Trenton State College. In 1957, after 103 years in its original location, Central moved to a new building on Pennington Road which continues to serve as the church’s home today. Over the next two decades, the church added other functional spaces such as a nursery wing, education building, and gym.
The Ministry of Central expanded over the next few decades. Central’s radio ministry broadcasted weekly sermons live to local listeners and beyond, expanding Central’s gospel reach to those outside the Ewing area. A bookstore operated from the church for more than 30 years; Mercer Christian Academy was housed in our facility from 1971 to 2005. After Pastor Allen retired in 1982, Pastor Bruce Benson led the church for four years, and sent Pastor Tyrone Perkins (shown far left in picture) to plant Westside Bible Baptist Church in West Trenton in 1988. During Pastor Ted Harmon’s leadership from 1989 – 1998, there was an increase in young families, and a second worship service was added in 1993 before the well attended Sunday school hour.
Pastor Richard Gay served as Pastor from 1999 – 2019 with a passionate vision to reach the next generation. In his tenure, the church added contemporary style worship services in addition to the classic service. In 2008 Pastor Anthony Gilmer was hired as the Pastor of Spiritual Development and implemented Life Groups. A $6M expansion project modernized the sanctuary, and added a large fellowship mall entry space, and additional office and nursery space. When the new facility opened in 2009, the church was given a new logo and a new name that would focus more on Christ and not religious traditions: “Central: A Christ-Centered Church.”
In Pastor Gay’s tenure, an Elder led leadership model was adopted, and a new Vision Statement was created to further explain how God uniquely shaped Central: “We will be a diverse community following Christ anywhere bringing hope to the hurting.”
In 2017, Pastor Anthony was sent to plant Transformation Church in Trenton with Antonio Bellamy from Stone Hill Church of Princeton; he returned to Central in 2019 once the new church was established.
Pastor Gay’s Easter Sunday message of 2019 would be his last, dying from a heart attack later that week. For 20 years he served as Senior Pastor of Central and was known by his church family as a loving shepherd who served and counseled whoever was in need.
After Pastor Gay’s sudden passing, the church body united in grief and a shared passion to continue the vision that God had given. However, in March 2020, the COVID pandemic became a worldwide disruptive force. In person worship services were stopped, and online ministry efforts ramped up, providing an opportunity to worship together virtually on Sunday mornings and throughout the week in online life groups. Outdoor worship services were another way to gather together safely. In the spring of 2021, in person services resumed. During a time when the world was isolated and divided over issues of COVID, politics, and racial justice, God kept us unified and growing stronger together.
While attendance declined significantly during the pandemic, Central started to grow again as people began seeking answers and hope in a lonely world. To better prepare for the future, the church pastoral leadership structure was changed to a shared leadership model, where multiple lead pastors serve collaboratively. Pastor Anthony Gilmer was installed as our first Lead Pastor in November of 2020. Pastor Tyrone Perkins, after pastoring Central’s church plant, Westside Bible Baptist, for over 30 years, was hired as an Associate Pastor in 2022.
God continues to move powerfully among the congregation! Central is welcoming a vibrant array of new and diverse individuals, resulting in steady growth in both in-person and online services. Participation in Life Groups is steadily increasing, along with an encouraging rise in professions of faith and baptisms. Intentional efforts to deepen community connections have been made, reaching out to local universities, fire and police departments, and establishing partnerships with nonprofits dedicated to addressing the physical needs of residents. Reflecting on the remarkable journey of faith throughout its 170+ year history, Central remains resolute in trusting God and relying on His guidance as it prepares for what lies ahead.
