Ebenezer Baptist Church
Established 1873
​
A Listing of Ebenezer’s Pastors & Interim Pastors
​
1875-1880 Rev. William Wallace
1882-1900 Rev. A. G. Young
1900-1911 Rev. E.W. Roberts
1911-1914 Rev. C.H. Parish
1914 [deceased] Rev. S. McAdams
1914-1917 Rev. D.Y. Campbell
1917-1921 Rev. Elias Jackson
1921 [8 months] Rev. J. W. Washington
1922-1930 Rev. Charles C. Weathers
1934-1940 Rev. Monte B. Gaines
1940-1960 Rev. C.H. Shelton, Pastor
1960-1969 & Pastor Emeritus
1960-1973 Rev. W. Emanuel Barrett
1973-1975 Rev. Samuel Cameron [interim]
1975-2007 Rev. Dr. Lonnie Ford
2007-2009 Rev. Dr. Gregory L. Wallace, Interim
2009-2021 & Pastor
2021-11.30.2023 Rev. Lauren M. Carrington, Interim
Dec. 2023 - present Rev. Tommy D. Miles
Over one hundred and fifty years ago, Ebenezer Baptist Church of New Brunswick, the third oldest Baptist church established by Blacks in New Jersey, was founded by a small group of Christians who migrated from Virginia and two natives of New Brunswick, Hannibal Brown and his mother, Mrs. Betsey Ann Brown. Services were held in the members’ homes.
Ebenezer is the daughter of the First Baptist Church of New Brunswick who poured out spiritual and financial support for many years. The first church, whose edifice faced Comstock Street, was built in April 1875 on the land that was bequeathed to us by Samuel Ballard, a resident, and trustee of the First Baptist Church. Reverend William Wallace was the first pastor.
The Church was incorporated July 14, 1913, after a notice was posted ten days prior at a place where members assembled for public worship at the church building corner of Lee Avenue and Comstock Street. Fifty members were present and the church was named Ebenezer Baptist Church out of respect for the devout founder Mr. Ebenezer Midgett.
In May 1922, First Baptist Church, under the pastorate of Rev. J. Bruce Gilman, turned over the property to Ebenezer free and clear. Under the leadership of Reverend Charles C. Weathers, the ground was broken for the present building on Sunday, August 12, 1923. The church was completed in 1926 at a cost of $40,000.
Sunday, February 24, 2008, the block of the street where Ebenezer stands was re-named “Rev. Dr. Lonnie Ford Place” in honor of Dr. Ford who was Ebenezer’s pastor for nearly 32 years, the longest period of leadership for any other pastor in Ebenezer’s history.
The Reverend Dr. Gregory L. Wallace, Ebenezer's fourteenth pastor, retired on June 6, 2021, after serving for twelve years.
The Reverend Lauren M. Carrington, a long-time devoted member of Ebenezer, served as the Interim Pastor from 2021 through November 2023. She is the first woman to serve in this capacity at Ebenezer.
​
With a vision of growth for the future, The Reverend Tommy D. Miles is now serving as Ebenezer's fifteenth pastor.
​
​
​
​
​
