Imagine the echoes of gospel music resonating through Harlem. This is Mount Olive Baptist Church. It stands as a testament to faith and community.
Mount Olive Baptist Church started as Gethsemane Mission in 1876. It was officially recognized as a church in 1878. This recognition came after overcoming resistance from white religious powers. The original building stood on 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. People praised it as the most beautiful black church in New York City.
In the 1920s, Mount Olive Baptist Church played a vital role for followers of Marcus Garvey. The church housed them as they prepared for their voyage to Africa. In 1925, Mount Olive moved to its current location on Lenox Avenue and 120th Street in Harlem. The building was formerly Temple Israel. It was an elegant synagogue. The congregation purchased it for 450000 dollars. It was the largest amount ever paid by a black congregation for a house of worship at that time. You can still see the Stars of David at the top of the four enormous columns. Look for them in the stained glass windows.
The first pastor Rev. Daniel Washington Wisher organized the Original Grant Guards. This was New York State’s first colored militia. He led the church to purchase land in Bellport Long Island. The goal was to spur the growth of a colored colony. They also wanted to establish an orphanage and a home for the elderly. Rev. Wisher actively participated in the New York Anti-Slavery Society.
Other Mount Olive Baptist pastors were known for their social and political activism. Rev. C. T. Walker founded the Harlem YM and YWCA. Dr. William Preston ran for the 21st Congressional District. He spearheaded the church’s relocation to Harlem. Dr. O. Clay Maxwell opened the first after-school program in Harlem. He also organized the Council of Churches.
The current pastor Rev. Dr. Charles A. Curtis continues this tradition. He is actively involved in community affairs and civil justice issues. Mount Olive has been dubbed the Community Church. It operates a food program three days a week. It provides clothing to the needy. It supplies a forum for political personalities to address the Harlem community.
Mount Olive Baptist Church acquired a new organ in 1958. The Estey Organ Company built it. The organ was dedicated on November 30 1958. Charles Ennis dedicated the organ. He was the organist and choirmaster of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Today Mount Olive Baptist Church stands as a beacon of hope. It is a place where faith meets action. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of Harlem. Mount Olive continues to address issues of social injustice. The church provides assistance to the homeless. It advocates for better housing. It promotes education and encourages political activism.