At Calvary Baptist Church, we have a long and rich heritage. On January 26, 1883, the Delaware Baptist Union was formally incorporated by the state legislature. The purpose of the organization was to spread the message of the denomination and promote “the erection and maintenance of houses of religious worship.” Soon thereafter, a group of Black residents of Dover who had accepted the Baptist faith began to hold meetings in private homes and a local store.
In 1884, the Delaware Baptist Union purchased land at Queen and Fulton Street on which to build a permanent home for the congregation. The new church was officially dedicated on July 10, 1887. Known as Calvary Baptist Church, it was the second Black Baptist church to be established in the state and the first to be established in the city Dover with the assistance of Rev. Benjamin Moore, then Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church.
Pastors during this time: Rev. Henry C. Jones; Rev. Soovay; Rev. John Starrett; Rev. Morris S. Anderson.
There were 3 members in 1922, when Rev. Morris came to Calvary. Because of his faithfulness, God blessed Calvary, and membership grew until members had to come early to ensure a place to sit.
Pastors following Rev. Morris: Rev. Hinton and Rev. Sims.
Under the leadership of Rev. Milton Gaymon, who would pastor Calvary for 33 years, the late Trustee Emeritus William, “Bill” Wilson was saved. Rev. Gaymon was responsible for the church bylaws and oversaw the implementation of the church’s financial records.
Following Rev. Gaymon, Rev. Michael Brinkley took the helm, and Calvary continued to flourish. Then, from 1981-1982, the church was without a pastor. Then Deacons Henry Brown and Joe L. Poe led the flock, and under their leadership, the interior of the church was refurbished.
In February 1982, God sent Rev. Richard M. Avant to pastor the 46 members of Calvary. The congregation grew and then outgrew the 30’x50’ building. In 1983, the Wilson and Waters families provided Calvary the land adjoining the church, and the building was expanded to include a full basement, offices, choir room, and enlarged chapel. The project was completed in 1986.
Under Rev. Avant’s guidance and leadership, the tithing program was also implemented (1983), and the broadcast In the Name of Jesus Victory Broadcast began (1987). The church purchased a parsonage (1988); a 42-passenger bus, three 15-passenger vans, Victory Chapel, and 6 acres of land at Rt. 8 West (1990, dedicated on March 31st); the Mary St. apartment building (1991); and several new furnishings and equipment for the Rt. 8 edifice (1996).
Calvary was blessed with the ability to donate property on Kirkwood St. to Delaware’s Habitat for Humanity and establish the Summer Camp in 1992. Major renovations were made to Rt. 8 including the sanctuary, baptism area, choir loft, trustee and deacons’ rooms, restrooms, and nursery; and a balcony and new carpet were installed.
Other accomplished include sending missionaries were sent to Bermuda, Russia, and Uganda. Calvary Baptist Institute was established in 1998 with its first 20 students. Calvary was also blessed to see the burning the mortgages of Calvary Queen and Fulton St., the Mary St. apartment, and Calvary Rt. 8 in 1997 and 1999.
Under Rev. Avant’s vision, Calvary purchased 76 acres of land for a new edifice and properties. The land was dedicated, and the Higher Ground committee was established in 2001. In 2003, a new bus was purchased, and we broke ground on the new Rt. 8 location for the first time.
Many committees, ministries, and scholarships were established under Rev. Avant’s leadership. Several of Calvary’s ministers moved on to Pastor their own churches, and because of this, in May of 2013, Rev. Avant was officially installed into the office Apostle.
In January of 2016, Rev. Avant announced his plans to retire and called for the establishment of the Pastoral Selection Committee under the leadership of Dr. Michelle Dawson. He went home to be with the Lord on April 1, 2016, but the committee continued strong. With their faithfulness and due diligence, Calvary welcomed their new pastor, Bishop W. James Thomas II, in October 2017.
Under Bishop Thomas’s leadership, where we saw the deaths of many staple members of the church and a pandemic that forced us into quarantine, Calvary continued to grow and expand by the grace of God. As of today, we are now just months away from walking to Apostle Avant’s vision of the new Rt. 8 edifice.
Glory to God!
Today, Calvary Baptist Church continues to serve as a cultural and spiritual center for the residents of the greater Dover community.