History of Cape Island Baptist Church

Founded in 1844

The following history was written by Forrest E. Spriggs, beloved Pastor of Cape Island Baptist Church for 32 years.

    Records show that there were Baptists living on Cape Island before 1695. After its formation in 1712  they attended the First Baptist Church in Cape May Court House, twelve miles to the north.

    Early in the year 1844, Rev Isaac Moore, the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Cape May Court House, came to Cape Island to assist the Rev. Moses Williamson in union revival services, which were held in the Methodist Church building. The Lord blessed these meets and many people were converted. This revival aroused the zeal of the Baptists in the lower part of the county and on the 2nd of April 1844, the first meeting took place of those who would become the Cape Island Baptist Church. The record states:

            "Cape Island, April 2, 1844. A number of the members of the Baptist Church, living in Lower Township of the Cape May County, set together agreeable to due notice, at the house of Brother Alexander A Shaw in order to consult as to the propriety of forming themselves into a regular Baptist Church at this place. After reading a portion of scripture, singing and prayers, Brother Church was appointed moderator and Brother Alexander a Shaw, clerk. On motion it was resolved that the brethren and sisters wishing to constitute into a church give their respective names."

Twenty-five persons registered their names for a new church.

    On April 9, a meeting was held to begin the new church. The record states that they met to form "an independent Baptist Church of Christ to be called The First Baptist Church of Cape Island." A short time later, the name was changed to The Cape Island Baptist Church, to avoid confusion with the parent church in Cape May Court House. The population of the town was listed at 541 at that time.

    The first Pastor was the Rev. Napoleon Tindall who served as acting pastor during the organizing months. Before the end of the year, the Rev. Isaac Church, Sr., became Pastor. He was born in Philadelphia, but lived much of his early life in Lancaster, Ohio before coming to live near Steamboat Landing at Cape May Point, He united with the Court House Church in 1840, and helped form this church in 1844. He was blind but this affliction did not prevent him being an active worker for his Master.

    A location was selected for the church home in what was a fashionable section of Cape May, on the easterly corner of Lafayette and Franklin Streets. The deed was dated August 15, 1844, and was from William Corgie, a Delaware River Pilot, who owned all of the land from Lafayette Street to Columbia Avenue, from Franklin Street to Madison Avenue. The Trustees of the Church named in the deed were: John Price, Jeremiah Hand, Phillip Hand, William Bennett, Aaron Schellenger, Jr. and Richard Ludlam.

    The church building was begun in 1845, and was dedicated on July 17, 1847. In the meantime, religious services were held in the schoolhouse on the west side of Franklin Street near Lafayette Street, and the business meetings were held at the Commercial Hotel, which was owned by Mr. Shaw.

    On July 11, 1847, the church called the Rev. Isaac M. Church, Jr. who served as Pastor until 1851. Rev. Church became the first Mayor of Cape May in 1851. Among other important members of the church at that time were: Richard S. Ludlam, longtime proprietor of the Mansion House where Henry Clay and Abraham Lincoln came as guests; James Clark, the second Mayor of Cape Island; John K. Church, the third Mayor of the city and a brother of the Rev. Isaac Church; William Bennett, a Delaware River Pilot; Joseph Leach, was the Editor of the Ocean Wave, and later Postmaster and Recorder for the City of Cape May and also a popular lay preacher who preached many times in the church.

    In 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War, the church building was used as the place for volunteers to come to sign up in the Union Army.

    The first church parsonage was on Lafayette Street, just to the east of the church, where the pastors resided until 1873. In October 1872, a lot to the south corner of Lafayette and Schellenger Streets was purchased, and the second parsonage was erected. This was occupied by the pastors of the church until 1889 when it was sold.

    There was no baptismal pool in the first church building, and until the second building was built, all baptisms were conducted in the Cape Island Creek at Schellengers' Landing. A private home was used for robing and the congregation marched to the creek singing appropriate hymns. The home most often used as a meeting place was that of Deacon Aaron Schellenger.

    A new church building was begun in 1879, on the old site, costing $18,000. It was completed in the spring of 1880, and opened for worship, although only partly furnished. It was decided not to dedicate the building until it was free from debt. Finally, in 1892, under the Pastor A.B. McCurdy, the debt was paid, and a Dedication Program was held. Rev. Aaron W. Hand, whose sister, Dr. Anna M. Hand, also active as a church member and the first woman physician of Cape May, preached the sermon. The cornerstone of the building was set in place by James Crandol, President of the Board of Trustees and Aaron Schellenger, the oldest Deacon. In the cornerstone was place: a Holy Bible, a List of Officers of Cape May City, A Baptist Church Manual, A History of the Trials of Baptists of Virginia, The Daily Star of August 13, 1892, The Star of the Cape of 1892, and the Daily Wave of August 13, 1892.. They were all carefully wrapped in an American Flag. This building still stands at this time.

    A spiritual revival occurred in America in 1898 following the sinking of the Battleship Main, as the US prepared for war with Spain. One hundred and six persons were received into church membership by baptism that year, making a total membership of 305. The church had no parsonage from 1889 until 1920, when it purchased the house at 737 Washington Street for $6,240.

    On March 2, 1915, during the ministry of Pastor William McCurdy, a decision was made to relocate the church and  a plot of land was purchased on the east side of Columbia Avenue at Guerney Street at a cost of $10,000. This land had been a part of the grounds of the former Stockton Hotel which was built in 1868. When it was built, it was the largest hotel in the United States with 475 guest rooms. However it was not a success financially and closed in 1910. It was subsequently demolished. The first church building built on this site was the Sunday School Temple. Because Victorian architecture was not popular at that time, the Spanish Mission style was selected. The building was in use by August 7, 1916 and was formally dedicated on September 3, 1916. The first service was led by Pastor McCurdy and the address was given by Mayor William L. Stevens. 

    In 1936, under the leadership of Pastor Joseph Piece, Architect George E. Savage was engaged and plans were adopted for the new sanctuary. On January 13, 1937 the congregation authorized the construction at an estimated cost of $22,500. The ground breaking was held on January 27, with Deacon S. Irwin Stevens lifting the first shovel full of dirt not far from the spot where his father had broken ground for the Sunday School Temple twenty-one years earlier. Furnishing were purchased at a cost of $2,385 and a new Hammond Organ at a cost of $1,695.

    On April 26,1938, Rev. Robert D. Carrin was called to the Pastorate of the church and served until 1942, when our nation entered the Second World War and he entered the Army as a Chaplain. The Parsonage on Washington Street was sold in 1946 for $8,000 and the Cresse home on Sewell Avenue was purchased as the new Parsonage for $9,000.

    Several new services that served the community began when the Rev. John Pemberton, Jr. became Pastor in 1946. Sunday evening services were conducted in Convention Hall during the summer. On Palm Sunday and Christmas special musical services were started followed by a High Tea. Easter Sunrise Service was initiated followed by breakfast.

    On August 22, 1948, the Church Bell was presented by Robert Jaegle in memory of Edmund Leaming. In 1950 the men's "Fishermen's Club" was started and all men of the community were invited to join for a time of fellowship. In 1951, the Women's Society presented the church with a beautiful creche for the Altar. That creche is still in use today.

    On December 8, 1952, four lots on Stockton Place at the rear of the church building were purchased from Dr. Harold Hughes and his wife to be used as a church parking lot.

    On March 6, 1962, Cape May experienced the most damaging storm it had ever seen, with seven successive high tides causing major flooding throughout the city. The church and parsonage sustained considerable damage and church members gave many hours of their time to the clean-up process.

    On October 4, 1964, the room next to the Pastor's study was dedicated as the "Stevens Memorial Historical Museum and Library" in loving memory of S. Irwin Stevens and William H. Stevens by their family and friends. It was around this time of ethical issues on the part of the current pastor that the church suffered a major split, causing the loss of several members. In 1968 the men of the church worked together to repaint the interior of the sanctuary and halls.

    On February 1, 1970, the Rev. Forrest Spriggs began his ministry as Pastor. He was a faithful friend and Pastor at Cape Island Baptist for 32 years. He came from the Oxford Circle Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Through his love and guidance over the years, the congregation was able to heal from the hurts of the past and rebuild.  

   A new Allen computerized organ was purchased in 1972 after several years of prayer and work to build up the Organ Fund. In 1973, the men of the church redecorated the Pastor's study and built bookcases. Copies of the Gospel of Luke were also distributed to every home in Cape May as part of the "Key 73 Program" in cooperation with other churches in town.

    December 1, 1974 saw another bad flood in Cape May, but due to the work of a few dedicated members, the damage to the church property was minimal. About this time, tape recording equipment was purchased so that recordings of the church services could be taken to the sick and shut-ins. In 1976, new carpet was laid in the Sanctuary and halls. The church parking lot was paved with asphalt in 1978 at a cost of $7,000. Repair work was done on the stained glass windows using money from the Memorial Fund and in 1979 all of the windows in the Sanctuary were removed, re-cemented and remounted. The outside of the building was also repainted at this time.

    In 1981, a second Sunday Service was added during July and August.  It was held at 8:30 A.M. giving those who had to work, the opportunity to continue their worship during the summer months. In 1983 a new Kawai Professional Grand Piano was purchased for the sanctuary, the Spanish Tile roof was repaired and remounted, and the bell was refurbished and received a new ringing mechanism.

    With the the near by passing of Hurricane Gloria in 1985, Cape May was again hit with another bad flood. The lower rooms accumulated ten inches of water, again needing much work and restoration. Ceiling fans were installed in the sanctuary in 1987 and the Fellowship Room was dedicated in memory of Rev. and Mrs. John Pemberton, who served as Pastor for sixteen years.

    In 1990 several major improvements were made in the church buildings. A new porch and stairs were added at the rear entrance, making access from the parking lot easier. The rest rooms were completely renovated and rose colored cushions were installed on the pews in the sanctuary and chapel. Office work was made more efficient with the purchase of a computer and copy machine. An outdoor nativity set was purchased for display at Christmas. Helen Shropshire, the Sunday School Superintendent, led a visitation program called "The Cape May Crusade" whose goal was to visit every home in Cape May carrying the Good News of Jesus Christ.

    While preparing in 1993 for the observance of our 150th Anniversary, additional work was done on the church buildings. In 1994 a new larger Allen Electronic Organ was purchased. Many special activities were held as part of the 150th Anniversary celebration. On May 6, 1995, the Fellowship hall was rededicated as the Forrest Spriggs Hall to honor his 25 years of faithful service as Pastor.

    In 1996, $2,688 was donated from the church to assist churches in the south that had been burned. Money was also given to help build a church in India. The parking lot was also paved that year.

    In 1998 the church participated in two programs sending Christmas boxes to Operation Christmas Child and Samaritans Purse. Eighty shoeboxes were filled with items for children in poverty stricken countries. The tradition of contributing to these two programs continues today and has grown. Also in 1998, the kitchen was remodeled and a handicapped bathroom was added to the 2nd floor off Spriggs Fellowship Hall. The money for these projects came from a bequest left to the Church by Mrs. Adelaide Nicole, a woman who had been a member many, many years before but remembered our church. The Church sound system was upgraded and a handicapped ramp was installed from the parking lot to the back door.

    In 1999 a chair lift was installed on the stairs leading from the apse to the 2nd floor allowing elderly and handicapped members to more easily participate in dinners and programs in the Spriggs Fellowship Hall. On New Year's Eve a Watch Night Service was held to praise God for His blessings during the last century and ask for His continued Grace during the coming years.

    In 2000 we saw the completion of several major improvements. Air conditioning was installed in the sanctuary and later in the Spriggs Fellowship Hall. The hardwood floors in the Spriggs Fellowship Hall were refinished and new lighting was added to brighten up the room. New choir robes were purchased as well as a new copy machine. The old copier was donated to Cape Christian Academy. In the summer of 2001 the bell tower was once again repaired and the congregation was treated to again hearing the Church Bell calling all to worship.

    In January 2002 Rev. Forrest Spriggs announced his intention of retiring after faithfully serving as Pastor for thirty-two years. His retirement became final on Easter Sunday 2002. A retirement party was given for him at a local restaurant with approximately 150 people attending including many from the Oxford Circle Baptist Church where he served as Pastor prior to coming to Cape May. Reverend Spriggs was honored by the Cape May City officials for his service to the residents of Cape May and a Forrest E. Spriggs Day was declared in the City of Cape May for March 17, 2002. Reverend Spriggs passed away in December of 2005. Although he will be sadly missed by all of us, we know that he is present with our loving Savoir.

    On April 2nd 2002, Rev. John Carman took the pulpit as interim Pastor. Rev. Carman drove many miles often several times a week from Salem, NJ to bring his message at Sunday service, Prayer Meeting and any other special events that were taking place. The church was blessed by his ministry and sparkling sense of humor for nearly two years.

    In August 2003, the church was blessed when Rev. James Berger accepted an offer to Pastor to the congregation. Rev. Berger, his wife, Sarah and two daughters joined the congregation with youth, enthusiasm and a loving and giving spirit. He has shown many people the way to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Our Church has been blessed many, many times over the past 162 years. We have gone through good times and bad but have always come through with a spirit of love and fellowship. We owe much to those generations who came before us and gave of themselves to pass down a history of tradition, family and service to God. We praise His Holy Name and give thanks to Him for lending this beautiful home to us so that we can worship Him.

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