The Abyssinian Baptist Church

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Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. (1908 - 1937)

"And God Fulfilled His Promise By Pouring Out a Blessing…" The Powell Years, 1908-1971
The reputation of the Black Baptist church known as Abyssinian was familiar to African- Americans and Baptists, not only in New York, but also neighboring states. Clergymen of considerable ability and renown, undoubtedly, viewed the vacancy at Abyssinian as an opportunity for important service. On December 30, 1908, God brought together the congregation of Abyssinian Baptist Church and the Rev. Dr. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. (1865-1953), "a young gospel giant from Immanuel Baptist Church of New Haven, Connecticut." The calling of Powell to the pastorate ushered in a new era in the Church's history. As he recalled in 1928, Powell, Sr., became "heir to the financial, moral and spiritual progress made by Abyssinian for one hundred years under the leadership of sixteen noble ministers (pastors and assistants) of God." Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. devoted the first twelve years of his pastorate to the spiritual development and reorganization of the Church, but the minister-administrator was also a man of vision. He preached about and promoted the idea of a model church in Harlem. By the spring of 1920, Abyssinian had purchased lots on 138th Street between Lenox and Seventh Avenues, and in the summer of the same year initiated a tithing campaign - at the close of an evangelistic meeting - through which eventually 3,000 members pledged to give one-tenth of their weekly income. The loyalty of ninety-five (95%) of these members made possible the ground breaking for construction of the present Abyssinian edifice on April 9, 1922. After only fourteen months, a church and community house at a cost of $334,888.86 had been built and furnished by Abyssinians. On June 17, 1923, the buildings were dedicated "to the worship of God and the service of humanity." The outstanding debt of $60,000 was placed in a twelve-year mortgage that in four years and five months was paid. At the mortgage burning service, Dr. Powell, Sr. emphasized the faithfulness of the congregation and the generosity of friends as the key to Abyssinian's success. "Not a ticket or a dish of ice cream was sold to pay for the erection of Abyssinian Baptist Church and Community House. Every dollar of the money was brought in through tithes and offerings, and God fulfilled His promise by pouring out a blessing upon us that our souls were not able to contain." No sooner was the Gothic and Tudor structure with its imported stained glass windows and Italian marble pulpit under the sole ownership of the Church that the congregation undertook the purchase of a $40,000 home for the aged on St. Nicholas Avenue. Within the period from 1928 to 1932, the home was fully paid for and the church operated this home for seventeen persons over a period of twelve years. Until Powell, Sr. retired in 1937, a loyal and tithing membership, which had grown to 7,000, paid the salaries of over two dozen full and part-time church workers, handled the operating expenses of the Church and community center, and supported a missionary in Africa. The Church's motto under Powell, Sr. was apt: "Forward in a larger service."

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