A brief listing of Milwaukee’s oldest black churches
By Jerome D. Henderson
In the final Book of the New Testament, John, the beloved disciple, wrote a prophetic word of encouragement to seven churches in what is now part of Turkey. At the time it was written, each of those churches was suffering from persecution at the hands of the Roman Empire. Collectively, they were known as “The Seven Sisters.” The history of the African American church in Milwaukee is also one of overcoming barriers and obstruction. In honor of Black History Month this year, I have compiled information the 12 oldest black Baptist Churches in Milwaukee. These are “The Twelve:”
1. Calvary Baptist Church, founded 1895 Source: church website
2. Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church ,founded 1919 Source: church website
3. Greater Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, founded 1920 Source: church website
4. Tabernacle Community Baptist, founded 1922 Source: church website
5. Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church, founded 1929 Source: Rev. H.K. Henderson, former pastor
6. Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, founded 1936 Source: online Encyclopedia of Milwaukee
7. Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, founded 1937 Source: church website
8. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church , founded 1940 Source: church website
9. Antioch Baptist Church, founded 1946 Source: 10-21-21 issue of The Milwaukee Times
10. Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, founded 1947 Source: Rev. Joseph H. Jackson, Jr., pastor
11. New Hope Baptist Church, founded 1947 Source: church website
12. Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church, founded 1948 Source: manta.com
Jerome D. Henderson is a Milwaukee resident and has been a member of Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church since 1972.
