[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH, RED BANK, NJ--A CENTURY OF SERVICE TO GOD AND 
                               COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, October 20, 1996, Pilgrim 
Baptist Church of Red Bank, NJ, will celebrate its 100th anniversary. 
It is an honor for me to pay tribute to this great milestone.
  Pilgrim Baptist Church was founded in 1896 and has remained in Red 
Bank throughout that entire century of service to the community. The 
church's founders--who included the parents of one of Red Bank's most 
renowned citizens, the great bandleader Count Basie--held services in 
their own private homes until they were granted permission to share the 
facilities of the Calvary Baptist Church on Bridge Avenue. In fact, the 
name ``Pilgrim'' evolved because the founders of the congregation had 
to go from house to house when Calvary was not available.
  In 1905, the Rev. William B. Scott was called to pastor the church 
and his tenure lasted for 11 years, during which time the small 
congregation was able to purchase the parcel of land at Pearl Street. 
The year 1910 marked the begining of the construction of the historic 
``Little Pilgrim'' on Pearl Street, which still stands and now houses 
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church. Following Rev. Scott, Reverends 
D.K. Askew, W.B. Hebron, and W.B. Neal served as pastors. In 1945, the 
Rev. Henry L. Morgan was installed, and he would go on to serve for 25 
years. With an increasing membership, in 1955 the congregation 
purchased its present building at 172 Shrewsbury Avenue. The Rev. 
Kenneth Grayson succeeded the Rev. Morgan, serving from 1971 until 
1975. The Rev. Millard W. Harris, Jr., Pilgrim's current pastor, was 
installed in January 1976.
  Under the leadership of Reverend Harris, the membership of Pilgrim 
has continued to grow. At the same time, the church has purchased 
rental properties on Earl and Leonard Streets, purchased vehicles, 
expanded the sanctuary, and built classrooms that house the Head Start 
program.
  Mr. Speaker, it is great honor to pay tribute to Pilgrim Baptist 
Church for its 100 years of service to God and community. The Reverend 
Harris, officers of the church, and all the members of the Pilgrim 
family have made--and continue to make--a huge difference for the 
entire Red Bank and Monmouth County area. While the Pilgrim family can 
be proud of their first century, I know that their thoughts and prayers 
are clearly focused on continuing that legacy into a new century.

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