A brief listing of Milwaukee’s oldest black churches

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.