Photos from Randy Melchert   From Wikipedia:   The Western Wall, Wailing Wall, or Kotel (Hebrew: הַכּוֹתֶל הַמַּעֲרָבִי),[1] known in Islam as the Buraq Wall (Arabic: Ḥā’iṭ al-Burāq حَائِط ٱلْبُرَاق Arabic pronunciation: [‘ħaːʔɪtˤ albʊ’raːq]),[2] is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a relatively small segment of a far longer ancient retaining wall, known also in its entirety as the “Western Wall”.[3] The wall was originally erected as part of the expansion Read more...

From Wikipedia: All Saints’ Church, commonly referred to as Schlosskirche (Castle Church) to distinguish it from the Stadtkirche (Town Church) of St. Mary’s – and sometimes known as the Reformation Memorial Church – is a Lutheran church in Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is the site where, according to Philip Melanchthon, the Ninety-five Theses were posted by Martin Luther in 1517,[1] the act that has been called the start of the Protestant Reformation.[2][3] From 1883 onwards, the church was restored as Read more...

In Europe, in the year 1700, Count Nikolaus Ludwig “Lewis” von Zinzendorf was born. He was a descendant of Maximillian I, who was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 to 1519. Zinzendorf’s father died when he was six weeks old, leaving him an estate in the area of Germany called Saxony. Raised by his pietist Lutheran grandmother, Zinzendorf became friends Read more...

Old Kiokee Baptist Church, founded by Daniel Marshall, is the earliest continuing Baptist church in Georgia. They erected their third (present) meetinghouse, in 1808, with its quaint auditorium, gallery, and hand-hewn pews. The congregation uses this building, at 2520 Ray Owens Road, for special services. For access, contact the church (706-541-1086). Inquire about the Marshall home-site and cemetery. copyrighted and Read more...

First Baptist Church finds its roots in 1696, when William Screven and his twenty-eight member church (est. 1682) moved from Kittery, Maine, and settled near Charleston, as the earliest Baptist church in the south. In 1698, they moved into Charleston, as First Baptist Church, still located on Church Street. Other early Baptist pastors here include Oliver Hart and Richard Furman. Read more...

Berryville (formerly Buckmarsh) Baptist Church is at 114 Academy Street. John Gerrard (Garrard, ca. 1720-87), in 1772, constituted the Buckmarsh church. James Ireland (ca. 1745-1806) served the Buckmarsh pastorate from 1786 until his death. Ireland’s remains lie in an unknown grave in the Buckmarsh cemetery. A historical plaque marks the site where Buckmarsh Baptist once stood. The plaque is only Read more...

Pennepack Baptist Church, founded by Elias Keach, in 1688, is the oldest surviving Baptist church in the Middle Colonies. In 1805, at the peak of the Second Great Awakening, during the ministry of Samuel Jones, the congregation erected its present (third) building, constructed from fieldstone collected from the surrounding meadows. Straight-backed box pews occupy the main floor. An elegant, high Read more...

The Welsh Tract Baptist Church, on Welsh Tract Road, originated in 1701, when sixteen people formed the original congregation in Wales. In 1703, they settled on a thousand acre tract of land, granted by William Penn and since known as the Welsh Tract. As the first Baptist church in Delaware and situated a couple of miles south of Newark, they Read more...

John Gano (1727-1804) was the first full-time pastor of First Baptist in the City of New York (est. 1762). During the War of Independence, Gano served as chaplain to George Washington. In 1891, during the ministry of I.M. Haldeman (1845-1933), the church erected its present building at 265 West 79th Street at Broadway. (See Chapter 16). copyrighted and used by permission Read more...

Upon reading of his son’s Christian Baptism, in 1817, Adoniram Judson Sr., of the Church of the Pilgrimage, on the north side of Town Square, became a Baptist and resigned the Congregational pastorate. copyrighted and used by permission from David Beale, Baptist History in England and America: Personalities, Positions, and Practices   Photo from Giorgio Galeotti       Read more...