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Founded 1896
Wayne, West Lancaster Ave.
Still Active
Though Radnor had a Baptist church already, a new one was officially formed as the Central Baptist Church in December of 1896. They held their first meeting three years before in 1893 at Charles Walton’s house, the original Walmarthon (not the future Eastern University) at St. David’s Rd. and Midland Ave. The group later went on to build the Central Baptist Church in the heart of Wayne. The structure was built by Jonathan Lengel in 1897-98 from a design by David K. Boyd. The church’s centralized location on Lancaster Ave. was similar to that of the Presbyterian Church. The original design of the church was interesting: the rectangular tower had a cone-shaped top, and the building had a covered driveway overhang. Both elements are gone today, although most of the original stone building remains intact. The first services in the Church were held on April 3, 1898. Another branch of the Church was the Second Baptist Church of Wayne, located on Highland Ave. This Church was formed some time before 1900.
Click on the images to see larger versions
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An original architect's drawing of Central Baptist.
Radnor Historical Society Collection
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The Church as new.
Architectural Journal; Carnegie Mellon University Library
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The back of the building shortly after construction.
Architectural Journal; Carnegie Mellon University Library
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The interior of the newly-constructed Church.
Architectural Journal; Carnegie Mellon University Library
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A vintage postcard of the Church, ca. 1940s.
GP Collection
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Sources:
© 2005 Wayne History Online / Greg Prichard
Page Last Updated : 4 November 2005
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