History of Olivet Baptist Church

The first attempt to form (what later became Olivet Baptist Church) was made in 1871 when a group of “brethren connected with the Dwight Street branch of the First Baptist Church (of New Haven) indicated that they preferred to form a new mission still further out in the western part of New Haven” rather than joining in the building of Calvary Baptist Church.

The second and true beginning was in the fall of 1894 when “a meeting  of people interested in the Dixwell Avenue Mission” was called by Deacon CM Parker. On Nov. 12 organization plans were completed and 36 charter members adopted a Covenant, Articles of Faith and By-laws, as well elected officers. In selecting the name “Olivet” it was explained that in Palestine the distance to Mount Olives from Mount Calvary was about the same as the distance from the new church to Calvary Baptist in New Haven.

At a meeting January 7, 1895 a “unanimous call” was extended to Allan K. Foster (of Kentucky) to become the first pastor –he was given a salary of $1,000  annually and 4 weeks vacation. In May it was voted to keep the charter list open till July 1^st –bringing the number 52.

The Church located at 305 Dixwell Ave., purchased in 1901 was too small because by 1912 membership reached 323 –so on April 12, it was voted to purchase land at 400 Dixwell Ave. In Oct. 1915 the building committee recommended & the church voted to build. The cost included heat, hardwood pews, carpeting, pulpit furniture & stained glass windows –was $24,843. The new church building was dedicated June 25, 1916.

By 1920 membership was more than 400 –this was maintained until 1946 –when the post-war building boom, found many members moving to the suburbs and attending other churches.

W.H. Bawden, became the second pastor in Dec. 1901 An excerpt from his report to the church annual meeting in Dec. 1903 reads: “…embracing the preaching of the word Sunday morning & evenings, attendance and forwarding the work of the Bible School…making 563 calls during the first year, and 774 calls ending with Dec. 1…” In Dec 1904 the first effort at organizing a Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor resulted in 90 young people attending. Also in 1904 the King’s Daughter was formed for girls ages 14-18 –it had 25 members. Olivet paid off the first mortgage in Feb. 1907

Obviously a lot of meetings, many pastors, hundreds of members and attendees and thousands of dollars given for the Lord’s work –in the years from early 1900’s to 1960, where we pick up the history.

At a business meeting October 1960 the church voted to buy land in Hamden (our present location) for $9,000. Later they voted to sell the 400 Dixwell Ave. property. From the time of the last meeting on Dixwell to the availability of this building, the congregation rented space in the Mt. Carmel School for $8.00 a week. Ground breaking in Hamden was April 19, 1962 and dedication of this Church was September 19, 1963

From that time on, Olivet has been a church where many have come to know Christ , and a Church where believers in Christ are encouraged to live and grow in their faith.