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During the early part of the year 1875 Jonathan Shinn and Charles Budd Pharo were anxious to have a Baptist Church started in West Creek. At that time the nearest Baptist Church was in Manahawkin, about five miles away. These two men solicited the community for contributions to purchase a building and land. They paid $400 for a house that had been used by the Methodist Society as a Church building, purchased a lot for $75, and moved the building onto it during the summer.
Rev. Charles A. Mott, pastor of the Manahawkin Baptist Church, preached twice a week and was known as the first pastor of the new Church. The Church was organized and constituted an independent Baptist Church on June 22, 1876, with a membership of sixty persons and the name "The Baptist Church of West Creek." An additional lot adjoining the church was purchased in the same year.

The present building was erected and the cornerstone laid in June of 1893. The first meeting was held in the new building in March of the following year. The former home of Charles Parsons was purchased in 1902 for a parsonage. This house was sold in later years and the church was without a parsonage for a time.
The Baptist Young People's Union was organized in 1941. On May 19. 1946, this group presented the Church with the Hammond electric organ.

In August 1950 the church purchased the Harris house for a parsonage. It is interesting to note that this building was the one originally purchased in 1875 and used as the original church building.
A piano was purchased in 1958 by the Church. The Women's Missionary Society reimbursed the Church for the cost of the piano and made it a gift to the Church. Also in 1958 the new roof was installed on the Church and on the tower.
Sunday School and Youth work have always been emphasized by the Church. Due to the growth of the Sunday School it became necessary to make plans for an expansion of the building. Because of the close proximity of the cemetery nothing of this kind could be done at the location on Thomas Avenue.
In 1958 Chester Holman offered to give to the Church a large plot of ground at the corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues in Parkertown as a new site for the Church if the members would want to move the building. This plot of ground would be large enough to allow for an addition to the present church building. There would also be room for a parsonage and ample space for parking.
This was a major decision and not one to be made too hastily. However, in July 1959 the Church members voted to accept the gift of land and proceeded to make plans to move the Church to the new location.
A building fund was started to provide the money needed to pay for the moving and also for the new basement which would be built under the Church. While waiting for enough money to proceed with the moving the members decided to improve the inside of the building. The interior walls were reconditioned and papered in February 1962.
The actual moving of the building was begun in October of 1962 by the James William Hartshorne Co. of Moorestown. N. J. The Church Services were held in the Parkertown Firehouse during the moving. Surprisingly, attendance was higher at this time than any previous time in the history of the Church. The moving of the church building and construction of a new basement, at a total cost of $9,000, was completed in December 1962 and services were again held in the Church building.
In March 1963 the Church name was changed from the Baptist Church of West Creek to "Calvary Baptist Church", Parkertown, NJ.

We have seen the Lord's hand of blessing, not only in the moving of the Chapel building, but also in the continued increase of interest in the activities of the Sunday School and Church. On August 22, 1987 ground-breaking was held for our new building and the Dedication Service was held on April 23, 1989. We praise God for "The great things He hath done"! Property was purchased across Prospect Avenue in 1987 and additional land acquired in 1988, some of which constitutes our present parking lot.

On September 28, 2000, 180 Parkertown Drive was puchased. This property abuts the Church property and is presently used for Classrooms.
Recently Calvary purchased 170 Parkertown Drive. The home currently on this property is used as a Guest Home for Missionaries or for Special Speakers. The property is currently used for sporting events, and both properties; 170 and 180, will be the site for a new Gym/Multi-Purpose Building in the near future.

On May 25, 2010 the church was presented with our plan for a new multi-purpose building, offices, classrooms, nurseries & foyer. We are currently raising support for this project. (Visit the "Future Building" page for more details).

Church Auditorium

(picture was taken before a wedding in 2011)