The Zion Baptist Church was built years after the Emanuel Methodist Church was built on the same street. Most of the African Americans lived in this particular area, and revamped the church into their own throughout the 20th century.
The David Knipe Lot
The lot along Lindenwold Avenue near Butler Pike was owned by a well-known businessman named David Knipe (1832-1919). From Montgomery Township, David came to Ambler where he conducted a coal, lumber and feeding yard on North Main Street. He then sold his business to Joseph Stackhouse in 1873, and then he sold it to Joseph W. Craft where his lumber and coal yard operated for many years.
After selling his business in Ambler, he moved on to develop his business in Fort Washington. After 18 years, David retired, and returned to Ambler where he purchased a lot on Lindenwold Avenue.
NOTE: Prior to Ambler's incorporation, David purchased a lot on Butler Avenue and Main Street next to the coal, lumber and feeding yard.
Settling on North Street
The Zion Baptist Church started from a small prayer group in 1895 who meet at one of the members' homes. The group was recognized, and the church was officially charted on May 7, 1906. The group occupied a building that was used as a meeting hall until it was caught on fire. As a result, they purchased another building lot, on Woodland Avenue right next to the David Knipe lot, where they built their church.
Displeased with the conditions of their new church on Woodland Avenue, they thought of an "economical" solution to purchase another building lot and construct another new church.
After David Knipe died in 1919, his administrator for his estate, George Hellings, sold his lot on North Street to the Zion Baptist church. Thus, construction has begun, selling their old church on Woodland Avenue. Henry P. Schneider was awarded the contract to build the church.
The cornerstone of the Zion Baptist church was laid on October 25, 1925. At the grand opening were visiting pastors from other local black churches like Caesar A. Edwards of the Bethlehem Baptist Church. Dr. Richard V. Mattison attended the ceremony and presented an inspiring speech to the crowd. He even gave the church $500 to help them pay for the new church.
Bibliography
"About Zion." Zion Church of Ambler. Accessed April 24, 2022. https://www.zionambler.org/about-zion.
"Google Maps Area Calculator Tool." DaftLogic. Accessed April 24, 2022. https://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-area-calculator-tool.htm.
Hough, Mary P. H. "Early history of Ambler 1682-1888." A Celebration of Women Writers. Accessed April 24, 2022. https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/hough/ambler/ambler.html.
"Local History Sketch. Interesting Local Matter Collected by 'E.M.' Some of the Business Section of Ambler--Isaac Thomas--Jonathan Lukens--David Knipe--Jacob Reiff--The 'Gazette' Building." Ambler Gazette. January 18, 1912. Page 4. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/6689/rec/1.
"Town Topics." Ambler Gazette. July 24, 1919. Page 5. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/6251/rec/1.
"Zion Church Lays Corner Stone." Ambler Gazette. October 29, 1925. Page 1. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/14425/rec/1.
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