Calvary Baptist Church
West Fourth Street at Monroe Avenue

Calvary Baptist Church was organized in 1897 in Manning Hall at West Front Street and Central Avenue. It later moved to Reform Hall. It was officially established on January 19, 1898, with 54 members, some from Mount Olive Baptist. Construction of the original church building began in 1898 and was dedicated on July 30, 1899. It was located at (121-123) Central Avenue, near West Second St. (it is no longer standing). In 1960, the congregation purchased and relocated to the Monroe Avenue Methodist Church building, between West Fourth and West Second streets. The first service at the Monroe Avenue location, where it is still located, was held on Sunday, October 2, 1960.

In the Library's archival collection is a 1995 booklet honoring Rev. Dr. William Gerald Howard. In addition to the below photograph and postcard, we have the architectural plans for the original 1898 building, the 1941 alteration of the Central Avenue building and the 1967 alteration of the (current) Monroe Avenue building.

Children of Israel Temple
New Street near Front Street

In 1890, ten patriarchs of the first Jewish families in Plainfield formed the city’s first Jewish congregation, called Beth Tefelas Yental. It was named after Mrs. Marx, who donated the first Torah. Services were held in the Gutman residence. Funds were raised for a property on New Street for Beth Isho Tefelas Yental, which later changed to Children of Israel Temple. Between 1900 and 1918, the number of Jewish families in Plainfield increased from fifty to 450, supporting three congregations: Children of Israel, Ohavey-Zedek, and Temple Sholom.

Congregational Church
West Seventh Street and Madison Avenue

Established in 1879, this began as the First Congregational Church of Plainfield. They initially met in Reform Hall, and then the old Seventh-day Baptist church (later known as the Whittier School).  In 1882, a church building was erected on the corner of West Seventh Street and Madison Avenue.  The original building was torn down after the erection of a new sanctuary in the late 1960s.  It is now named The United Church of Christ – Congregational.