Our History

The Broadway Baptist Church traced its roots to May 31, 1868 when the first session of a mission Sunday School was held in the weave shop of Joseph Garlick, in a section of Paterson then known as Weavertown. A year later, a small chapel was completed and dedicated and was home of the Sunday School for the next 20 years.

The Fourth Baptist Church also used the chapel for ten years. The name Weavertown Mission Sunday School was changed to the York Avenue Baptist Sunday School and the Sunday School was subsequently assimilated into the Fourth Avenue Baptist Church in 1884.

During his tenure, fourteen young men became pastors, and other men and women became involved in missions and other fulltime Christian work. At around the same time, just across the Passaic River, in Saddle River Township (now known as the Borough of Fair Lawn), a Sunday School class started in the home of Eleanor Van Riper on the corner of River Road and Mortlot Avenue on March 6, 1870. Five children attended the first session and soon the attendance increased rapidly, so to accommodate the growing Sunday School (known as the Passaic Valley Union Sunday School), Dr. Henry Van Riper donated a plot of ground at the corner of River Road and Bellair Avenue in the community which eventually become known as the Borough of Fair Lawn.

With the support of the Van Ripers and members of the community, a chapel was built on the donated property, but that chapel was destroyed by fire in 1890. A larger building replaced it, and it was expanded in 1908, 1926, 1930, and again in 1942, largely with the financial support of Mrs. R.H. (Ida) Ellis and her husband.

Mrs. Ellis served as Sunday School Superintendent after the passing of her mother, Eleanor Van Riper in 1919. By that time, the Sunday School had expanded to include all age groups, from preschoolers to adults. Concurrently, regular preaching services were conducted in the chapel on alternating Sunday afternoons, led by pastors of various churches from Paterson.

In February 1930, the Passaic Valley Union Sunday School evolved into the founding of the Van Riper Ellis Memorial Church, named in honor of the principal benefactors of the church. Shortly after the founding of the Van Riper Ellis Memorial Church, Dr. Edward M Saunier became its pastor after retiring from the pastorate of the Broadway Baptist Church. The church flourished under his able leadership and he served faithfully until 1938, when he had to resign because of illness.

Rev. Richard P. Camp then became the pastor, serving in that position until 1969. During the years of Dr. Camp’s pastorate, the church rooted itself into the Fair Lawn community. The growing congregation met in the chapel that originated from the Sunday School building. Land was purchased on Bellair Avenue and after much planning and giving on the part of the people; the present education building was completed in the spring of 1954. Mrs. Ellis passed away in 1955 at the age of 95.

Her estate left property on Morlot Avenue and River Road, as well as funds

sufficient enough to undertake the planning and construction of a beautiful edifice on the site of her family’s home. This is the present church building, which was dedicated on June 12, 1960.