Newtown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Macedonia Baptist Church

— Newtown Heritage Walk —

Photographed by Pete Skillman, December 23, 2024

1. Macedonia Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. The African American community has been a visible and important part of the community from the time Newtown was founded. During the first half of the 19th century, the Leedom Farm, Pine Grove Farm and the Archambault House were sites on the Underground Railroad. Today, one of the centers for the African American community is the Macedonia Baptist Church.

In about 1820, the John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church (shown in top photo) was founded in Newtown and was comprised of what would later become both the Macedonia Baptist Church and the St. Mark AME Zion Church (Heritage Walk Site #25). Around 1914, the Baptist congregation decided they needed their own church. Through faith and determination, the small membership began carrying lumber and other building materials to the proposed site on the west side of North State Street. Every member served as a laborer, or in some capacity, in the construction of the new church.

By the 1940's, the Macedonia Baptist Church congregation had outgrown this building. and enlisted the aid and support of many members of the business community in pursuit for funding of the

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new church. In 1953, groundbreaking ceremonies were held at 218 North State Street for the new church. All of Newtown commemorated this occasion with a parade and ribbon cutting ceremony. While Macedonia has been predominately African American, we have always been multi-cultural.

Site Sponsor: Macedonia Baptist Church

Design & layout donated by Mike DiFlori, www.BuzzGraphicDesign.com Newton, PA.

[Captions]:
John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church, circa 1895, which was located behind 146 North Congress Street.

Macedonia Baptist Church, Spring 1953

Ticket from Macedonia Church Festival, 1916.

Erected 2007 by Newtown Historic Association. (Marker Number 20.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, Newtown Heritage Walk series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.

Location. 40° 13.997′ N, 74° 56.178′ W. Marker is in Newtown, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County. It is on North State Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map.

Macedonia Baptist Church Marker - wide view with church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, December 23, 2024

2. Macedonia Baptist Church Marker - wide view with church

Marker is at or near this postal address: 218 N State St, Newtown PA 18940, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North State Street (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Dolohan House (about 400 feet away); Daniel Dolohan House (about 400 feet away); Brooks House (about 400 feet away); The Saloon (about 400 feet away); Boyd-Yardley House (about 500 feet away); Randall Double House (about 500 feet away); William Penn's New Town (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newtown.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 340 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 25, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.