139 Carroll St, Paterson, NJ 07501,

St. Luke Baptist Church is one of Paterson’s best-known historic African-American congregations. It was organized in 1927, during the Great Migration, to serve the growing Black community that had settled in Paterson to work in the city’s industries. The church has played an important role in the city’s religious, educational, and civic life ever since.

Location

  • 139 A.M. Tyler Place (Carroll Street)
  • Paterson, New Jersey 07501
  • Phone: (973) 345-4309

The pastors that can be documented are:

  1. Rev. Dr. A. M. Tyler (dates of pastorate not fully known)
    • Longtime pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church.
    • A leading figure in New Jersey Baptist life.
    • Instrumental in organizing the Shiloh Baptist Association of New Jersey in 1958 and served as one of its earliest moderators.
  2. Rev. Dr. Kenneth Darryl Ray Clayton (1997–present)
    • Called as Assistant Pastor in 1997 under Rev. Dr. A. M. Tyler.
    • Became Acting Pastor following Dr. Tyler’s death.
    • Officially elected Senior Pastor on October 22, 1997.
    • He is the sixth and youngest pastor in the church’s history. Under his leadership, St. Luke has expanded its ministries, community outreach, and membership.

History
The congregation traces its origins to 1927, when African-American families migrating from the South organized a new Baptist congregation in Paterson. As membership increased, St. Luke became a major center for:

  • Christian worship and Bible teaching
  • Youth and family ministries
  • Music and choral traditions
  • Community development and social outreach
  • Educational and literacy programs

Today, the church continues to serve both its congregation and the wider Paterson community through worship services and the St. Luke Community Development Corporation.

Community Ministries
The church sponsors:

  • Children’s and youth ministries
  • Men’s and women’s ministries
  • Christian education
  • Food and clothing assistance
  • Reading assistance programs
  • Community development initiatives through its Resource Center.

If you’re researching the history of African-American churches in Paterson, St. Luke is considered one of the city’s most significant twentieth-century congregations.