New Hope Baptist Church (Newark)

New Hope Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Newark, New Jersey, located at 106 Sussex Avenue in University Heights. It is affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA.

History

New Hope began its services as a "mission" in the home of Addie and Maggie Vine. The church organized on June 2, 1903, by the small but growing African-American community in Newark and incorporated on May 1, 1918.

Famous members of the congregation include late pop/R&B singer Whitney Houston, who grew up attending the church and singing in the choir, as well as her cousins Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick. Whitney's mother Cissy Houston is also a lifelong active member of the congregation, and serves on the Deaconess Board.

A group of teenagers who sang in the James M. Baxter Terrace Housing Projects recreation hall and who members of the church choir went on to become the Monotones, a doo-wop group.

Events

In 2010, Cory Booker kicked off his Newark mayoral re-election bid at the church. Cissy Houston has long been a musical influence on the church. Funeral services for Whitney Houston, a lifelong member of the congregation, were held at the New Hope Baptist Church. NJ Governor Chris Christie began his inauguration activities at the church in 2009 and 2014.

See also

• The Drinkard Singers
• McDonald's Gospelfest

References

External links

• New Hope Newark