By John Kriz
New Canaan is sometimes viewed through a narrow lens, with the town being, as the British say, ‘Much of a muchness.’ While true in some respects (New England charm, neighborly spirit – good things), our town has changed over the decades, from the rise and fall of farming and shoemaking, to the rise (and fall?) of Wall Street. Furthermore, this narrow lens ignores the range our town has had for many decades.
The Community Baptist Church, a historically Black Church now in its second century among us, is one example. Its humble position on Cherry Street and simple white-painted exterior belie a warm and welcoming interior, and a history of action that has substantially shaped the New Canaan of today. Its new pastor, Rev. Gilbert Burgess, in partnership with the Church’s trustees, are striving to reinvigorate the Church, and make an even bigger impression on our town.
Early History
The Church’s establishment reflects the faith and fortitude of two women: Cora Scott and Mary Cantor. Cora Scott was a graduate of Howard University, trained as a teacher. During World War I she served our country by working in a servicemen’s club in her hometown of Washington DC. Margaret Breuchaud, a friend of hers at the club, who was from New Canaan and unaware of Cora Scott’s education, asked her to come and work in her household as a domestic servant. Though college trained and not relishing domestic work, she had been praying for an opportunity for greater service to God, and saw this offer as a response from the Holy Spirit. So, off she went to New Canaan along with her friend Mary Cantor, who was a trained cook.
Once in New Canaan, the two devout women began to organize religious services in Raymond Hall (now the Raymond building on Main Street) led by a neighboring minister. They cleaned the hall in exchange for its free use. This congregation became more fully formed in 1922 as an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. In 1926 the women were ordained as Evangelists by an AME bishop to do the Lord’s work in New Canaan. Time passed, the Lord provided, and in 1930 these two women, with $1400 in hard-earned savings, a $2500 mortgage and money raised from important townspeople and friends, bought land on Cherry Street and broke ground, laying the church’s cornerstone in 1931. That church still stands today.
A large fifth anniversary ceremony was held in 1936, attended by New Canaan’s First Selectman, clergy from the town’s Congregational, Methodist and Episcopal churches, with various other clergy, prominent townspeople and judicial officials joining the festivities. In 1940 the mortgage was paid off and burned in a celebration, also attended by various clergy and town leaders.
In 1942 the church decided to withdraw from the AME conference. Soon after the church decided to affiliate with the Northern Baptist Convention, and it became, and remains, the Community Baptist Church. Cora Scott was also at that time ordained as a minister by the New York Missionary Conference, and she and Mary Cantor decided to leave Mrs. Breuchaud’s employ and devote themselves full time to the mission of the Church, with now-Rev. Scott being the minister in charge.
In 1943 Mary Cantor, who had been denied the benefits of education and was illiterate, passed after a short illness, and the leadership of Community Baptist Church fell fully on Rev. Scott. Whenever Mary Cantor had been assigned to do the readings, Cora Scott would step in and say “I’ll do the reading, and Sister Cantor can do the praying; she can pray better than I can.” Cora Scott never told Mary Cantor of her college education, as she did not want her to feel unequal.
of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Community support and involvement continued, and in 1953 D. Putnam Brinley, a prominent Silvermine artist, as well as an Episcopalian and Republican, donated a painting of a nativity scene to the Church which still adorns the sanctuary. Various townspeople contributed to cover the cost of the frame, lettering and installation.
Rev. Scott continued to lead Community Baptist Church until her passing in 1958, after 37 years of devoted service.
More Recent Times
According to Church Trustee and New Canaan resident Tim Craig, Community Baptist Church has always been “a pivotal hub of the Black community” in New Canaan. This is echoed by Trustee and former New Canaan resident and public school teacher Robert Jeffress, who notes that “the Church has always been central in culture, and as a social support group.” Adds long time Church secretary, Trustee and New Canaan resident Janice Benson, “We feel like a family spirit here.” Trustee, Deacon and New Canaan resident Willie Blue remarks that “Church is powerful, where you get strength.” Plus, “the town supported us when we needed help,” affirms Trustee Jeffress. When the Church was short of funds they held bake sales and BBQs. “There were lines around the block.”
Trustee Craig, a member since 1960, is retired after many years with Eversource. Exuding the air of a practical gentleman who knows how to get things done, his family moved to New Canaan from Detroit when he was a small child. “Dad was not wealthy,” and his mother, Hilda, worked as a domestic servant. They came to New Canaan “seeking a piece of the American pie. It was a good place to grow and prosper.” His mother was also “an entrepreneur” and a member of the local NAACP chapter (which has since disbanded) and the Chamber of Commerce. Trustee Craig notes that his mother would collect money, food and clothes, and drive them to Mississippi to support people in need. But it was not all roses. Trustee Craig notes that, in 1963 when his mother was buying a house on East Avenue, she had trouble getting a mortgage because she was Black.
Trustee Willie Blue has been a member since 1963, having moved to New Canaan the year before. One of fifteen children of sharecroppers, he was nineteen years old and had had “very little education.” Despite this limitation, his positive attitude prevailed, with him emphasizing there was “nothing I couldn’t do if I set my mind to it.” Once here he started working for the Gilmore Cleaning Service, run by husband and wife team Elliot and Evelyn. He met them at Church. Mrs. Gilmore “was a mentor” and had a side catering business where he also worked. He bought the cleaning business from the Gilmores in the 1970s. “Use the brain God gave you to get ahead,” he says. Trustee Blue and his beloved wife Kathen Ann Blue have four children, who have all attended college. Trustee Blue says he feels a part of the New Canaan community. “I am well welcomed now.” He observes that “once they found I had high goals, people got behind me.” He also notes that his “kids were treated badly” in the town’s schools at first. However, when he complained, and demonstrated that the parents cared and were supportive, they then received teacher support.
Trustee Jeffress attended the public schools in New Canaan, and after graduating from Morehouse College returned to New Canaan as a guidance counselor and Community Resource Liaison at the high school, also teaching a Black history course. He has the character of a firm but caring educator. His mother was one of the first crossing guards in town, and she went on to become a Special Matron of Police – the first Black person on our police force. He notes that the NAACP, which held its meetings at the Church, encouraged the New Canaan Public Schools to recruit more Black teachers and, in response, the NCPS started an arrangement with Norfolk State College, a historically Black college, to send some of its trainee teachers here, living with host families. “It was an awakening for the teachers to live in such affluence,” he notes.
Trustee Janice Benson is a nurse caring for infants at Stamford Hospital, with a quiet, ‘get it done right’ confidence. Originally from South Carolina, her family first moved to Norwalk, then to New Canaan in 1967, where she had most of her schooling. She had been bullied in Norwalk by other Blacks because she was light skinned. In New Canaan she and the other Black students “felt isolated,” an observation shared by Trustees Craig and Jeffress. The schools then had 22 Black students, 15 being female, and all were Church members. “We went to Norwalk and Stamford for socialization, seeking dates.” It was especially tough on the girls, as the boys had sports but the girls did not. Eventually a request was made to then-high school principal Alan Haas to bring more young Black males to town, and this was a genesis for the ABC House.
New Pastor, Fresh Vision
Backed by thirty years of preaching, and a desire to “be a part of change for individuals,” Rev. Gilbert Burgess, Community Baptist Church’s new pastor, is intent on reinvigorating his Church, and finding ways to better fit in to the community and be effective. A graduate of Hartford Seminary, Rev. Burgess was interim pastor for a bit over a year before the Holy Spirit called him to the position permanently. A former assistant pastor for nearly eighteen years to Rev. Lindsay Curtis of Grace Baptist Church in Norwalk, chef and auto mechanic, he is also in the process of opening a classic car showroom. His wife, Kim Bianca Burgess – the Church’s ‘First Lady’ — teaches at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport.
A gentle man with quiet strength and much optimism, Rev. Burgess has already taken several steps to fold himself into the New Canaan community. He has joined the Interfaith Council of New Canaan, and leads some of the worship services at Waveny LifeCare Network. His installation in January was also a broad affair, with the town’s Roman Catholic, Episcopal and Presbyterian clergy participating.
“I want to make us large. I want to make noise, be noticed.” This desire is shared by Trustee Craig, who emphasizes that the Church needs “to expand our reach out to people.” One of Rev. Burgess’s ideas is to explore a partnership with the Presbyterian Church, and perhaps others, for a vacation bible school.
When discussing his choice of Rev. Burgess as the new pastor, Trustee Craig said, “he was faithful, always available, consistent.” Trustee Jeffress calls Rev. Burgess a “visionary who could lead us into the future.” Trustee Benson adds that he has “lots of ideas. And he gets things done.” Trustee Blue says that Rev. Burgess “has a spirit that speaks to the heart. Pray and God will open the door, and He opened the door” for Rev. Burgess and brought him to us.
Rev. Burgess is also seeking ways to affiliate with the many civic groups and charities in New Canaan. He sees no need to reinvent the wheel, but rather to find the best ways his Church can participate more fully in the good works already being done – and perhaps create some new ones.
There is much to do at Community Baptist Church. COVID put a large dent in membership that has not been repaired. New Canaan’s property costs have a continuing effect on many Black families’ ability to live in town. And, like many Christian congregations, members are aging. After peaking at a bit over 200 members in the 1970s, membership is now fewer than a quarter of that.
Though Rev. Burgess talks of building a legacy, perhaps it’s more a task of deepening the impressive legacy that Community Baptist Church already has, and strengthening what he calls “that bond with the community.” Says Rev. Burgess, “We want to be here, be a part.” But the pastor need not fear: Community Baptist Church is very much here, and a part of New Canaan. With a proud past, a prouder present and the proudest of futures, our town has much to be thankful for, with boundless blessings to come as Community Baptist Church marches onward into its second century.
www.facebook.com/CBCNewCanaan Services are broadcast live on facebook, and archived on the Church’s facebook page.
Email: CBCNewCanaan@gmail.com
John J Kriz is a 30+ year resident of New Canaan. The opinions expressed are his own.
