Our History
Calvary Baptist Church was started as Calvary Bible Church in November 1949 with seven (7) members in a rented room above Sloans Music Store. In May 1950, a tent was purchased for $325 and erected on North Broad Street with attendance averaging around 41 people. Later that year the name was changed to Calvary Baptist Church.
The first building at Wood & Derstine was purchased in 1952 for $10,000 as the Lord enabled and blessed. E. Robert Jordan became the first full-time pastor on June 5, 1955 and began leading Calvary in their dynamic growth. With a growing congregation and a need for more space, the Lord provided the opportunity to purchase 9 acres at Sumneytown Pike and Valley Forge Road in 1959. Three (3) years later, an additional 4 acres were acquired to complete our present 13 acre property.
In September of 1968 a larger auditorium was dedicated, and Calvary Baptist Christian School began classes with 118 students. Pastor John Garber was the first principal of this new school with grades from kindergarten through sixth. By 1973, all 12 grades were offered. In 1974, 53 acres in Bernville, PA, were purchased to start Camp Calvary. Camp Calvary is currently open year round with 5,000 campers attending annually.Dr. Tim Jordan to succeed his father as Senior Pastor in 1986 and Dr. E. Robert Jordan became Pastor Emeritus, focusing on the church-planting ministry.
In July of 1999, the church broke ground for the construction of a new seminary library. When this project was completed in 2001, the existing library was converted into a church foyer and welcome center. Also during this time, the auditorium, staff offices, nurseries, and school underwent heavy remodeling. God has richly blessed and used Calvary Baptist Church in powerful ways. But, since the world has not been won over to Christ, our work is not yet done. God has much for us to do in service to Him. We certainly may rejoice, but with no reason to relax in our dedication to disciple our world for Christ.
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
I Corinthians 15:58
The first building at Wood & Derstine was purchased in 1952 for $10,000 as the Lord enabled and blessed. E. Robert Jordan became the first full-time pastor on June 5, 1955 and began leading Calvary in their dynamic growth. With a growing congregation and a need for more space, the Lord provided the opportunity to purchase 9 acres at Sumneytown Pike and Valley Forge Road in 1959. Three (3) years later, an additional 4 acres were acquired to complete our present 13 acre property.
In September of 1968 a larger auditorium was dedicated, and Calvary Baptist Christian School began classes with 118 students. Pastor John Garber was the first principal of this new school with grades from kindergarten through sixth. By 1973, all 12 grades were offered. In 1974, 53 acres in Bernville, PA, were purchased to start Camp Calvary. Camp Calvary is currently open year round with 5,000 campers attending annually.Dr. Tim Jordan to succeed his father as Senior Pastor in 1986 and Dr. E. Robert Jordan became Pastor Emeritus, focusing on the church-planting ministry.
In July of 1999, the church broke ground for the construction of a new seminary library. When this project was completed in 2001, the existing library was converted into a church foyer and welcome center. Also during this time, the auditorium, staff offices, nurseries, and school underwent heavy remodeling. God has richly blessed and used Calvary Baptist Church in powerful ways. But, since the world has not been won over to Christ, our work is not yet done. God has much for us to do in service to Him. We certainly may rejoice, but with no reason to relax in our dedication to disciple our world for Christ.
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
I Corinthians 15:58
