First Baptist Church of Cranford/Elizabeth (est. 1843) has been led by a distinguished line of pastors throughout its history, beginning with The Rev. Charles Cox in 1844 and continuing to the present with The Rev. Dr. Malachy M. Williams, who assumed the role as Transitional Pastor in 2023, and then as Senior Pastor in 2024. The church has also been guided by the first female and first African American Senior Pastor in the person of The Rev. Dr. Diana L. Brown from 2003 to 2022, marking that significant period in its history and the longest pastorate. We are grateful for this succession of dedicated leaders which reflects First Baptist Church of Cranford/Elizabeth’s enduring commitment to spiritual development, Christian education and community engagement.

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Elkanah Drake, Founder not Pastor, 1842

1. Rev. Charles Cox, 1844-1845   

2. Rev. Edward Conover, 1845-1846

3. ​Mr. E. Tibbals, 1846-1847

4. Rev. William H. Turner, 1848-1850

5. Rev. John H. Waterbury, 1851-1854

6. Rev. T.S. Rogers, 1855-1857

7. Rev. Isaac N. Hill, 1857-1859

8. Rev. George W. Clark, D. D. ,1859-1868

9. Rev. Theodore A.K. Gessler, D.D., 1868-1879

10. Rev. John C. Allen, 1880-1885

11. Rev. Carter Helm Jones, 1885-1889

12. Rev. William H. Shermer, 1890-1893

13. Rev. William E. Staub, Ph.D., 1894-1902

14. Rev. Travis B. Thames, D.D., 1903-1911

15. Rev. Newton M. Simmonds, 1912-1923

       Rev. Robert Pierce, Interim

16. Rev. Llewellyn Brown, D.D.. 1924-1931

17. Rev. Arthur Hulburt Ryan, 1932-1944 (Click Here to Read Centennial History)

18. Rev. Louis Forsythe Kirlin, 1945-1950

19. Rev. Robert O. Seely, 1951-1958

20. Rev. David J. Evans, 1959-1963

21. Rev. Michael Brandy, 1964-1972

22. Rev. Warner L. Wilson, 1973-1978

23. Rev. John Wesley Shipp, 1980-1993

24. Rev. Frank Armstrong, 1995-1996

25. Rev. John Wesley Shipp, 1997-2000

26. Rev. Richard Blackwell, 2001-2002

27. Rev. Diana L. Brown, D.Min., 2003-2022

28. Rev. Malachy M. Williams, Th.D., Ph.D., 2023 (Transitional),2024-Present