A Brief History of Seaview
On June 26, 1862, a meeting was held in Bargaintown to consider the formation of a Baptist Church in the area. After a season of prayer, it was decided the Somers Point Baptist Church should be chartered as a branch of the Hammonton, New Jersey Church. The Rev. Thomas Davis was called as the church’s first pastor, and on July 27, 1862, the first baptism and first communion service was held.
Services were conducted in various locations until the
construction of a chapel in Bakersville (now Northfield) was completed November
6, 1870. Independently, The Sea View
Union Sunday School was formed during this same period. The Sea View Union Sunday School met in a
public building in Linwood but was displaced by a fire on March 14, 1881. The Somers Point Baptist Church moved its
Bakersville Chapel to Linwood and invited the Sea View Union Sunday School to
utilize the relocated chapel. On May 7,
1882 The Sunday School and Church were united and the name “Seaview Baptist
Church” was formally adopted in 1888.
In
1959 ground was broken for the present sanctuary.
Four years later an educational wing was constructed. Seaview Baptist Church reached out to the
community as it sponsored the Al Crocker Evangelism Crusade in 1973, brought a
Laotian refugee family to the United States in 1976 and provided space for
CARING (a senior adult daycare center).
The original parsonage was sold and a more modern ranch style house on
Woodlynne Blvd. was purchased in 1984.
In 1992,
the church suffered a devastating fire that destroyed the education wing and
caused significant smoke and water damage to the sanctuary. The enduring attitude of the pastor and congregation
saw to the re-construction of the education wing and the refurbishment of the
sanctuary.
In recent years several members of
the Church participated in short term mission trips to Thailand, Ecuador,
Bacone College, and Kodiak Alaska. Seaview also gives generously to several
international mission efforts.
Community outreach has also been a love for Seaview. We have provided monthly ministry to the
homeless by serving meals at The Jean Webster Soup Kitchen. Our church also supports the Jean Webster Kitchen through Peanut Butter
and Jelly sandwiches made monthly. Divorce Care, Save Your Marriage Classes, Overcomers Fellowship, Alcoholics Anonymous, AlAnon., Easter Egg Hunts, Vacation Bible School, Annual Mother / Daughter Breakfasts and Father / Son Breakfasts round out our reaching into our local community. Our Wednesday Family Dinners and Worship
activities have been very well attended.