The First Baptist Church of Hartford
| The First Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| The First Cathedral – A Church for all people | |
 Lancet window in The First Cathedral Sanctuary
| |
| Location | 1151 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, Connecticut |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Non-Denominational |
| Website | The First Cathedral |
| History | |
| Founded | April 12, 1968 |
| Founder(s) | Rev. Edward R. King |
| Dedicated | September 4, 1999 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | TMA Architects/Russell & Dawson Architecture and Engineering of East Hartford, Connecticut |
| Style | Post-Modern Cathedral |
| Years built | 1997–1999 |
| Clergy | |
| Minister(s) | Over 100 recognized associate ministers (Minister of Music: Cinque Cullar ) |
| Senior pastor(s) | Archbishop LeRoy Bailey Jr. |
| Pastor(s) |
Co Pastor Michael Bailey Assistant Pastor LeRoy Bailey III |
| Deacon(s) | Over 200 ordained and recognized deacons |
Coordinates: 41°50′01″N 72°41′57″W / 41.8337°N 72.6992°W
Co Pastor Michael Bailey
Originally known as The 1st Baptist Church in Hartford, Connecticut,The First Cathedral is the fifteenth oldest historically black church founded in the city of Hartford, Connecticut; and the third congregation to be known as The First Baptist Church of Hartford, Connecticut. The phrase The First Cathedral is used colloquially to refer to the Christian ministry based in Bloomfield, Connecticut as well as the edifice in which the ministry is held.
The pastor is Archbishop LeRoy Bailey Jr.
In February 1971, LeRoy Bailey Jr, an assistant minister at Golden Leaf Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee was called to be the second pastor of the First Baptist Church. He was licensed to preach in 1958; and ordained in 1966 by L. A. Hamblin. Bailey, a 1970 graduate of The College of the Bible at American Baptist College in Social Science. As an undergraduate, Bailey served as the 1969–1970 co-chairman of the student-faculty relations committee, chairman of the recruitment committee of the School of Religion and the National president of Alpha Theta Nu Omega theological fraternity.
He completed his master's degree at Howard University School of Religion in Practical Theology in 1971. While attending Howard, he received the Maynard award for preaching.
Upon his arrival to Hartford, Bailey served as state representative for the Connecticut Convention of American Baptist Churches USA, an auditor for the Connecticut Missionary Baptist Convention, chairman of the social action committee of the Ministerial Inter-denominational Alliance of Greater Hartford, and a general member of the board of directors of The North Hartford churches for the Aging, Bellevue Square Boys Club, The Hartford Chapter of 70001 Ltd. and the Family Service Society in Hartford, Connecticut.
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