Aerial view of Spruce Street Baptist Church
Spruce Street Baptist Church: Caring for You, Sharing Jesus Christ by Liz Burnett Photos courtesy of SSBC Pastor Roland Buccialia
How can a church founded in 1689 still be relevant and thriving 330 years later? Only if its leadership and congregation create a caring, supportive community that nourishes its members’ families so well that they share it from generation to generation. Did you know there IS such a church right here in Newtown Square? Spruce Street Baptist Church (SSBC) at 3701 Gradyville Road in Newtown Square traces its history to 1689 and the founding of Pennypack Baptist Church in northeast Philadelphia. In 1829, a doctrinal difference arose among the church leadership. That resulted in a split and the founding in downtown Philadelphia of SSBC, which was officially assigned the honor and responsibility of carrying on the heritage of the original church. When members started moving to Delaware County, the church purchased land in 1963 for its current location on Gradyville Rd and Rte 252. The fact that William Penn had laid out that exact
Landmark showing history of Spruce Street Baptist Church
Delaware County intersection back in 1681 affirmed for the congregation that every generation of members since 1689 had indeed been good stewards of SSBCs heritage and mission. Since 1986, that same desire to serve and nourish young families as well as the “senior saints” has guided the ministry of current SSBC Pastor, Rev. Dr. Roland Buccialia. Born and raised in Marlton, NJ, he grew up in a home centered on God and teaching the Word of God. After graduating from Baptist Bible College, he earned a Master’s and Doctoral degrees, and has done post-Doctoral studies in Biblical Counseling. Pastor Roland and his wife Lorna, now married almost 40 years, raised their daughter and three sons while he pastored SSBC for the past 33 years. “It’s been a blessing for us to be in Newtown Square. We love the community! All four of our children are local and very much an integral part of our ministry and assist in leadership and service to our church ministry.”
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