The Union Baptist Church has its origins in the Fourth Baptist Church of Elizabeth. Available records indicate that, as early as 1873, a community of African Americans called the Fourth Baptist Church existed in Elizabeth. The Shiloh Baptist Church was also organized out of that congregation. After a failed attempt to merge Shiloh and Fourth Baptist, a few members of Shiloh joined with Fourth Baptist in forming The Union Baptist Church. The Reverend Joseph H. Bailey became the first pastor of the church after its incorporation on March 11, 1891. The cornerstone for the church was laid in March, 1893 and the building was dedicated on June 25, 1893. Dr. Lewis led a building program in the 1940s that included the elevation of the church to create a fellowship hall, addition of the vestibule and balcony and an extension at the rear of the building.
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