I used to be a Roman Catholic but when I married my husband, who is a Baptist, I said we all worship the same God anyway, so I was baptized and became a member.
Anyways, for a little back ground, the First Baptist Church was organized in 1843 and was led by a new seminary graduate and meetings were held in a small house. A lot was purchased on 1853 and our church was built and completed on Thanksgiving Day in 1854; the cost was a whopping $5,000! It has gone through a lot of different Pastors and there was even a time where the door was closed due to inability to support a minister. For nearly three years the congregation worshiped with the other village churches until they hired a student who later was ordained in our church. During this ministry, the membership grew and they were able to install colored windows. In 1899, a baptistry was installed and in 1921 the church was wired with electricity. Additions, remodeling and repairs were done through the years.
The longest Pastor was Rev. Darius M. Ratcliff, who served for 27 years! During his ministry, he was responsible for organizing youth groups, purchasing a new organ, new restrooms and various improvements and repairs. His pastorate ended in 1959.
My parents-in-laws attended this church and so did their parents. They were pillars of the church, taking on responsibilities like cleaning, fund raising, serving in different committees, etc. Sometime in the 70's my husband painted a mural on the wall of the baptistry (pictured below) sadly enough, this painting is now peeling and is screaming to be re-painted. He used my mother-in-law (MIL), father-in-law and a few good friends as models for some of the figures. He is not too happy about the painting and said he painted it when he was younger and was lacking experience then.
It was also in the 70's when my hubby designed and installed this stained glass window. (pictured below) It is sitting on top of the front door. He also designed the new church steeple that replaces the old one which was torn down for safety reason. There are a lot of memories in this church. My hubby was big in "eating wood" when he was a baby (after he got his teeth), his teeth mark is in one of the pew because while seating on his parent's lap he would chew the pew in front. And at home he would kneel in front of his bedroom window and chew the window sill while watching his friends go to the movies; because he can't go so he would chew the wood instead. My husband was first married in this church also. It is sad because the last of the original family generations remaining who attended this church is my husband. We even have our "own" pew.
My hubby and I are officers of the executive board since 1983 and along with other God loving and dedicated church members, we do most of the planning and work in whatever our church needs.
Most of the members are elderly and dwindling ... we are trying to build the church's membership but younger generation these days prefers to worship in a more interactive service. I hate to see its door closed ... because over the years, I got attached to this small but warm and friendly church.
