THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

 

The First Baptist Church was organized June 4, 1837, at the house of Lemuel Ludden, with Titus Gilbert, Z. Cook, Barbara Cook, Lemuel and Silah Ludden, Phoebe Skinner and Nancy Taylor as charter members. They met first in private houses, then in the court-house, and in 1844 purchased the old brick school-house on Union Square, at a cost of $45.36, which they fitted up and used until 1848, when they built a house of worship, at a cost of $3,500.

This house was used until 1870, when they erected their present Church edifice on the corner of Third Avenue and Fifteenth Street, at a cost of $18,000. In the 48 years of its existence it has given three of its members to the ministry of the Word . W. Phares, N. Elton and John L. Jackson. The present membership of the Church is 190. Its Sunday-school has an average attendance of 150, with an enrollment of over 200. J. W. Welch is Superintendent. A mission school is held in the eastern part of the city, with Geo. P. Lyman as Superintendent. Rev. I. W. Read is the present Pastor.

 

Historic Rock Island

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