One Hundred Fifty Years of Service

              A small group of devout men and women of the Baptist faith, living in what was known in those early days as South Woburn, conducted Sunday School services in Union Hall, on Main Street, prior to 1850.  This group laid the foundation for the Church.  On January 12^th, 1852, fourteen members of the Baptist Society of Winchester met at Lyceum Hall to organize as a corporation. The following is from the January1864 Chronicles of Winchester Book I:

             Now it came to pass that in the third year of the reign of Abraham the First, who was chosen to rule over the land of the Pilgrims, that the peoples called the Baptists, who abode in the town of Winchester, in the Province of Massachusetts, had chosen Henry, whose surname was Hinckley, to be their spiritual guide and preacher and, behold, they met together to worship God in a place called Lyceum Hall.  Now Henry, being greatly desirous to promote the glory of God, lifted up his voice and said:  Lo, these many years have you worshipped God in a place not consecrated entirely to Him.  Wherefore let us rise in our strength and let us build a tabernacle and dedicate it to the Lord, who has dealt so bountifully with us: and all the people said Amen.

And they chose certain of the brethren to collect together all the gold and silver, likewise all the notes called "greenbacks" to pay for the house, for they said, "Let us not begin to build till we know we shall be able to finish."  In all these things the Lord prospered them so that they were all of one mind, which had not always been so.  They raised $1699, so it was that a sufficient sum of money was raised and the hope of a suitable tabernacle was to become a reality.  After much consideration the committee purchased the land on the corner of Washington and Mt. Vernon Streets.

            Although it was the trying time of the Civil War, the Pastor, by prayer, faith and much personal effort inspired the hearts of the people and the work began.  On June 9, 1864 the edifice was dedicated.  There remained no financial burden on the members; the building was debt free.

In the 1881 the pew rental system was abolished and in 1894 the church began printing of the weekly calendar.

           During the 1920s there were so many activities that  the church edifice was found to be too small.  Around 1926 a Building Finance Committee was formed and a short vigorous capital campaign followed. Pledges of $225,000 were received which was sufficient to begin work on a new building.  On November 11, 1928 the corner stone of the new Church was laid.  While the church edifice was being constructed, services were held in the Winchester Town Hall and some activities were conducted in Lyceum Hall.

           The dedication ceremonies of the new Winchester First Baptist Church began on Sunday afternoon, September 29, 1929 with a Service of Dedication in Worship.  The faith and commitment of our members had built a magnificent new church.  For $225,000with a $105,000 mortgageon the eve of the Great Depression.

The ladies of the Church, already organized as the Womens League, opened a Thrift Shop in Winchester center, by this means obligating themselves in the reduction of the Church mortgage.  The Thrift Shop was opened on April 1, 1932.  In the twenty years from 1932 to 1952 when "victory was attained" the Womens League and their Thrift Shop contributed more than $50,000 toward the reduction of the mortgage.  With the help of all members of the church, on Monday evening May 14, 1951, at a victory banquet, the mortgage was burned.

1952 marked the 100th Anniversary of our Church. The centennial was enthusiastically commemorated. Several special services were held, highlighted by a Centennial Banquet and the filling of a Treasure Chest to be opened 100 years hence. A sad note is that 50 years later we cannot find it!

             A new parsonage was purchased in 1959, located at 10 Lawrence Street with the proceeds from the sale of the original Winn Memorial Parsonage ($16,000) combined with other gifts including a generous gift of $10,000 in memory of Mr. Martin M. Swanson.

Now begins the story of the most recent 25 years.  As the Good Book says "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven".  Reverend Bill Huegel, learned of two problems when he came in 1982.  First, his new church was too large for its shrinking membership, and too expensive to maintain. The edifice, which was so lovingly constructed over the years, had to be divided.  Thus began a six year journey working through the Board of Selectmen, Town Meeting, and various town boards to get approval to convert part of the church to condominiums.  Renovation began in 1987, the journey was almost complete and the Church was preparing for a celebration when disaster struck.   According to  Pastor Huegel, a rededication celebration was scheduled for Dec. 6, 1987 which would also coincide with the churchs 135 anniversary.

            Only weeks prior to the newly partitioned churchs rededication a fire due to spontaneous combustion of rags during the renovation set the church back.  FIRE GUTS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH was the headline on Nov. 19 in the Daily Times Chronicle :

"A smoky four-alarm fire caused extensive damage to the First Baptist Church on the corner of Mt. Vernon and Washington streets early this morning.  The fire gutted the rear of the building, apparently beginning in the basement and burning up to the roof.  The blaze destroyed the altar, sacristy, offices and classrooms of the newly renovated building."

Sunday services for the First Baptist congregation were held at the Jenks Senior Center and other churches in town offered space.  Support for rebuilding came from all over.

Much work was done to restore the church and on Oct. 2, 1988 in the newly renovated church we began a day of rededication ceremonies.

           Leading up to this celebration the 150^th Anniversary Committee had a booth at Town Day and a church family dinner.  Many entertaining stories as well as remembrances of happy, sad and difficult times were told.

Pastors during these years were: Rev. Howard A. Krueger 1975-82, Rev. William Huegel 1982-94,  Rev. Lawrench French 1996-2002, leading up to our new minister Rev. Michael Thedford 2003-2006.  During this time we have had a number of interim ministers, assistant ministers, theology students who have all contributed to the church.  Our organists and choir directors over this time have principally been Barbara Brown and Diane Wagner.  Many loving, willing, helping hands by our entire congregation have made contributions too numerous for this brief summary!

A study of our history can give us new strength in carrying out the Lords will.  The many years of dedication and struggle are an inspiration to the current congregation.  Our previous congregations, committees and leaders had great ideas and wisdom, which can enlighten us as we move from the present into the bright days of the future.  We now are accountable for moving the church forward; let us join together in this wonderful challenge as we learn from the past and prepare to do the Lords work! 

The congregation has rallied at all times and through their donations of time, talent, and treasure, the First Baptist Church of Winchester is poised to grow from its sesquicentennial toward its bicentennial.

We now embarking on our journey toward our bicentennial. We have a new minister and a new energy to follow Gods plan for the church.