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The
First Baptist Church
was organized on June 11, 1871, in a school house opposite the old
Methodist Church, where meetings were then held by Rev. J. T.
Griffith.
The members who were thus formed into a
separate congregation
were Robert Dunham, Isaac Lynch, James H. Garrison, Joseph
Byerly, John J. Hofius, John A. Porterfield, A. G. Dunham, Sarah Lynch,
Elizabeth Hofius, Augusta Lightner, Mary Hofius, Alice Garrison, George
Hofius. At the time of organization Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Hazen,
Sophia Byerly and Mary Lynch were added by baptism.
In 1872 the church building was erected on
lots donated by Gen. James
Pierce, at a cost of $3,000. The successive pastors of the congregation
have been Revs. J. T. Griffith, April 30, 1871, to April 20
1873; Jacob Morris, May 25, 1873. to November 1,
1874; W.
P. Hile, June. 1875, to April, 1879: J. T. Bristow,
May,
1879 to April, 1881; F. W. Cramer. September, 1881, to April,
1883; W. E. Feeman, June, 1883, to April, 1885, and
Henry
Madtes, who began his ministry June 28, I885, and who yet serves
[1888].
The History
of Mercer County, 1888, page 453
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first church building of the First Baptist Church,
Sharpsville
was built upon land donated by Gen. James Pierce. It was
dedicated on 8 Jun 1872. |
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Sharpville's First Baptist Church in 1912
(click
image to enlarge)
First
Baptist Church in 2001 |
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THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH
The
organization of the Baptist church of Sharpsville was effected June 11,
1871. Lots were donated by Gen. James Pierce and a church building
erected in 1872. The successive ministers since J. T.
Griffith, who
was the first, have been Jacob Morris, W. P. Hile, J. T. Bristow, F. W.
Cramer, W. E. Feeman, Henry Madtes, T. J. Seigfried, L. B. Underwood,
D. W. Burger, G. H. Ritchie, W. B. F. Brown, D. Percy French and
Herbert Grimwood, present pastor. Among the original members of this
church were Robert Dunham, Isaac Lynch, James H. Garrison, A. G.
Dunham, Joseph Byerly, John J. Hofius, A. B. Hazen, George Hofius, John
A. Porterfield. The church was organized with twenty
constituent
members and now numbers 198.
The following are the present
officers: Herbert Grimwood, pastor; J. H. Byerley, George D. Devitt, J.
J. Mehl, William Roberts, John Hazen, Noah Potter and S. H. McClelland,
deacons; Isaac Black, Grant Locke,William Roberts, Noah Potter,
Jacob
Solida, J. J. Crook, trustees; J. R. Hum, clerk; J. J. Mehl,
Bible-school superintendent; Albertina Smith, organist.
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County, 1909, page 278
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History
of the First Baptist Church through 1974
One
hundred two years ago on April 30, 1871 the First Baptist Church of
Sharpsville was organized with 14 members and reorganized as a church
June 11[1871] with the membership increased to 20.
Meetings
were held in the school house on lower Mercer Avenue. Soon this
building became too small and it was necessary to make arrangements for
a church.
On July 22, 1872 the first regular covenant meeting
was held. At this meeting the congregation voted unanimously to proceed
immediately towards erecting a meeting house. By this time they felt
they could not continue to meet in the school house, so efforts were
made to secure a more commodious place of worship until the meeting
house would be ready. By contacting General [James] Pierce at Mt.
Hickory the congregation was graciously granted use of Pierce Hall.
The
next important step was to organize a Sunday School. Rev. [J. T.]
Griffith received $50.00 at the end of quarter as missionary of the
General Baptist Association of Pennsylvania and he called the board
together and told them that if they would organize a Baptist Sunday
School and keep it as such he would send
the equivalent of his
salary in book and supplies as a gift from him. The offer was accepted,
the supplies came, a Sunday School was organized and has been in
existence ever since [1974].
June 8, 1872 the new meeting house was dedicated free from debt.
General Pierce donated the lot on which this church was built.
In
1911, during the pastorate of Rev. Clyde Donaldson, the members felt a
need of more room for the Sunday School. After careful consideration
and planning it was decided to remodel the old building. On January 31,
1915 the newly remodeled building was dedicated.
Recently the
Baptist community purchased property on Union Street and built a new
and beautiful church. The setting of the church is one of the most
beautiful in the Shenango Valley, truly a tribute to zeal and energy of
their pastor and of the congregation.
From:
Sharpsville Centennial Commemorative Booklet, 1974, page 40
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