1800-Present First Baptist Church ~ West Side
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First Baptist Church on High Street
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Baptist churches appeared in Groton, Connecticut, as early as 1705 and Waterford in 1710. They were founded by preachers from Roger Williams’ religiously tolerant Rhode Island. But it wasn’t until 1790 that the first Baptist meetings were held on Norwich’s West Side.
It was considered an enormous crime merely to listen to a sermon by the so-called “Separatists” because their views were seen as subversive. Besides believing baptism was only for those old enough to choose the Christian faith consciously, Baptists insisted on the separation of church and state.
The First Baptist Church in Norwich was organized in 1800. In 1840, members of First Baptist founded Central Baptist Church on Union Square in downtown (a.k.a. Chelsea). The new church dedicated its first building the following year after overflowing the town hall with its early meetings.
After buying the former First Baptist Church building at 49 High Street for $1,000, the group named their meeting house Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in 1880.
A few members split off in 1900, forming Grace Memorial Baptist Church on Mount Pleasant Street. One former Mount Calvary member observed, “Mount Calvary was known all over the state as one of the most beautiful and largest churches, and Grace Memorial was known for its sincerity.”
The two groups reunited in 1937 as Union Baptist
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 352, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
“A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America, and Other Parts of the World,” (1813), by David Benedict
“Diverse, historic, spiritual: Norwich centers of worship reflect changing city,” (12/23/2007), by John-Manual Andriote
“The Methodist Episcopal Churches of Norwich, Conn.,” (1867), page 59, by Reverend Edgar F. Clark
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Baptist” in the SEARCH box.
1840-Present: Central Baptist Church ~ Norwich
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Central Baptist Church
Acknowledgements
Rev. Holloway
The complete list of sources can be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button and then typing “Greeneville Baptist” in the SEARCH box.
1845-Present: Calvary Baptist Church ~ Greeneville
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Central Baptist Church
256 Central Avenue corner of Central & 6th, 1885 Fire Map
Acknowledgements
Rev. Holloway
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Greeneville Baptist” in the SEARCH box.