HistoryThe History Of FBC Valpo
In the spring of 1836 Rev. Alpheus French preached to a group of twenty-five persons in a grove at Blachly’s Corners, Union Township. This was the first meeting held by a Baptist minister within the confines of Porter County. Rev. French and Rev. Neal were Baptist missionaries, who, with the Methodist circuit riders, invaded the country in 1835 to spread the Gospel among the early settlers.
On June tenth, 1837 Elder French organized the first Baptist Church at the home of Morris Witham on Morgan Prairie, with thirteen charter members. John Robinson and John Batholomew were the first deacons and Jacob C. White the first clerk. The original name of the church was “The First Baptist Church on Salt Creek, Porter County, Indiana.” In 1840 the name was changed to the “First Baptist Church of Valparaiso.” During the first ten years of its history the church had three pastors, Elder Alpheus French, Elder H. S. Orton, who was ordained by the local church, and elder William Bly. The congregation was, at this time, without a permanent house of worship, the meetings being held in various places.
In the early years the men sat on one side of the church and the women on the other, but by 1855 families began sitting together and it has been a family church ever since.
Elder Nickerson, the next pastor, served for five years and was succeeded by Elder Harry Smith, who served about six years. At this time the hand of fellowship was withdrawn from Mr. Firman Church for disseminating heretical doctrine. In 1844 and again in 1851 the church applied to the Home Mission Society for aid. During this time the men sat on one side of the church and the women on the other but in 1855 a privilege was granted to individuals and families to make choice of “slips” in the body of the church.
From 1857 to 1867, while Elders G. T. Brayton, J. D. Cole, J.M. Maxwell, R. H. Tozer and M. F. Lamb served the church as pastors, there were two hundred five additions to the membership. In 1857 the church was still receiving $100.00 a year from the Home Mission Society. Timothy Keene and Mrs. Keene were received by letter in July 1857. Elder Brayton was superintendent of the Sabbath school, besides officiating as pastor. Baptisms were conducted at Deacon Eglin’s mill. Elder French died March eighth, 1860, at the age of eighty-nine years.
In 1870, Deacon J. Bradley, at his own expense, constructed a baptistry in the church. From 1867 to 1877, Elder Otis Saxton, W. A. Caplinger, and W. A. Clark served as pastors. For about one year of this period, Elder E. S. Riley was pastor. During this period, the brick parsonage was erected. $500.00 was donated by Henry Hanson for this purpose, and to encourage the church to raise at least $500.00 more. W. A. Clark, W. H, Knapp, J. S. Louderback, H. Hanson, L. H. Fiske and T. Keene were appointed on the Building Committee.
At a special meeting held August 15, 1875, Rev. Riley received a unanimous call to become pastor. A special committee was appointed to examine the church records, to visit or correspond with all members not in regular attendance, and to ascertain their location and standing.
In April, 1876, it was voted to remove the partition from under the gallery for the purpose of making additional seating room. Rev. Riley was appointed to procure funds for a bell, to replace the old one which was cracked. The funds were raised and the bell installed.
During Elder Riley’s pastorate the church received into membership Mrs. Emma Miller by letter from LaPorte Baptist Church and Mr. John Collins and Mr. Ed Keene by baptism, and on March 3, 1879, two boys, Ed Keene and Sam Collins, brother of John Collins, were baptized. Ed S. Keene lived to be a member for 81 years, and Sam Collins passed on after 82 years of membership.
The new brick church edifice, erected at a cost of $7,000.00, was dedicated November 13, 1881. Rev. J. M. Whitehead preached the sermon. John Collins, Bertha Collins, Abbie Riley, Georgie Whipple, Dloyd Whipple and Joseph Salisbury sang. During the time the new church was being constructed, the congregation held services in the old brick Court House. The total valuation of the church property at this time was $12,000.00. The church made very important advances during Elder Riley’s pastorate. There were 248 additions and 148 baptisms. The decrease was 160, and the entire membership 240. On January 3, 1886, Rev. Riley tendered his resignation.
March 14, 1886, Rev. Cary J. Pope was called to the pastorate, which position he held for three years. At the annual meeting December 31, 1886, J. S. Louderback, J. R. Drapier, and M. L. Andrus were elected deacons; Frank Knapp, D. L. Smith, trustees; W. Reading, clerk; J. S. Louderback, treasurer. A committee was appointed and made arrangements for the observance of the 50th anniversary of the church, which occurred June 10, 1887. During the pastorate of C. J. Pope the Communion Service was held every three months with covenant meeting the Saturday preceding.
During the year 1887, the 50th anniversary was appropriately held. During the pastorate of C. J. Pope,the Lord’s Supper was observed every three months, and this was preceded by a Saturday night “Covenant Meeting.” Every member was expected to come to renew his covenant with the Lord and with the church.
In 1889, Rev. Pope was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Banker. During Rev. Banker’s pastorate, many advancements were made. The B.Y.P.U. was organized and made good progress. One of our members became a missionary to India. Henry Sellhorn, another member, entered Rochester Theological Seminary and became pastor of a German Baptist church. At this time, many students from the “Hill” were faithful workers in the church. The Sunday School then had an average attendance of 160 members. The superintendent was George Wade. Mrs. Perry Peer, Mrs. David Pierce. and M. L. Andres were some of the teachers. Cora Louderback was Sunday School organist and Elizabeth Ball organist for the church. Rev. Banker resigned in June, 1892, and Rev. David Heagle succeeded him on November 13, 1892. A chorus choir was organized with Mr. Ora Smith as chorister. During this period, there were a number of additions to the church, and when Rev. Heagle resigned, the total membership was 345.
The next pastor was Rev. W. E. Randall. Soon after he came, there was trouble, and a number withdrew from the fellowship of the church. Rev. Randall resigned at the end of one year and was succeeded by Rev. W. E. Storey. The condition of the church improved, and every member pledged his support. There were some additions to the membership during his two years pastorate.
Rev. John L. Beyl received a call to become pastor in 1899. Under his faithful leadership, the church held a series of revival services and had a number of additions to the membership. At the annual meeting of the church, Mrs. Peer was elected clerk, and Stella Finney, President of the Ladies Aid, with Mrs. Frank Eglin as Vice-President. In 1905 Rev. Beyl, tendered his resignation.
Rev. H. B. Benninghoff accepted a call as pastor in 1905. During this year, the church building was repaired and beautified. The Ladies Aid Society is worthy of special mention, for during the year, they took an active part in redecorating and re-carpeting the church.
In September, 1907 Rev. Benninghoff resigned to take up foreign missionary work in Japan, having previously been a missionary in Burma.
In June 1912, the church celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary with appropriate exercises, meetings being held daily from the ninth to the sixteenth of the month. On April 1, 1914, Rev. Knowlton resigned as pastor, and on September 5, 1914, the church extended a call to Rev. J. W. Newsom.
At a business meeting, the church voted to accept the general plan for basement improvement as suggested by the trustees. The membership roll was revised. At the annual meeting of the church in 1915, Mrs. J. W. Hock was elected clerk. An orchestra, led by Clarence Schneider with Bessie Wade as pianist, was a great help to the Sunday school.
September 22nd, 1918, Rev. C. G. Roadarmel accepted a call to become pastor. The Constitution was revised, and the beginning of the fiscal year was changed from January to September because of the change of the State Convention. In October 1920, Rev. Roadarmel was compelled to resign on account of ill health.
Rev. C. A. Mitchell was extended a call to become pastor on April seventh, 1921. During his pastorate, which was for only one year, a number were received into the church both by letter and baptism. The Sunday School, under the leadership of Mr. J. W. LaRue and a corps of competent teachers, was well attended. Mr. Ross Winship taught a large class of boys from fourteen to sixteen years of age. Teachers’ meetings were held on Saturday night with lesson study and discussions pertaining to the general welfare of the school.
Rev. W. W. Ayer became pastor in 1922. During his first year, sixty-five members were received. While he was pastor, the World Wide Guild and the Brotherhood were organized, and Deaconesses were added to the Board. At the morning services, the quartet was composed of Mr. E. M. Keene, Mrs. W. W. Ayer, Mrs. H. W. Hock, and Mr. Cox, while at the evening service a chorus choir led the singing. Mrs. Bessie Wade-Schneider, who had served as pianist, was called by death in 1926. She was succeeded by Miss Mae Brown, who is still serving faithfully. Many members were dropped from the roll at this time, leaving a total membership of 295.
The Sunday School and church attendance had increased to such an extent that larger quarters now seemed imperative. In 1924, a building committee, composed of Ross Winship, H. C. Swartout, Arthur Sierks, Lois Pinney, Stella Wade, H. W. Hock, and Edith Finney, was appointed. Under their supervision, the church was remodeled, and a Sunday School unit added. The remodeled building was completed and officially dedicated February fifteenth, 1925. Because the parsonage had been included in the Sunday School unit, the church was compelled to rent a residence for some time, until, providentially, it seemed, it was enabled to purchase the present parsonage. Rev. Ayer resigned February thirteenth, 1927, to accept the pastorate of the Central Baptist Church of Gary, Indiana.
Rev. Carl G. Steward was unanimously called by the church to begin his pastorate in April 1927, and his earnest efforts soon resulted in a general forward movement in all departments. Good attendance and interest marked the mid-week prayer service; while the Sunday school, under the leadership of Glen W. Collins, made steady progress. During the eight and one-half years that Rev. Steward served the church, there were many received into membership by baptism and letter. Total membership, active and passive, was 406. Rev. Steward resigned in 1935 to accept a call to the Kenmore Baptist Church, Kenmore, New York.
Before a new pastor was called, important revisions in the church constitution had been effected; one of these stated that the pastor was to be called annually.
Rev. Robert Ryerse, the present pastor, was called to the church on November 17, 1935, beginning his ministry in December of that year. He was recalled to serve a second year. Bible Conferences have been held with good success. The World Wide Guild, under the leadership of Marie Keene, has made steady progress and now has three chapters: The Cecile Tucker Guild, the Arcola Pettit Guild, and the Ethel Tylee Guild. The B.Y.P.U., Brotherhood and Women’s Missionary Union, continue to add to their ministry of helpfulness. The church building has been repaired, reroofed, redecorated, and was appropriately rededicated on April 11, 1937.
The history of the Church was resplendent with the record of the past, and we feel happy in the privilege of carrying that work into a second century of testimony for Christ and His Kingdom.
Mrs. J. D. Collins, Historian
This completes the articles that mostly came from the Centennial Book dated 1837 to 1937 which Mrs. J. D. Collins, Historian recorded.
Webmaster's Note: Growing up at First Baptist Church, the sanctuary's look remained mostly the same well into the 80's. 
You must remember that the original plans for the sanctuary were temporary. With its design connected to the "old kitchen", it was intended to be a fellowship hall of sorts. We were always planning that "big addition out front" for a new sanctuary. Finally, sometime in the 90's the church wisely decided to remodel the sanctuary. Having said that, I must include a picture of the current sanctuary (which is incredible).
OUR BAPTISMAL
When the building was constructed in 1961, a baptismal was not built, and the plans were to build it when the church was paid off and the NEW Sanctuary was built. In the mean time, we used the baptismal at Liberty Bible Church and First Christian Church to baptize. After a time, it was noted the need was there for us to install one. In the year of February 1964 a board, consisting of Wilton Rowlett, Kenneth Raines, Paul Wisner, Frank Burrus and Richard Marine, began designing, construction, and installation of the baptistery. Much of the work was done in the evening. The tank itself was built out in Morgan Township in Frank Burrus’s shop and then transferred to the church, with only one mishap of Richard Marine burning his hand. The men just worked evenings. Walt Wisner did a lot of the carpenter work. He also made the kitchen cabinets. He had a shop on Oak Street and made the cabinets there. He was the only paid volunteer. The other volunteers did a lot of work breaking the concrete and installing the tank. Paul Hanna furnished the electrical work, and he may have been the one that bought the heater. The project was completed and was used on Sunday, April 5th, during the 10:30 service with Don and Dennis Rowlett, John Husband, Richard McCasland, James Crockett, Greg Brown, Pamela Soliday, Douglas Thiesen, Elmer Joe Proffit, Jan Burrus, Karen Jensen, Polly Jensen, and Patricia Jensen were baptized. Arthur Jensen was presented for membership coming by Christian experience. Mae Brown, our organist, made the draperies that were hung during a baptism. We still have those drapes, and they are stored in the old kitchen.
The organ was dedicated the 16th of September 1962. The organ was purchased from the Church’s Memorial Fund in loving memory of persons from our congregation for whom memorials had been given across several years. Miss Mae Brown served our church as organist and pianist. In 1926, she became the “temporary” and served for 41 years, having studied music at Valparaiso University.
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