Centennial Celebration, 1846-1946 The first organized Baptist group in Hamilton consisted of twenty members who met in homes on the West Side, then known as Rossville. In 1829, this group was recognized as a church, and after a short time, a brick meeting house was built by this active people whose membership increased to sixty by the year 1836. At that time the controversial subject of foreign missions had become one of major importance in the Miami Association. Fifty-seven of the sixty members in the Hamilton-Rossville Church were opposed to the, "Mission Enterprise", as they called it, so the church soon lost its place in the community, and the membership disbanded.  Among the three who were favorable towards missions, was Mrs. Rebecca Rigdon, whose Christian interest did not die with the disbandment of the former church. During a friendly visit of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Potter in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Rigdon on December 31, 1841, the group resolved to make an effort to have services, and to sustain a preacher for half time during the year. This was an excellent resolution for the new year, and to realize their objective, they engaged Rev. A. Drury of Cincinnati. This arrangement, however, continued only until April. Elder Quont was then called to preach full time, but his ministry in Hamilton was also brief, as it lasted only until July 18 of the same year.

For some reason during the months that followed the preaching services were conducted on alternate Sundays by visiting pastors, who held the meetings sometimes in the Court House, and at other times in the Female Academy. Finally, the members felt their need for a regular pastor, and called Elder Bryant at a salary of two hundred dollars a year, to preach every other Sunday. He arrived to preach his first sermon October 20, 1844. Two months after the arrival of Elder Bryant, a meeting was called at the home of Bro. Rigdon, the result of which was the adoption of a resolution, to circulate a paper for soliciting aid to erect a meeting house on North Third Street. In the course of time it was decided to build a house of brick, size thirty-six feet wide, forty-five feet long, ceiling nine feet high; Aaron Potter and Dr. Rigdon to be the building committee. The little church was in due time erected on the west side of Third Street, between Market and Dayton Streets, the site now occupied by the Whitaker-Mohler Printing Company. The cost of the building was approximately three thousand dollars.

Elder Bryant continued as pastor until November, 1845, just a few months previous to the dedication ceremonies, andit was with reluctance that the church parted with his services. The following month, December, 1845, a young man, William Rooney, from the Theological Seminary in Hamilton, New York, was called to the pastorate.

On April 14, 1846, with appropriate ceremonies, the new church building on North Third Street was dedicated. On the following day, a council convened, and after examination of the Articles of Faith, the Church Covenant, and evidences of organization, the Miami Baptist Association proceeded with ceremonies of recognition, and the First Baptist Church of Hamilton was received into the fellowship of the Association. Thus was the beginning of the one hundred years of history which we celebrate in 1946.

During the pastorate of Rev. H. M. Richardson who followed William Ashmore our present church was built and the membership increased to nearly two hundred. The Court Street site was obtained and the building erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars. During the ensuing years, there were periods of success and others of depression and hardship. On the night of January 17, 1875, a destructive fire broke out in the building, and although loss to the structure and organ was covered by insurance, there were major losses such as furniture, carpet, books, etc., which had to be replaced by the congregation.

There followed several years of financial difficulties, but when Rev. Homer Eddy assumed his pastoral duties in the spring of 1881, there was a manifested revival of interest. The Sunday enrollment in five months reached two hundred forty and the average attendance was one hundred fifty-eight.

The Missionary Circle was organized during the pastorate of Rev. Eddy,  and Mrs. Eddy became the first president. For years it was known as a Home and Foreign Missionary Society, but later the two  were combined, taking the name of the Women's Missionary Society.

The Industrial Band was also formed about this time. Sometime during February, 1886, Mrs. C. A. Stroble entertained a number of ladies of the church in her home, when an organization was formed for the purpose of caring for the church furniture and keeping it in good condition. Mrs. Stroble was elected as the first president by the charter members numbering fourteen. However, the name Industrial Band was not adopted until a deacon, Brother D. H. Hensley, noting the industrious efforts of the ladies, in jest, suggested the name. Through the years, the Industrial Band has been an outstanding organization and has done much to earn our respect and admiration. . . .

For years the First Baptist Church sponsored the Gordon Avenue Mission. As the result of a healthy growth and definite need, the Mission was organized as the West Side Baptist Church in October, 1929, and received into the fellowship of the Miami Baptist Association a few weeks later. The property without any encumbrances was deeded to the church and sixty-eight letters of dismissal were granted from the Mother Church. The Church is now affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

For many years the church had prayed and looked forward to a building program. In 1930 they purchased property on Eighth and High Street looking forward to the building of a new church, but due to the depression all plans were postponed. In 1940 the church was able to buy twenty feet of ground from the County, and with this additional ground available, the church decided to remain here on Court Street, where the "Old First Church" has stood since 1858, giving out the Gospel of Christ. With about six thousand dollars in cash and the 8th and High St. property the Trustees were able to negotiate a loan and the Building Program began. It was a never to be forgotten service, when on September 14, 1941, a ground breaking service was held.  The late A. G. Hyams, one of our older members turned the first spade of ground to launch a building program involving some $90,000. The laying of the corner stone took place November 9, 1941. Appropriate dedicatory services were held the week of April 19-26, 1942. This was a great week of thanksgiving and we were assured that the prayers of the years had been answered. Soon afterwards the church auditorium was redecorated, a new pipe organ installed, the new baptistry placed in the alcove within the newly installed walnut panel work. Numerous improvements have been made which include, new pulpit, new chancel rail, new lighting fixtures, public address system and many others.

Today, thanks to the generosity of members and friends, the debt is paid in full and there is still a balance of approximately eighteen thousand dollars in the Building Fund from the sale of the Eighth and High property in 1945. The future plans call for repairing the front of the old building. Realization of this entire building program is due, not only to the present membership, but credit must be given to those members who during a thirty year period gave generously to help build adequate facilities.

 © 2000 by the Butler County Historical Society