First Baptist Church

“To Know Him and Make Him Known”

 

Our History

First Baptist Church was organized on August 18, 1855, in the early days of the Nebraska Territory and had the first church building in the Nebraska City.  The original record reads as follows: 

 

             “The following names of brethren and sisters to wit; B. B. Belcher,              Samuel Findley, Edward Henry, Lucinda Nuckolls, Mary Ann              Belcher, Lavisa Cook, and Caroline Toms, met by appointment at              the frame meeting house and after solemnly covenanting together,              proceeded to organize the First Baptist Church of Nebraska City,              and as such were recognized by the Rev. J. C. Renfro, a minister of              the Baptist denomination in regular standing.” 

 

As the church grew, they moved from the first building to a public hall, and later purchased land and built the first church in 1863.  That building was torn down and the present building was erected on the same sight and dedicated in 1895.

 

Thirty-nine pastors have served at First Baptist, many for just a few years.  However, since 1944, there have been only 5 pastors.  First Baptist Church was part of the Northern Baptist Convention until it voted to withdraw in 1944.  In 1946, First Baptist church voted to fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches and continues in fellowship with them today. 

 

 

The “New” building as it looked when it was built in 1895.

Pastor F. B. Williams

(1915-1919)