Baptist

First Baptist Church

As early as the year 1837 an attempt was made to secure the permanent organization of a Baptist church in Flint. Several efforts having failed, finally a society was effected, which was begun under the direction of the Rev. Alfred Handy, missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society.

The first meetings of the society were held in a room over the jail, in the court house, but within a few years a church building was erected and on December 12, 1855, was dedicated the first house of worship of the First Baptist Church of Flint. In 1868 it was enlarged and re-dedicated. The first seven years of endeavor were full of trials and discouragements, but from 1869 to 1874 it enjoyed a high degree of prosperity. In common with all churches, its financial support suffered for some years from the great panic of 1873.

The first church, a frame building, was built after a hard struggle and was afterwards enlarged. This building served its purpose until, in 1890, their numbers and ability had increased so they were enabled to erect the beautiful and commodious structure that stands at the corner of Second and Beach streets, a credit to themselves and the city.

During the pastorate of Rev. C. E. Lapp, 1905-10, a branch Sunday school was established in the northern part of the city, which owing to the rapid growth of that section, soon developed into an independent organization known as the North Baptist church. This church now has a membership of four hundred and twenty-five and a property valued at from forty to sixty thousand dollars, and its pastor is Rev. George M. Vercoe.

At the present time the First and North churches are co-operating in a Hungarian mission work in the neighborhood of Center street and Industrial avenue. The First church is also interested with another down-town church in promoting mission schools in that rapidly-growing section of the city known as the fifth ward.

The First church owns a parsonage, which is splendidly located about four blocks from the house of worship, and some vacant lots which are being held for use as the city grows. The church membership, under the present pastor, Rev. G. C. Crippen, numbers eight hundred.

The following is a list of pastors of the Baptist church during the years of its history: Alfred Handy, A. K. Tupper, J. S. Goodman, J. S. Boyden, Charles Johnson, S. Cornelius, S. W. Titus, James Cooper, C. J. Thompson, W. L. Farnum, L. D. Temple, W. L. Farnum, W. W. Hicks, E. R. Curry, C. E. Lapp, J. M. T. Childrey and G. C. Crippen.

This article was transcribed by Geraldine Waite from a work by Edwin O. Wood, LL.D., President Michigan Historical Commission, History of Genesee County Michigan Volume I, Her People, Industries and Institutions (Federal Publishing Company: Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916), Pages 729ff

Michigan Counties
Alcona	Alger
Allegan	Alpena
Antrim	Arenac
Baraga	Barry
Bay	Benzie
Berrien	Branch
Calhoun	Cass
Charlevoix	Cheboygan
Chippewa	Clare
Clinton	Crawford
Delta	Dickinson
Eaton	Emmet
Genesee	Gladwin
Gogebic	Grand Traverse
Gratiot	Hillsdale
Houghton	Huron
Ingham	Ionia
Iosco	Iron

Isabella	Jackson
Kalamazoo	Kalkaska
Kent	Keweenaw
Lake	Lapeer
Leelanau	Lenawee
Livingston	Luce
Mackinac	Macomb
Manistee	Marquette
Mason	Mecosta
Menominee	Midland
Missaukee	Monroe
Montcalm	Montmorency
Muskegon	Newaygo
Oakland	Oceana
Ogemaw	Ontonagon
Osceola	Oscoda
Otsego	Ottawa
Presque Isle	Roscommon
Saginaw	St Clair
St Joseph	Sanilac
Schoolcraft	Shiawassee
Tuscola	Van Buren
Washtenaw	Wayne
Wexford