| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Our History at First Baptist Church
Although those Baptist greats, Isaac Backus
and Thomas Baldwin, both natives of
Norwich, held revival meetings in town as
early as 1770, it was not until 1790, that
Baptist believers began holding regular
meetings in our City.
In the early days, the Baptists were forced
to meet over the river and on the outskirts
of the city. Their critics claimed they were
“tending to deeds of darkness” because they
met at night in the homes of their members.
As students of history know, Rhode Island
was the only colony to grant full religious
liberty to its people. Therefore Baptists in
Connecticut had no legal standing and were
oppressed by adverse public opinion and
frowned upon as dissenters because they
refused to pay taxes to the state church and
would not baptize their children as was the
custom of the day.
Elijah Herrick, a prominent blacksmith and
former member of Rev. Benjamin Lord’s
Congregational Church in Norwichtown,
gathered a few like minded men and women
and began meeting for prayer, singing and
exhortation. By February of 1800, the
congregation was viable enough to stand on
its own and the First Baptist Church was
born. In 1802 the congregation built their
first building on High Street.
Among those early converts was a young
man who was destined to be their first
Pastor. John Sterry was a printer and
bookbinder. It was clear to all that he had
the gift of teaching and preaching. In
December of 1800 he was ordained and he
shepherded the church for the next 23 years.
By 1818 the Baptists had proved themselves
to be good citizens and their doctrine of
religious liberty had won favor with the
people. As a result, Judge Lanman of
Norwich met with Deacon Dewey Bromley
and asked what the Baptists wanted in the
new constitution. Bromley stated:
“We want to have religion stand alone on its own
divine basis where God has placed it, and we want all
religious denominations to have secured to them equal
rights and privileges.”
As the new constitution was written in the
State, these words were considered and in
1818 the Baptists and all of the other
religious denominations were given legal
standing in Connecticut from that point
forward. It was a proud day for the Baptists
as they had their say in securing religious
freedom for all sects and faiths within our
state.
As the Chelsea District became the center
of activity, a group of the Baptists felt called
to move into the heart of the city. As a
result, a group broke off and formed the
Central Baptist Church in 1840 under the
leadership of Rev. Minor Clarke. That
congregation flourished and became a vital
part of the fabric of the emerging culture
and remains a integral part of the social well-
being of the downtown today.
The remaining members of First Baptist
struggled on the West Side for the next few
years. In time they came back with a
renewed vigor. Some of the familiar Baptist
names during those years included James
Carroll, George Cranston, Daniel BeeBee,
Albertus Stanton, John Perkins and Dewey
Bromley. In 1880 the congregation saw the
coming expansion of the West Side and they
purchased land on what was to become Main
Street. A new building was built which still
serves the congregation today.
There have been changes in both the
ministry and the meeting house over the
years. Rev. George Strouse brought a strong
evangelistic preaching style with him in the
teens and Rev. Percy Kilmister gave us a
vision of community in the Depression years
of the 1930’s. In the late 40’s, Rev. Walter
Loomis focused on the family and was a
regular guest on WICH radio. Under the
pastorate of Rev. Walter Schoepfer, there
was a growing Sunday school and the
ministry reached a peak. Rev. Vernon Price
and Rev. Douglas Howell, ministered to the
community as the world went through
radical social change and the West Side went
from a residential area to a commercial
district.
Today, that independent Baptist Spirit lives
on over on the West Side of Norwich. From
musical ministries to sports outreach
programs, the pastor and people of the First
Baptist Church are sharing the love of God
to a world in desperate need and working
with others, in interfaith and ecumenical
partnerships, to build a stronger and
healthier community.
and Thomas Baldwin, both natives of
Norwich, held revival meetings in town as
early as 1770, it was not until 1790, that
Baptist believers began holding regular
meetings in our City.
In the early days, the Baptists were forced
to meet over the river and on the outskirts
of the city. Their critics claimed they were
“tending to deeds of darkness” because they
met at night in the homes of their members.
As students of history know, Rhode Island
was the only colony to grant full religious
liberty to its people. Therefore Baptists in
Connecticut had no legal standing and were
oppressed by adverse public opinion and
frowned upon as dissenters because they
refused to pay taxes to the state church and
would not baptize their children as was the
custom of the day.
Elijah Herrick, a prominent blacksmith and
former member of Rev. Benjamin Lord’s
Congregational Church in Norwichtown,
gathered a few like minded men and women
and began meeting for prayer, singing and
exhortation. By February of 1800, the
congregation was viable enough to stand on
its own and the First Baptist Church was
born. In 1802 the congregation built their
first building on High Street.
Among those early converts was a young
man who was destined to be their first
Pastor. John Sterry was a printer and
bookbinder. It was clear to all that he had
the gift of teaching and preaching. In
December of 1800 he was ordained and he
shepherded the church for the next 23 years.
By 1818 the Baptists had proved themselves
to be good citizens and their doctrine of
religious liberty had won favor with the
people. As a result, Judge Lanman of
Norwich met with Deacon Dewey Bromley
and asked what the Baptists wanted in the
new constitution. Bromley stated:
“We want to have religion stand alone on its own
divine basis where God has placed it, and we want all
religious denominations to have secured to them equal
rights and privileges.”
As the new constitution was written in the
State, these words were considered and in
1818 the Baptists and all of the other
religious denominations were given legal
standing in Connecticut from that point
forward. It was a proud day for the Baptists
as they had their say in securing religious
freedom for all sects and faiths within our
state.
As the Chelsea District became the center
of activity, a group of the Baptists felt called
to move into the heart of the city. As a
result, a group broke off and formed the
Central Baptist Church in 1840 under the
leadership of Rev. Minor Clarke. That
congregation flourished and became a vital
part of the fabric of the emerging culture
and remains a integral part of the social well-
being of the downtown today.
The remaining members of First Baptist
struggled on the West Side for the next few
years. In time they came back with a
renewed vigor. Some of the familiar Baptist
names during those years included James
Carroll, George Cranston, Daniel BeeBee,
Albertus Stanton, John Perkins and Dewey
Bromley. In 1880 the congregation saw the
coming expansion of the West Side and they
purchased land on what was to become Main
Street. A new building was built which still
serves the congregation today.
There have been changes in both the
ministry and the meeting house over the
years. Rev. George Strouse brought a strong
evangelistic preaching style with him in the
teens and Rev. Percy Kilmister gave us a
vision of community in the Depression years
of the 1930’s. In the late 40’s, Rev. Walter
Loomis focused on the family and was a
regular guest on WICH radio. Under the
pastorate of Rev. Walter Schoepfer, there
was a growing Sunday school and the
ministry reached a peak. Rev. Vernon Price
and Rev. Douglas Howell, ministered to the
community as the world went through
radical social change and the West Side went
from a residential area to a commercial
district.
Today, that independent Baptist Spirit lives
on over on the West Side of Norwich. From
musical ministries to sports outreach
programs, the pastor and people of the First
Baptist Church are sharing the love of God
to a world in desperate need and working
with others, in interfaith and ecumenical
partnerships, to build a stronger and
healthier community.
