The History of First Baptist Church of Manchester

Our story began in the spring of 1959 when Lieutenants James Rose and James Gerrish, who were stationed at a Nike site in Middletown, had a season of prayer and covenanted to start a Sunday School in Portland, Connecticut. The first Sunday seven people were present. The next Sunday worship services were begun.

In fall 1959, the Manhattan Baptist Church in New York City assumed responsibility for the group and Rev. Elmer Sizemore, then Area Missionary for the entire Northeast, traveled from New York each Sunday to conduct services and guide the young mission. The attendance grew to about thirty and the group decided to move to the YMCA in Hartford because it was more centrally located. In December 1960 the small group called its first pastor, Rev. Charles Pollock.

In 1961, after much prayer and consideration, the group relocated to the "YMCA" Center in East Hartford. On August 26, 1961, fifty-one charter members constituted the first Southern Baptist Church in central Connecticut, then known as First Baptist Church of East Hartford.

In fall 1962, Rev. Pollock resigned to accept a pastorate in Florida. With the aid of the Home Mission Board, the church was led to call Rev. Walter Agnor of Dover, Delaware, as its second pastor.

In May of 1963, a special fund for a building was established; in January 1964, a pastor's home was purchased in Glastonbury and in November the land on Main Street in East Hartford was purchased as the site for the long-prayed-for church building.

As the church was experiencing real growth, they began to look beyond themselves to other areas of need. A survey was done of the Willimantic area. They found an interest and a desire for Bible study; thus a new work that later became the Baptist Fellowship of Columbia.

In 1966, Rev. Agnor left to assume a pastorate in Maryland. In July 1966, Rev. Norwood Waterhouse assumed this pastorate.

During this time the Willimantic group experienced steady growth. By mid-1966, Rev. Jack Schneider was called by this group. They constituted into a church in July 1967.

On September 27, 1967, the construction permit to build the First Baptist Church of East Hartford was issued. During this time several laymen from the church began mission work in Danbury, and from this work the Candlewood Baptist Chapel was constituted on November 1, 1970.

Also during 1967, the Middlesex Baptist Fellowship was started under the leadership of Mr. Al Schukoske, a deacon from the church. The Middlesex Baptist Church constituted on February 10, 1974.

On October 19, 1968, the Dedication Service of the First Baptist Church of East Hartford was held on Saturday evening just twelve months after the construction permit had been issued. October 20, the regular Morning Worship Services were started.

During 1968, services were started at the church in Spanish. This was the beginning of the Spanish ministry in Connecticut and was one of the first in the Baptist General Association on New England (now the Baptist Convention of New England).

During 1969, mission work in New Britain came under the leadership of Peter Gordiejew who came from Poland to work there. This mission constituted on November 20, 1969. Again First Baptist Church of East Hartford was the sponsor church.

Then on October 17, 1971, Rev. Norwood Waterhouse resigned as pastor to become the full time area Missionary to the State of Connecticut. Dr. Charles Conley was called as the fourth pastor in June 1972.

In 1978, the church looked to Torrington to begin new work. The work grew and Friendship Baptist Church of Torrington constituted (it is now in Litchfield). In 1980, work was begun in the Simsbury/Avon area. This work, which has since disbanded, constituted as Fellowship Baptist Church.

First Baptist Church of East Hartford was experiencing steady growth in the early 80's and soon outgrew their small building on Main Street. They purchased the land for our present location on the East Hartford/Manchester line and started a "Together We Build" program. The building was erected with the help of many volunteers and on January 1, 1982, the first service was held in the new building. Because the building was located in Manchester, the church voted to change its name to First Baptist Church of Manchester.

During this time a ministry to the deaf was started. All services were interpreted in sign language and sign language classes were taught weekly. In 1981, Kevin Kreutzer was called to become their pastor and thus another mission was born.

Dr. Conley pastored First Baptist Church of East Hartford for fourteen years. In May 1985, Dr. Conley resigned to become a Director of Missions in Tennessee. The church then called Dr. Billy Scott, a Chaplain in the United States Navy. During this time, there were two Church Planter Apprentices called to begin new works in South Windsor and Rocky Hill. The South Windsor mission later constituted as Connecticut River Valley Church, later named River Valley Baptist Church.

In addition, an African-American mission was begun, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, that shared building space with First Baptist Church until it constituted on October 11, 1998. Dr. Harrie Williams was and is their pastor.

In 1992 Dr. Scott resigned. After a number of years of decline the church called Rev. David Saylor to be their pastor in the spring of 1994. The church began to grow again. In 1995, the church rejuvenated its building, beginning with a major renovation of its worship space and repartitioning for more permanent Sunday School classrooms. In the ensuing years the congregation has grown steadily.

In 1997, Leo Sayles was called as an Associate Pastor of Youth and Worship. The church continued to grow and a second Sunday morning was started in 2000. Recently he accepted a call to Ill. The church then called Russell Atherton to serve as Associate Pastor.

A building committee was organized in 2000 to help the church plan for it's growing space needs. On June 5, 2005, a new worship center, new nursery suite along with major renovations to the existing facility were dedicated to God's use and for His glory.

First Baptist Church of Manchester is presently a healthy and enthusiastic congregation, looking to serve the Lord in the 21st century.