HISTORY OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

OF NEWTOWN

            Baptist work in Mercersburg, as the Newtown area was originally called, apparently began as a church at Columbia (near Lunken Airport) in 1836.  A little later it moved into an old stone building on Clough Pike.  In 1841, a brick church building was built in Newtown, and this is the date ordinarily given for the founding of the church here.  It was known as the Regular Baptist Church.  This brick building was located on Church Street, around the corner from the present Main Street location.  It is presently the location of the Newtown Fire Station (Little Miami Joint Fire & Rescue).

            The name of the church was changed to First Baptist Church of Newtown in 1952.  The present auditorium and parsonage were built in 1955, and the people marched from the old building to the present location on February 26, 1956.  The church minutes do not indicate at what time the church affiliated with Southern Baptists, but it was apparently between 1950 and 1955.  Because of the 1937 flood most of the earlier records are lost.

            The sanctuary was remodeled and almost 5,000 square feet of educational space was added in 1965.  This was done at a cost of about $85,000.  This was about the time of the highest attendance the church has known.

            During the life of the church many fascinating stories could be told, but one of the most interesting is that "In 1924, four of the ladies of the church banded together to keep the church from closing.  They were without a pastor but were told if they held services the doors would be kept open.  They did not believe in ladies preaching, so their services were prayers, testimonies, and songs.  Soon people began coming back to the church and they were able in a short time to call a pastor."¹

            The church has been involved in missions in many different ways throughout its lifetime.  In such records as are available, there are many references to special mission activities.  Prior to affiliating with Southern Baptists, the church contributed to the missions programs of the American Baptist Convention with which it was affiliated.  Currently the church gives 6% of undesignated contributions to the Cooperative Program and 4% to the Baptist Association of Greater Cincinnati, as well as supporting the special annual missions offerings. 

            First Baptist church is the parent church of Clough Pike Baptist Church.

¹The four women were Mrs. Stella Caplinger, Mrs. Ingram, Mrs. Brunk, and Mrs. Durham.  This information was furnished by Mrs. Agnes Waits, Lucille Wies (Ingram), and Mr. & Mrs. Dale Caplinger.