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On Christmas day, 1853, eight Baptists met to consider forming a Baptist church in Tillsonburg, and on February 12, 1854, the church was organized with a charter membership of seventeen and duly recognized by the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec.
During the pastorate of Rev. E. Bosworth the site of the present church at the corner of Bidwell and Washington Grand Ave. was purchased. According to an article in the Tillsonburg Observer, January, 1894, the church building on Market Street was moved to the new site. The seating capacity of the church was 260 and it cost $5000. The minister at the time of opening of the new church was Rev. H. Shaw.
In 1903, the church celebrated its 50th anniversary. Rev. S.E. Griff was the pastor.
The Sunday School building was added in 1919. P.B. Looney was the pastor at the time.
Rev. A. C. Carr held the longest pastorate (1924-1942). The present parsonage was built in 1937 during his pastorate. On June 23, 1946 the church was burned to the ground. The Sunday School was saved and the services were held there. The present building was started in 1949 under the pastorate of Rev. L. E. Mason.
In November 1958, Rev. L. K. Chubb came to be the pastor. In 1960, plans for a new Christian Education building began and was completed December of 1964.
In 1978, the church celebrated 125 years of service with the Right Honourable Pauline McGibbon being the speaker, while Rev. James Taylor was pastor.
In 1988, Rev. Gene Templemeyer became pastor. The church purchased the former Graves property, 93 Bidwell, for future expansion in 2002.
In 2003, the church celebrated 150 years of service. Rev. Isaac Amorin came to be the pastor in 2004. The former Graves building, 93 Bidwell, was renamed the Agape Centre. Church office and youth ministries were transfered there.
In 2007, the church incorporated. Legally, FBC is "First Baptist Church Tillsonburg Inc."
See Also
Adult Ministries
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