This
past Thursday marked the Sesquicentennial, 150th anniversary, of the
first meeting of the First Baptist church of Junction City. One of the first
churches in Junction City, the church has had a tremendous impact on the
citizens of Junction City. The growth
and challenges of the church almost mirror the ones that faced the town of
Junction City throughout the time of its establishment in 1865.
In
January of 1894, a reader who identified himself only as “Old Settler”
remembered a time where different church denominations would worship together
during at time of uncertainty and worry in the days during the Civil War. “The
newcomer [to Junction City] will scarcely believe that all the church-going
people in town met together for worship In the upper room of the building
knowns as the old jail, just north of the Central Hotel on Jefferson street
(this building is now part of the municipal building.) This did change after
the war when families started to come home and the population, and perhaps
animosity between the religions, grew.
With
the demand on the rise for their own place of worship, eleven local Baptist
took it upon themselves to organize and start their own location for worship.
So on November 5th, 1865, the first organized Baptist sermon took
place at the Streeter-Strickler building, which was located on the corner of
Seventh and Washington. The Streeter-Strickler was converted to a makeshift
church. It was originally donated by James Streeter, who also happened to be
one of the charter members of the church. The establishment of the Baptist
church at the Streeter-Strickler building is said to have been the first
regular place of worship established in Junction City.
The
first assembly of the Baptist church was big news in town, as it made the
Junction City Republican newspaper. “The first meeting preparatory to the
organization of the First Baptist church of Junction City, Kansas was held
November 5, 1865 and at a subsequent meeting held February 25, 1866.” The first
leader of the church was Elder Blood and was assisted by Reverend Jacobus and
Reverend McClure.
After
a few years at the Streeter-Strickler building, James Streeter donated money
again to have a permanent church built for those of the Baptist faith. This new
church was located between Sixth and Seventh Streets and was on the west side
of Jefferson Street and was dedicated on January 27, 1867. A year later, the
church received its official charter and it was awarded to them on February 29,
1868.
An
interesting account of the church’s early history is that for three years, 1867-1870,
the church did not have a rooftop. It was blown away in the middle of a storm. Because
of this “Reverend Balcom, who was a Baptist Evangelist, was called upon to help
“pray the roof back on.” Only a year after the help from Rev. Balcom, and the
Junction City community, the roof was back on the church and the sermons were
back to normal. After the roof was back on the church, there was a strong
growth in the church and by 1872 the church membership had grown to 97. By 1882,
the church had grown to 150. Because of the exponential growth of the church,
in 1917 the second reincarnation of the church was constructed right down the
street, and the first regular place or worship was sold to a Durland-Sawtell Undertaking
company.
During
WWII, the First Baptist Church of Junction City helped the war effort by
purchasing $4,000 worth of war bonds. $4000 in 1941 is estimated to be $64,746 with
today’s inflation. The church donated something much more valuable than money
to the war. 106 members of the church joined the war effort and fought for
their country during WWII.
After
the war, the Baptist church saw a growth in members and the church itself. In
order to get to as many people as possible, the Baptist church started to
broadcast their morning worship services over the then-new local radio station,
KJCK. During continued growth after
WWII, the church suffered a major setback as the building caught fire on the
night of December 15, 1955. The fire caused approximately $40,000 worth of
damages. Among some of the repairs were a new roof and sheathing, repair of
roof trusses, a new ceiling and hardwood floor in the sanctuary Friendship hall
had some of the worse damage as it needed a new ceiling in Friendship hall and
redecorating in the sanctuary and Friendship hall. The pews were completely
refinished and the organ was rebuilt. This did not stop the church as it
continued to grow and become one of the major institutions in Junction City.
Join
the church this weekend in celebrating its Sesquicentennial by perhaps visiting
and taking a look at one of the oldest churches in the area.
This
picture of the 1st Baptist church was taken circa 1880s-1890s and
was located at 6th and Washington.
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