Church History
First Baptist Church 1812-Present

First Baptist Church was organized on October 31, 1812, by Thomas Rigdon, Pastor of the Baptist Church of New Lisbon, and William West, Pastor of the Bethesda Baptist Church of Ohio. They were called to Miller's Station for the purpose of organizing a Regular Baptist Church, designated by the name Lebanon.

 

The first order of the duly organized Baptist Church was to declare a Baptist Declaration of Faith, Covenant, Constitution, and Rules of Decorum. Immediately following the organization there were 5 admitted to membership: Margaret Hayes, Prudence Loomis, John Daniel, Jonas Clark, and Barbara Adams.

Rev. George Miller was chosen as pastor on January 10, 1813, and ordained on October 22, 1814. In August of 1822, a committee was appointed to draft plans for a meeting house, which was erected on land which is now Miller Station Cemetery. The deed included the graveyard to be a part of the Baptist property. In 1830, the graveyard was enclosed and the meeting house was finished. 

 

In 1830, the church records state that the church is called, The Regular Baptist Church of Rockdale Township. Also that year, Elder Amos Williams was contacted to preach half-time as the health of Rev. Miller was failing. Rev. Miller died on June 21, 1832, and Rev. Amos Williams succeeded him. 

In 1835, plans began for a second house of worship. And agreement with Bailey Fullerton to purchase a lot on Venango Avenue, north of Old State Road (now site of old Cambridge Springs School) to erect a meeting house. The cost of building was met with cash, materials of all sorts and labor of many men. 

 

On April 18, 1868 proceedings were begun to erect the third (and present) house of worship. It included a steeple bell and was dedicated on December 23, 1869. 

In 1874, it was moved and carried to build a parsonage on the northwest corner of the church lot. 

Founding Members

George Miller, Barbara Miller, Lyddia Anderson, Alex Anderson, James Anderson, Isaac Kelley, John Langley, Mary Langley, Polly Clark, Christine Miller, and Elizabeth Daniel.

The Pastors of First Baptist Church

Rev. George Miller 1812-1832

Rev. Amos Williams 1832-1835

Rev. John Hicks 1835-1842, 1846-1847

Rev. F. Kidder 1842-1845

Elder Waldon 1847-1848

Rev. O.L. Crittendon 1848-1853

Rev. Rufus Peet 1854

Rev. E.M. Nige 1856-1857

Rev. T. Hendryx 1857-1861

Elder Bingham 1861-1864

Elder John Hicks 1865

Rev. Morman Thomas 1865-1872

Elder Ross Ward 1872-1874

Elder John Burke 1874-1876

Elder J.S. Johnson 1876

Rev. A.S. Thompson 1878-1880

Rev. H.H. Leany 1881-1883

Rev. S.T. Dean 1883-1888

Rev. Wm. T. Hughes 1888-1890

Rev. L.B. Underwood 1891-1892, 1894-1905

Rev. W.H. Craig 1892-1894

Rev. H.I. Steward 1905-1908

Rev. W.H. Crawford 1908-1912

Rev. L.F. Taylor 1912-1913

Rev. R.R. Ray 1913-1914

Rev. Edward F. Randall 1915-1916

Rev. J. Franklin Cuthrell 1916-1918

Rev. J. Walter Barnes 1918-1921

Rev. Ralph F. Stafford 1922-1927

Rev. Everett Chapman 1927-1928

Rev. W.E. Neuer 1929-1935

Rev. Charles E. Smith 1935-1938

Rev. M.M. Clark, acting 1939-1940

Rev. Cortland V. Smith 1940-1942

Rev. Herbert Brownlee 1942-1947

Rev. J.H.D. Good 1948-1949

Rev. Howard C. Blanchard 1950-1958

Rev. John A. Waugaman 1959-1966

Rev. Arthur A. Fuller 1966-1970

Rev. John Morris, acting 1971-1972

Rev. Richard C. Hampton 1972-1980

Rev. Rodney A. Beardsley 1981-2021

Rev. Dr. Steven Prinz 2021-Present