Winfield - First Baptist Church

From the Winfield Censor of December 9, 1870 - "A BAPTIST CHURCH. The Rev. Winfield Scott was here a few days of this and last week and preached several interesting sermons. He woke our people up to the importance of building a church at once. A building committee has been selected, the site chosen, the work commenced. The structure is to be of stone, 24 x 40 on the ground, 16-1/2 feet walls. Over $500 of the money necessary for the building has been pledged, and the stone is already being delivered on the ground."

Walnut Valley Times, May 26, 1871 - This is a portion of an article that relates to Winfield. "The Baptist Society had a festival recently to raise a little money towards building a church. A cake to be given to the prettiest girl, brought to the treasury $158, and the total contributions of the evening reached upwards of $300."

Will Robinson, in 1924, wrote his book "Footprints". He said The Baptists had a little stone church on the west side of North Millington Street, a few lots north of the present Episcopal Building. (lot 19, block 127) It was bought by Mr. Caton and remodeled into a very nice residence.

Courier, January 6, 1883. The Baptist Church, Rev. J. Cairns, pastor, has a membership of 210. Scholars attending Sabbath school, 250. The church has just completed a very large and elegant house of worship, being built of stone 60 x 70 feet in size, divided as follows: Main room 40 x 60, 3 good sized class rooms, Octagon lecture room, with sliding doors between same and main room, with stone tower 50 feet high, all nicely finished and furnished. Seating capacity, 750. Cost of building $12,000; furniture, $2,000. Rev. Cairns deserves much credit for the energy and perseverance displayed by him in securing the erection of such an edifice.

Winfield Courier, September 20, 1883.

The bell for the Baptist Church arrived this week and was placed in the belfry Wednesday morning. It weighs fifteen hundred and forty-five pounds, cost four hundred dollars, and its tone is loud and clear.

Courier, November 24, 1995. In the fall of 1870, the Rev. Winfield Scott of Leavenworth, a Baptist and former chaplain in the Army, came to this area for the purpose of hunting wild game.

Because he had previously been a pastor of Prof. And Mrs. Hickock and W. W. Andrews, some of the early settlers, he was invited to preach.

At the close of services on Sunday, Nov. 27, 1870, The First Baptist Church of Winfield was organized with eleven members.

Among the early settlers who helped found First Baptist Church of Winfield are names that remain familiar today: Andrews, Bliss and Manning along with others.

By the spring of 1872, the church building was completed at the cost of $2,260.25 on lots donated by the town company.

The first building was located on the west side of Millington Street between Seventh and Eighth.

The church soon outgrew the building. In January 1880, plans were made and work started on a new building. Thecornerstone of the new building was laid in 1880 and work was completed in 1882. Before the new buillding was completed, it was necessary to abandon the old one and conduct services in the town opera house.

In June 1927, groundBbreaking ceremonies were held to build a needed educational building.

In March 1958, construction began on additional educational space that was needed, and the sanctuary remodeled.

More than 100 years ago First Baptist Church was instrumental in assisting with the formation of the Second Baptist Church.