Delphos Baptist Church
SAMS, STEPHENSON, SKINNER, STEELE, SAMS, OTIS, FUNK, TILLBERRY, ANDREWS, GOLDING, THARP, CAMPBELL, OSBORNE, DAILY, SHAW, BOGGESS, MARRIOT, THOMAS, THOMPSON, SKWAR, WHITE, DIEGLEMAN, LOVELL, SEATON, DEIBERT
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/23/2009 at 13:44:57
DELPHOS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
From the Delphos Centennial Book: 1880-1980:
The Delphos Baptist Church was originally organized as the Goshen Baptist Church at the Dryden School House, 3 1/2 miles nortwest of Delphos. There were fifteen charter members. Among those who are known were Mr. and Mrs. Henry SAMS, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred SAMS, Mr. and Mrs. John M. STEPHENSON, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. SKINNER, Mr. and Mrs. John J. STEPHENSON, Rebecca STEELE, and Hannah Jane SAMS.
The following Pasters served the church while worshipping at the Dryden School House: Revs. OTIS, FUNK, TILLBERRY, OTIS (2nd time), and Rev. ANDREWS. The church was moved to Delphos in 1884, but was not reorganized. The name was changed from the Goshen Baptist Church to the "Delphos" Baptist Church, with Rev. P. ANDREWS as pastor.
The following pastors served the church after moving to Delphos: Revs. Wm. GOLDING, Hiram THARP, Orr CAMPBELL, E. B. OSBORNE, W. DAILY, S. P. SHAW, E. B. OSBORNE (2nd time), Orr CAMPBELL (2nd time), T[homas]. H[oward]. BOGGESS, C. C. MARRIOT, J. P. THOMAS, E. F. THOMPSON, Jas. K. SKWAR, Fred WHITE, W. J. DIEGLEMAN, and Rev. Orr CAMPBELL (3rd time).
For a time, the Evangelical Church was held in the Baptist Church, this occurring around the turn of the century. Sunday School was held all together, with the Baptists preaching ever two weeks and the Evangelical preaching on the Sundays in-between. Rev. LOVELL was probably the Evangelist who started the Evangelical in Delphos. There was also Rev. THOMPSON, whose sister, Lenore THOMPSON, taught one term of school in Delphos.
It was decided by vote that a new church should be built, and this occurred on September 10, 1921.
The Baptist Church at Maloy was torn down at this time, and part of the material was used in the new church. The bell, which hangs in the metal tower, was originally in the Maloy Baptist Church. The cornerstone was laid Nov. 7th, 1921 and it was donated by Mt. Ayr Monument Works. Sunday, May 14, was Dedication Day for the beautiful new church, just completed at a cost of $11,000. The exterior was finished in Kellastone, with a rug-brick foundation and a high basement. It was said that the acoustics were perfect, and it had a seating capacity of 250. The successful completion of this building is more remarkable when considering the size of the population - about 100, with a church membership of sixty.
On the day of dedication there remained an indebtedness of $2,100 with $900 added for a lighting system and other possible expenses. This amount was joyfully over-subscribed by several hundred dollars.
The committee that faithfully directed construction of the building was composed of B. F. SEATON, chairman; C. O. DEIBERT, Sec.; J. L. STEPHENS, and A. Z. STEPHENS. Much labor was donated by members and friends, labor which represented a deflected cost of hundreds of dollars. The church was pastorless during its construction. The Christian Church and the Baptist Church held services on alternate Sundays.
Rev. Norman NOBLE came in 1950 to serve as the pastor and has remained since then, except for two of three years when he was in Bethany, MO. During this time, Rev. Eldon BOESE and Rev. Jack MERRITT served as pastors in his stead.
Photographs by Sharon R. Becker, May 22, 2009
Written & submitted by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009
Delphos Baptist Church
Ringgold Documents maintained by Tony Mercer.
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