"History of the First Baptist Church" (1857-1957)
The Glenwood Baptist people have the past week occupied their handsome new church edifice which has been in process of erection the past two years. There is still much work to be done in the basement, and the regular dedicatory exercises will be held in April. There has been expended on the new church this far about $33, 500. It is estimated that by the time it is all complete the total cost will reach $37,000. It is also planned within the near future to expend $3,000 for a pipe organ, and this will bring the total cost up to $40,000. It is scarcely necessary to state that this splendid building is the result of generous bequests left by the late Mr. and Mrs. J.V. Hinchman. Mr. Hinchman, who died Sept. 7, 1902, left $5,000 to start a building fund; and Mrs. Hinchman, upon her death Dec. 14, 1907, left $25,000. Mr. Hinchman in addition left a paid up endowment policy, with an estimated value of $10,000, and this brings in annual revenue of about $450 for the church. The new church was built by the day and not by contract, and this has assured first class work throughout. The architect was A. A. Searcy of Maryville, Missouri and he has designed it on broad and artistic lines. He is a specialist in church architecture, and this structure is a monument to his skill.

Detailed Description
The new church is located on Vine street, two blocks north of the old church, and the situation is sightly. The church faces east, and, as is well known is built on the site of the old Hinchman residence. The structure is commanding in appearance, and the main tower on the corner is 66 feet high, and the comb of the roof is but a little below this point. The foundation is of Carthage Home stone and the superstructure is of dark buff pressed brick with inside walls of hollow brick tile as a guard against dampness. The roof is of red tile with copper cornice. Inside the building one is at once impressed with its roominess. Nothing is crowded or stinted. The extreme outside measurements are 93 by 81 feet and one may well imagine that the walls include plenty of room for all church activities. Upwards of a thousand people may be seated in this church by making combined use of the auditorium, gallery and Sunday school room. The auditorium and gallery, alone, will seat about five hundred.

Two double front doors admit to a large vestibule. At each end of this there are stairways leading to the gallery above and the social and prayer meeting rooms below. A door leads into the Sunday school room, and there is also a separate outside entrance to the latter. From the vestibule you pass into the main auditorium, which is 50 by 48 feet, with a ceiling 29 feet high. Three sections of substantial seats lead down an incline floor to the pulpit and platform located on the west side of the auditorium. To the rear of the pulpit is a space 9 by 20 feet, in which later a pipe organ will be installed. South of the pipe organ space is the baptistery, in front of which is a large art glass window. To the north is a dressing room for ladies. To the rear of the pulpit is a hall leading from the outside entrance at the northwest corner of the church. There is also a dressing room for men to the rear of the baptistery. A stairway from the outside entrance also leads to the basement. A large and beautiful art glass window admits light to the auditorium on the north. A similar window on the south side separates the auditorium from the Sunday school room, and this large window may be raised, throwing the two rooms into one. The gallery, over the vestibule and extending part way into the auditorium, is of generous proportions, 24 by 48 feet and seating nearly as many as the main floor.

A conspicuous feature of the new church is the Sunday school room, octagonal in shape, forming a sort of addition to the main structure. It is 50 by 38 feet, and grouped about the main floor are seven class rooms, and above these in a balcony are seven more, making in all it separate rooms for class use. Immediately below the Sunday school room is the prayer meeting room of similar size. The slope of the ground is such, that this is entirely above ground, and is light and airy. Under the main structure is what is known as the social room, with cement floor. This is 46 feet square, and will be used for the social gatherings of the church. To the west of the social room are located spaces for the kitchen, scullery, toilet rooms, coal and boiler rooms. A steam heating plant and a hot air furnace will furnish ample heat for the big edifice, and it is of course electric lighted. There is much work yet to be done in the basement, and the cement walks and grading can not be completed until spring, when the regular dedicatory services will be held. The work was done by the day and not by contract. The work at the start was in charge of Frank Myers as foreman, and is now being completed under the supervision of John Fair.

Historical Sketch
The Glenwood Baptist church was organized July 4, 1857. The fiftieth anniversary was celebrated in 1907, at which time the late Deacon H. A. Tolles compiled a short historical sketch, from which a few of these facts are taken. Rev. J.C. Renfro, a Baptist missionary, was instrumental in bringing about the organization. The eight charter members were Mr. and Mrs. Oliver N. Tyson, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hobson, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Adams, Lucinda Brown and Clarissa Wickham. None of these are now living. The first building owned by the Baptist people was a two story brick that stood on the north side of the square adjoining the city hall to the west. This was bought from A. P. Martin for $1500 in January, 1864, and the same month the church was incorporated, with J. V. Hinchman and E. R. S. Woodrow as trustees. The upper floor of this building was fitted up and used for church purposes. The building was sold for $1,200 in 1868, and was for a number of years used as a post office.

It was destroyed by the big fire which swept the north side in April, 1880. The old church building on the northeast corner of the square, now abandoned after having been in use for over forty-four years, was built in the summer of 1868, at a cost of $5,300. The addition to the rear was built in 1882. The present parsonage was built in 1875. Among those deserving of mention in connection with this church is Miss Fanny Dean, "Aunt Fanny," as she is familiarly known. She is now in her sixth year, and for several years has been unable to leave her room in the Commercial House. She has been a member of this church 44 years. She supported for many years, from her own labors, a bibie woman in India. Deacon and Mrs. Samuel A. Pratt have been members of this church 45 years, and are among the oldest in point of membership. Transcription by Roseanna Zehner

Chronology of Important Events
July 4, 1857 - Organization meeting. Surrounding churches of the Nebraska Association sent delegates, including the Rev. J.C. Renfro who had worked in the community for several years, to assist in organizing eight persons--Oliver Tyson, Catharine (sic) Tyson, William Hobson, Sarah A. Hobson, Jacob Adams, Rachel Adams, Lucinda Brown, and Clarissa Brown, into the First Baptist Church of Glenwood, Iowa. Source: p. 7, Centennial Celebration

Centennial Celebration Committee - 1957
Mrs. Ralph McPherron, Chairman; Mrs. Berwyn Hamilton, Mrs. Della Richards, Mr. Dahle S. Boyer, and Mr. T. E. Jacons. Source: adapted from "History of Mills County, 1985"~ transcribed by Cay Merryman

This page has been provided by Harold Davis Hilton, Cay Merryman, and Roseana Zehner.