Church History

Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God to recChurch History Milestones

April 24, 1841 – Rev. Alvah Burgess organized the First Baptist Church of Beloit with 14 charter members. Wisconsin was still a territory and did not become a state for seven years.

January 18, 1846 – After meeting in homes for several years, the church constructed an edifice in what is now the parking lot for the Beloit Library in downtown Beloit. Members were called to services by a large bell in an imposing bell tower.

June 11, 1883 – A cyclone hit Beloit and took the steeples off two churches and severely damaged the steeple at FBC.

April, 1884 – The Saturday night before Easter, the building burned as a result of a fire in an adjacent building. With great sacrifice, the church building was rebuilt.

January, 1928 – Having outgrown the old building, plans were made to built a new edifice on the current site. The church was built in the Gothic Revival style. Beautiful woodwork and stain glass are hallmarks of the church sanctuary.

1998-2000 – A very ambitious Modernization Project was undertaken. A large tower on the north side of the church was added to provide an elevator to all floors. Every room in the church has felt the touch of improvement. Most of the work was completed by church members who donated countless hours.

eive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do most solemnly and joyfully enter into the covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, disciplines, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain, as far as possible, family and secret devotion; to teach our children the Christian truths; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintance; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealing; to be faithful in our engagements; to be exemplary in our deportment; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and stress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation; and to be mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of the covenant and principles of God’s word.