The Church Established December 27, 1803,
Rev. Henry Pottle, Pastor (1803-1806)
Worship was held in Faulkner Barn owned by William Faulkner, located at what is now known as the Davenport Estate.
First Baptist Church of Malden was founded on December 27, 1803. The “counsel” comprised of delegates from Baptist Churches of Boston, Beverly, and Newton convened in the Faulkner Barn for worship. Dr. Samuel Stillman of Boston’s First Baptist Church preached the recognition sermon taking as his text I Chronicles 29:5, “And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?”. The 52 members of the newly formed church, including the Rev. Henry Pottle, Pastor, were then extended the right hand of Fellowship by the Rev. T. Baldwin of Boston.
Baptisms were held at Three Mile Brook, near the site of the “Old City Hall”. It was the custom of the day that people would meet across the street in the warmth of Hills tavern before and after the Baptismal service. Inclement weather did not deter these services, in fact, thick layers of ice had to be chopped away in preparation for many winter baptisms.
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Source: One Hundred and Seventy-Five Years of The First Baptist Church of Malden (1803-1978), 1st Edition by Dorothy L. Foxon, May 1979.
One Hundred and Ninety-Five Years of The First Baptist Church of Malden (1803-1998), Addendum to 175th Church History by Rev. Martha A. Dominy
Article: FBC History Search by David L. Williams
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