The First Baptist Church..
This church was organized Oct. 5, 1803, as the Second Baptist Church of West Springfield, with the following members: Thomas Rand, Caleb Hummiston, Perish Hitchcock, Benj. Bassett, Asahel Chapin, Jedidiah Day, Austin Goodyear, Joseph Ely, Sarah Hummiston, Anna Hitchcock, and Bela Gill. There were, however, members of the Baptist Church in this vicinity as early as 1727. In that year five persons in West Springfield—which at that time included Agawam and Holyoke—were immersed on a profession of faith by Rev. E. Calender, of Boston. In 1740 these persons, with others, three of whom were Col. Benj. Ely, Capt. Joseph Ely, and Asahel Chapin, organized as a church at Feeding Hills. This little band of believers, however, occasionally received ministration from Rev. Asa Todd, who would walk from his parish in Russell, sixteen miles distant, and return on the same day. Of the council that constituted the present church, Elder Gano, of Providence, was chairman, and Elder Jesse Whitman, clerk. The first pastor was Rev. Thomas Rand. The following have served this church as pastors from its organization to the present time: Thos. Rand, Oct. 6, 1803, to Feb. 19, 1828; Richmond Taggart, March 13, 1828, to Dec. 22, 1828; H. Archibald, April 5, 1830, to Aug. 13, 1832; Ira Hull, May 6, 1835, to 1837; H.D. Doolittle, Aug. 16, 1838, to April 1, 1842; William L. Brown, Aug. 23, 1842, to April 1, 1846; Joel Kenney, 1846, to May 9, 1847; Asahel Chapin, Oct., 1847, to June 17, 1849; Mark Carpenter, Jan. 1, 1849, to April 1, 1859; S.W. Gorman, from April 1, 1859, to April 1, 1864; J.H. Kent, from May 1, 1864, to March, 1866; J.L.A. Fish, May 14, 1868, to 1872; Rev. W.H. Evans, 1872, present pastor. The following have served as deacons: Caleb Hummiston, Perish Hitchcock, Stephen Chapin, Cyrus Frink, Abraham Jones, Caleb Hummiston, Samuel J. Street, Newton Day.
The records show that "in 1792 the Baptists erected a meeting-house about a half a mile south of the present house, but were able to finish it only on the outside." "After a few years the Congregationalists solicited them to remove it farther north and they would help finish it and own a part of it. It was accordingly removed, pews put in on the floor, and front seats in the gallery." This building was completed in about 1811, and was occupied until 1826, when the society built the present house of worship, which has several times been repaired and improved.
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