On July 18, 1880 (120 years ago), nine people bringing letters from other Baptist churches met in the Salem Street School and formed the First Baptist Church of Chico. The first pastor was Rev. Elias Finley, from Iowa, one of the founding members. W. H. Earle was chosen as church clerk. Within weeks, they wrote to the Sacramento River Association requesting admittance and participation. The following year a Sunday School was started with W. H. Earle as superintendent. Weekly prayer meetings were also held.
The Baptist Home Mission Society offered assistance in 1882 in the form of $300 which went towards the pastor's annual salary of $800. Rev. J.N. Burroughs became pastor. There were 29 members.
In 1883, the church purchased the Congregational Church building (for $1000) located on 5th Street, between Salem and Broadway. The Home Mission Society helped with this purchase. Ministers typically changed churches every two or three years, and the same was true in this church. As ministers came and left, so did the members, some moving elsewhere and some disagreeing over issues and leaving the church to start their own groups.
In 1907, the church made plans for a new building that was erected on Salem Street (across from the Stansbury House). The old building on 5th Street was moved and formed the rear of the new building. The cornerstone was laid in 1910 by W. H. Earle, the only remaining charter member. Mr. Earle was the great-great grandfather our own Earle Arbuckle, Helen (Arbuckle) Wertz, and Dan Arbuckle.
The years from 1916-1926 were volatile times within the congregation, but it withstood disappointments and remained faithful to its Christian commitment.
In 1926, Dr. L.G. Morony became pastor of the church and ministered here for 20 years. During that time the church grew in every way, spiritually, numerically and financially. Mary Morony was active in the women's work and taught the kindergarten class for many years. The congregation participated in the Sacramento River Association and the activities of the Region. The Women's Missionary Society (now ABW) was large and active. Men were prominent in the leadership of the church. The congregation became very mission minded. Our Wicks Pipe Organ was purchased in 1940 at the end of the Treasure Island World's Fair (1939) in San Francisco where it was used in the Temple of Religion. This was a remarkable purchase, coming as it did at the end of the 1930's. During the World War II years, the church ministered to Chico families whose sons were overseas. Some young men from the church died in the war. There was also a ministry to servicemen in the Chico community.
In 1946, Rev. Adrian Roberts became pastor. He served until 1951. The stained glass window at the back of the sanctuary is a memorial from his wife, Melva. Rev. Earl Bamett served from 1952 to 1957. In the fifties the church benefited from the "go to church" phenomenon. This was a large, dynamic church with many activities, Sunday School classes for all ages, youth groups, a continuing emphasis on missions, generous giving, and ABC allegiance. During the fifties, the church also added staff persons to assist with Christian Education. Nell Darby was Director of Christian Education for a year, Rev. John "Bud" Carroll filled the same position from 1955-57. And from 1957 to 1963, Hap Andrews directed the C.E. work.
In the late fifties the church began to think about moving away from Salem Street to another part of Chico, and in 1957 purchased property on Palmetto Avenue for $15,000.
Rev. Leonard Brown was called as minister in October 1957. Edna Brown became the church organist. She was also extremely active in Christian Education within the church and Region and provided many leadership training workshops. On the last day of the decade, December 31, 1959, the church burned the mortgage for the Palmetto property. They were now ready to take the next step towards a new sanctuary.
In the 1960's much of the church's energy went towards the building of a new sanctuary. The Salem Street church, though dearly loved, was considered old. The population of Chico was moving towards the "suburbs." The Region encouraged churches to build closer to growing areas of town.
In 1962 a capital funds campaign began. In 1964, the congregation approved the architect's plans for the new sanctuary. A 15-year note for $140,000 was granted by Crocker Bank. A contractor was hired and groundbreaking ceremonies were held in May 1964. The first service in the new sanctuary was on Christmas Eve 1964. In January 1965, the church began holding regular services at the Palmetto location, but continued to use the Salem Street church for all other functions and activities. Members also made pledges to underwrite the paving of the new parking lot.
The sanctuary was dedicated in 1965. The large, clear windows were designed to provide a view of flowers, trees, and shrubs planted outside the sanctuary. These plantings were selected by J. Everett Morrow, a church member, who was the retired Superintendent of the U. S. Experimental Plant Station in Chico. Rev. Brown called the new building "The Garden Sanctuary."
Rev. Brown retired in 1967. Dr. Owen T. Day became interim and with his wife, Mary, was warmly included in congregational life. They continued as active members in our congregation through many years: In March 1968, Rev. Henry I. Fox became the new pastor with Rita sharing Hank's ministry in many ways. The church voted to sell the Salem Street property, saving the old cornerstone. The church office was in the small room in the hallway behind the organ. Committee meetings were held in the choir room. The Christian Science Church, across the street, shared its Sunday School rooms with us.
Using money from the sale of the Salem Street building, the church was able to expand its facility and build the Sunday School rooms behind the narthex. The church raised additional cash for the social hall and offices that were'constructed with much volunteer church labor.
The social, cultural and political turmoil of the 1960's spilled over into the life of mainstream Protestant churches. In the secularization of American society, people drifted away from church. Television, leisure time and weekend activities replaced church services, prayer meetings, Bible study and other church programs. These widespread changes also effected our congregation.
During the 1970's, along with reduced membership, the church struggled to pay the mortgage on the new building. Finally in 1979, the loan was paid in full and the church celebrated with great relief. Rev. Fox resigned earlier that year to take a position with ABC National Ministries but returned for the "mortgage burning" ceremony. Rev. Charles Barnes became the interim, and with his wife, Louise, made a permanent place for themselves in our fellowship.
The 1980's began with Dr. A. Stanley MacNair as pastor (1980-1983). Marjorie, his wife, was active in ABW. Dr. MacNair asked that Bonnie Rasmussen, a new seminary graduate, join him as Associate Pastor. The church agreed and she was ordained here. Rev. Everest P. "Zip" Zediker and his wife, Millie, served from 1984-1986. Rev. Barnes served as a part-time staff person for senior ministries. Also in the mid-eighties, the church used a monetary gift from a member to hire a "youth minister." The church chose W. Bronson Pittman, Jr., a recent graduate of the seminary. He and Marci moved to Chico in 1985. The church ordained Bronson the following year. Upon the resignation of Rev. Zediker, the church asked Bronson to become the full-time pastor, to which he consented and served in that capacity from 1986-1989. Marci was choir director.
In 1987, the Wicks pipe organ was in great need of repair. Gifts in memory of Rev. Gregory S. Morony were used to improve the organ. At that time, the organ was dedicated as the Morony Memorial Organ in memory of both Dr. L. C. Morony who led the congregation in purchasing it and his son, Gregory, who was ordained by this church and closely associated with it during his life.
Following Bronson's resignation, Rev. James Delkin served as interim. The church called Rev. Gregg Sneller as pastor in 1990 and he served until 1996. His wife, Cheryl, was involved in children's work. Under Gregg's leadership, the nineties became a time of newness in the congregation with positive feelings, new members, increased financial giving, a new one-board organizational structure, services with Second Baptist, and increased social awareness and outreach. Gregg also honored former pastors by leading the church in recognizing Rev. Leonard Brown as Pastor Emeritus, and in 1996, honoring Rev. Henry Fox as Pastor Emeritus.
When Gregg resigned, the church tapped Hank Fox as interim pastor. He served for a year before his cancer diagnosis and sudden death in 1997. Dr. Raymond P. Jennings and his wife, Irene, came to a church in sorrow and led us through the following months sustaining us with their loving care.
In June 1998, Dr. Ted H. Sandberg accepted the call to become our pastor. He and Charlaine have shared their energies in many ways. During the past two years, the sanctuary was painted as well as the outside ends of the building, a new carpet was installed, the south windows tinted, and the roof replaced. The social hall was also given a fresh coat of paint. And this year, our Wicks organ is being rebuilt.