First Baptist Church Records, 1861-2018
Content Description
Church meeting minutes from 2005-2018, a folder of miscellaneous church programs, art, photographs, church directories, and other mementos, hand written books describing church meetings dating back from 1861 up to 2004, minor financial notes, and attendance records from 1901-1933.
Dates
- Creation: 1861-2018
Creator
- First Baptist Church (Organization)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to the public.
Use Restrictions
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright owned by the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.
Biographical/Historical Note
The First Baptist Church was founded on what is now the corner of Fourth Avenue and Niagara Street in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 1861. Starting in the 1960s, attendance numbers began to slowly dwindle until 2000, when debate over whether or not to allow gay members to participate in worship caused half of its 130 regular attendants to leave. Many remaining members were aged, with no new members joining to replace those who died. By 2017, only a few dozen members attended every Sunday on the regular. Building maintenance costs and a lack of donations forced the church to close and sell the building to Renew Church in 2017. The final worship was held March 11, 2018, the Church’s 157th anniversary. As of March 2019, the building has been used by Renew Church.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (1 record carton)
Language of Materials
English
Summary
Membership records, meeting minutes, financial data, church constitutions and miscellaneous programs, church directories, and photographs from the First Baptist Church of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, from 1861-2018.
Acquisition Information
Transferred to the University Archives by Susan Glenz (FBC Clerk) in May 2018.
Accession Number
19-018
Reference Code
UHC369
Processing Note
Processed by Brice Vircks in March 2019.
Subject
- First Baptist Church (Organization)
- Renew Church (Organization)
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Guinevere Fischer
- Date
- December 1, 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives, McIntyre Library, UW-Eau Claire Repository
Special Collections and Archives, McIntyre Library
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
103 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701 United States
715-836-2739
library.archives@uwec.edu