Shawneetown First Baptist Church
The following is a revised edition of a history of the First Baptist Church in Shawneetown written by Mrs. Allie Gross, a charter member who died February 4, 1973.
In the late 1920's, Rev. A.L. Cox, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Ridgway was instrumental in organizing a baptist mission at Shawneetown. Services were held for awhile in the court house. Bro. Cox invited Bro. L. Tucker, the Associational Missionary to hold a revival from which more than twenty were baptized.
From this beginning the First Baptist Church of Shawneetown, with 37 charter members, was organized on May 27, 1930. At this time services were held in an old show building and Rev. Otto Kunath of Evansville, Indiana was called as the first pastor.
In a few years, plans were made to build a church. The "Old Round" was purchased and torn down and the young people, as well as the older ones, were busy cleaning bricks, which were used partly to build the new church. It took about two years to build it due to most of the work being done by volunteer labor. It was completed in 1935 and was located on South Main Street on a lot given to the church by Mrs. William Hale.
Following the flood in the spring of 1937, Shawneetown was moved about three miles to higher ground. The church met in the basement of the high school gymnasium until the need for a church in the new town was fulfilled in 1941. A parsonage was built on a lot adjoining the church in 1955.
On August 1, 1954, a mission was organized in the old town under the pastorate of Rev. Dale Crockett. The mission was to be interracial. Many from that mission are now members of the church. In 1965, due to so many people moving out of the old town and a lack of interest, the church voted to discontinue services at the mission.
In 1966, under the pastorate of Bro. Leonard Whitlock, the church voted to build a new building. The parsonage was moved to a new location and the new church was built where the parsonage had been. The new building was dedicated May 21, 1967. Also, in 1967, a new parsonage was built on the corner next to the church.
The present pastor, Rev. Jack R. Hall, came to the church in August of 1969. The church has renewed their ministry to Old Shawneetown through a bus ministry.
A list of pastors who have pastored the church are as follows:
Rev. Otto Kunath Rev. Earl Thorgmorten Rev. Charles Hurt
Rev. J.E. Gill Rev. J.F. Gill Rev. Leonard Whitlock
Rev. T.F. Lowry Rev. W.W. Hunsaker Rev. Jerry Moye
Rev. H.L. Waters Rev. Dale Crockett Rev. Leonard Whitlock
Rev. George Christie Rev. Vernon Wasson Rev. Charles Hurt
Rev. J.F. Gill Rev. Rey Pady Rev. Jack R. Hall
In the late 1920's, Rev. A.L. Cox, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Ridgway was instrumental in organizing a baptist mission at Shawneetown. Services were held for awhile in the court house. Bro. Cox invited Bro. L. Tucker, the Associational Missionary to hold a revival from which more than twenty were baptized.
From this beginning the First Baptist Church of Shawneetown, with 37 charter members, was organized on May 27, 1930. At this time services were held in an old show building and Rev. Otto Kunath of Evansville, Indiana was called as the first pastor.
In a few years, plans were made to build a church. The "Old Round" was purchased and torn down and the young people, as well as the older ones, were busy cleaning bricks, which were used partly to build the new church. It took about two years to build it due to most of the work being done by volunteer labor. It was completed in 1935 and was located on South Main Street on a lot given to the church by Mrs. William Hale.
Following the flood in the spring of 1937, Shawneetown was moved about three miles to higher ground. The church met in the basement of the high school gymnasium until the need for a church in the new town was fulfilled in 1941. A parsonage was built on a lot adjoining the church in 1955.
On August 1, 1954, a mission was organized in the old town under the pastorate of Rev. Dale Crockett. The mission was to be interracial. Many from that mission are now members of the church. In 1965, due to so many people moving out of the old town and a lack of interest, the church voted to discontinue services at the mission.
In 1966, under the pastorate of Bro. Leonard Whitlock, the church voted to build a new building. The parsonage was moved to a new location and the new church was built where the parsonage had been. The new building was dedicated May 21, 1967. Also, in 1967, a new parsonage was built on the corner next to the church.
The present pastor, Rev. Jack R. Hall, came to the church in August of 1969. The church has renewed their ministry to Old Shawneetown through a bus ministry.
A list of pastors who have pastored the church are as follows:
Rev. Otto Kunath Rev. Earl Thorgmorten Rev. Charles Hurt
Rev. J.E. Gill Rev. J.F. Gill Rev. Leonard Whitlock
Rev. T.F. Lowry Rev. W.W. Hunsaker Rev. Jerry Moye
Rev. H.L. Waters Rev. Dale Crockett Rev. Leonard Whitlock
Rev. George Christie Rev. Vernon Wasson Rev. Charles Hurt
Rev. J.F. Gill Rev. Rey Pady Rev. Jack R. Hall
