This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CGC.2ACI/689.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: "History of the First Baptist Church of Winneconne" by Leona Kellogg ( my Mom). "Under the pastorate of Elder Keever and the Waupun Quarterly Meeting of the Free Will Baptist Society of Winneconne, Baptist services were held in Winneconne as early as 1856. Services were held in a store building near the river on the west side, and later in a log school house on the west side. On December 8, 1870, a committee of the Waupun Quarterly Meeting composed of Elders W. Whiting, F.C. Partridge, and F.B. Moulton met with a committee from the Winneconne Society to discuss organizing a church here. It was an all-day meeting and by evening the church was organized. The officers were; Mr. Hugh Newton, Church Clerk; and Mr. E.H. Cross and Mr. S.F. Smith, Deacons. It was voted to call the new organization the Free Will Baptist Church. The male members of full age belonging to the congreagation met one week later in the school house for the purpose of incorporating themselves into a church society. They elected Julius Ashby, W.H. Williams, S.F. Smith and George C. King as Trustees and called Elder Moulton as Pastor. February 24, 1872, the Articles of Incorporation were recorded with the Register of Deeds of Winnebago County Wisconsin. In 1872 the congregation erected their first church which was of brick with a high steeple, one story and a basement with a kitchen and dining area. The early members were strick with their church discipline, yet their social life was not neglected for we read of many socials and suppers. The Deacons were elected for life and it was considered the greatest honor conferred on a layman. At this time the membership included about 22 families. These early Baptists were very attentive to all church meetings. Besides their regular morning and evening services on Sunday, there were cottage prayer meetings every week, and the last Saturday of every month was a monthly covenant meeting. This was the time they renewed the Covenant with their God. This was followed by a business meeting, each giving a "dime" to defray expenses of the church. There were also Quarterly Meetings of the Waupun Association which met at various churches. They drove for miles with horse and buggy and stayed two or three days. Between the years of 1872 and 1895, there were eleven pastors with the church. They are: Elder F.B. Moulton 1870-1872, Elder Rufus Clark 1872-1872, Elder Reynolds 1874 (6 months), Elder Kayser 1874-1881, Elder Coffeen 1881-1882, Elder B.L. Prescott 1882-1885, Elder boyd, 1885 (10 months), Elder O.H. True 1885-1888, Elder B.F. McKinney 1888-1892, Elder Steel 1892-1893, Elder Kayser 1893-1895 . Also serving in 1895 were: Elder Hopkins, elder Jones, and Elder Hemmerly. In the "Great Fire of Winneconne" August 8, 1894, the church was destroyed. The church members met at the school house for a special meeting to discuss rebuilding the church. About a month later the building plans were accepted and the Trustees were instructed to proceed with rebuilding. The first services wer held in the new church in February, 1895. In 1913, by vote of the Church members they transferred all property rights, titles and interest of the Free Will Baptist Church to the Wisconsin Baptist State Convention (American Baptist) and the Winnebago Baptist Association. The church then became known as The First Baptist Church of Winneconne. In September of 1970, a centennial of the church was celebrated with three former pastors taking part. Dr. O.P. Lovik of Winneconne, Rev. Robert Weigner of Eau Claire, and Rev. Kenneth Craig of Ontario." The church is still at it's original site at the corner of 3rd St. and Adams in Winneconne,Wisconsin. The church building has not been altered on the exterior, but has undergone several changes on the interior through the years. In 2002 the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Winneconne Christian Fellowship after having withdrawn from the Wisconsin Baptist Church. This weekend will be a celebration of 110 years of our church building. Arlene