The American prairie was a wild place when a group that would become First Baptist Church of Atchison began meeting regularly. In fact, their first meeting place had previously been a beer saloon. Thanks to the tenacity and faith of those first parishoners, they established the first Baptist house of worship in what was then the territory of Kansas

Establishing roots in Kansas

From the Atchison newspaper, January 1, 1869

The first sermon that was preached in Atchison by a Baptist Minister was delivered by Rev. L.A. Alderson, on Sunday, April 24th, 1858, I the office of Gen. S.C. Pomeroy – a small brick building opposite the old National Hotel. A few Sabbaths afterwards, Mr. Alderson commenced holding regular services in a room previously occupied as a larger beer saloon, on Commercial street, near the wharf. The seats were composed of goods-boxes and rough planks from the lumber yard. During the Summer, Allen’s Hall, on the corner of 2d and Commercial streets, was rented; and in this Hall, on the 1st day of Aug., 1858, was constituted the “1st Baptist Church of the City of Atchison,” consisting of the following persons: Rev. L.A. Alderson and wife, Mary A. Challiss, I.C. Allen and wife, Aaron Stephinson and wife, Thomas Wise and Wilberforce Dunlevy. Dr. W.L. Challiss was added a few days afterwards.

One of the first duties performed by this newly formed church was to accept the lot donated by Luther C. Challiss on the corner of 9th street and Kansas Avenue, and make arrangements for the erection of a house of worship.

The church continued to worship in Allen’s Hall until the following Spring when they were required to vacate the room and for several weeks they worshipped in such unoccupied rooms as could, from time to time, be obtained. At length, an unfinished upper room, nearly opposite the Planter’s House, was rented and occupied until the following autumn, when the church was enabled to enter their own house of worship, which was soon completed – a neat and substantial brick building, 85×55 feet, with tower and bell. This was the first house of worship erected by the Baptists in Kansas, and, considering that they were then so few and feeble, they surely are deserving of a large degree of praise for having erected, at so early a period in their history, so neat and commodious a house, unembarrassed by debt.

During a period of three years, Rev. L.A. Alderson was their Pastor, the church increasing under his ministry to the number of fifty communicants, sixteen of whom were received by baptism. On the resignation of Mr. Alderson in May, 1861, Rev. A. Perkins, D.D., was elected to the pastoral care of the church and labored faithfully and efficiently for three years, when he resigned for the purpose of returning to his Eastern home. In the year 1864, the church engaged the services of Rev. Frank Remington for the brief period of three months. In the Spring of 1865, the church was happy in securing the services of Rev. J.W. Warder, whose zealous labors resulted in greatly promoting the efficiency of the church. After a most acceptable pastorate of two years, he removed his pastoral relation from Atchison to Kansas City, leaving the church with an active membership of one hundred communicants. During the month of April, 1868, Mr. W. enjoyed the privilege of baptizing thirty-five persons into the fellowship of the church. Mr. W. was succeeded by Rev. H.A. Guild, of Mass. During the winter of 1867 and 1868, Mr. Guild held a protracted meeting for two months, in which one hundred and forty persons were received into the church – ninety-nine of whom were received by baptism.

The present pastor of the church is Rev. I. Sawyer, D.D., who assumed the pastorate in July, 1868. His congregation is large, intelligent, attentive, and increasing, and the prospects of the church hopeful. The present number of communicants is two hundred and forty. The entire number received into the church since its organization is three hundred and ten.

This church has sustained a prosperous Sabbath School since May, 1859. The School now numbers 120 scholars, 16 officers and teachers, and 400 volumes in Library.