First Baptist Church in Tillsonburg to celebrate 171st anniversary

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First Baptist Church is celebrating its 171st anniversary in Tillsonburg. 

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“We are looking forward to celebrating 171 years of worship with a special celebration with Pastor Isaac Amorin on Sunday, May 19,” said Carol Hodgson. “A time of fellowship will follow the service.”

Sunday morning service is at 10 a.m. in the auditorium. 

Services are usually attended by just over 100 people, and it’s the people that make the church special, said Margaret Dawson. 

“Very friendly,” Hodgson said. “In the lobby, before the service, it’s wonderful. You look at their faces and you can tell they are so pleased to be here… And very faithful.” 

“It’s a busy church,” said Dawson as a Thursday morning class exercised in the large lobby. 

“It is a busy place,” Hodgson agreed, noting there are group meetings every day of the week, including an Alzheimer Society respite program at the church. 

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First Baptist Church was founded in 1853 on Christmas Day with 17 members attending, joining the Ontario Quebec Baptist Convention in 1854. Meetings were held in a school-house and the Old Temperance Hall on Broadway. 

In 1865, Rev. J. Torrance, Mount Elgin Baptist Church, assumed the pastorate. 

A frame church at the northeastern end of Market Street was purchased from the Methodists in 1873 and a new building was established at the corner of Washington Grand Avenue and Bidwell Street in 1894. 

A parsonage was added in 1937, but in 1946 an early-morning fire destroyed all but the Sunday school hall. Church members met in the hall for a number of years. In 1946 a cornerstone was laid for a new church building, with a Wurlitzer electric organ. In 1950, the congregation’s hope and dream became a reality when a new church at the corner of Washington Grand and Bidwell was dedicated. 

Sunday school was held in old building until a new wing was built in 1964, said Dawson. 

Stained glass windows were added as memorials to members who had worked hard to maintain First Baptist Church’s financial and building requirements.  

The church has always been interested in providing support worldwide, sending aid when there were earthquakes, fire, floods and famine. Traditionally, the church supported missionaries sent to Central and South American countries. 

In 1971, a daycare opened with 20 children enrolled. It continued operation until 2013. 

Fast forward to the mid 2000s – a movement began to consider establishing a new one-floor church, fully accessible with ample parking. The building at Bidwell and Washington-Grand Avenue was sold in 2017 and contents either sold or stored for future use. The congregation moved to the Lions Auditorium at the Community Centre for two-plus years and the church office moved to Broadway.  

Pastor Steve Amorin had replaced his father, Pastor Isaac Amorin who had replaced Pastor Gene Tempelmeyer. 

In 2012 a land dedication service was held with more than 300 people attending. Many volunteers worked with Bob and Carol Hodgson to make the event possible. 

“A lot of people are wondering, ‘what’s First Baptist Church up to?’” said Pastor Steve Amorin in 2017, noting First Baptist would be building a new 11,200-square-foot facility on 5.3 acres of land purchased on Harvest Avenue. “Some people thought we are shutting down, which we are not doing. Some people thought we were already in the new building, which we are not either.” 

In 2019 the congregation gathered at the church site to break ground at 18 Harvest Ave. A few days later, PK Construction began preparing the site. On August 2, 2020, a special cornerstone ceremony was held with three generations participating. The first service was held in December 2020. 

“This (building) works so well for us,” said Dawson. 

“One of the reasons is the accessibility,” said Hodgson. “The old church had a lot of up and down to it.”