The First Baptist Church of Freeburg was organized with some member of the Silver Creek Baptist Church and some members of the Richland Baptist Church. 

    The old Silver Creek Baptist Church was organized March 21, 1811 and included among its early members Abraham and  Mary Teter, Peter and Hannah Mitchell, Mary Radcliff and Barbara Shook. Among its early pastors were Reverends Moses, Joseph and James Lemen, Arnott, Howell and Stillwell. The Reverends Arnott,  Howell and Stillwell were also pastors of the Richland Baptist Church a few years later.

    The Richland Baptist Church, located one and one-half miles southeast of Smithton, was organized April 23, 1842 by Rev. Henry Ross and Nathan Arnott. The first meeting  was  held in the home of Abner Carr, who was the great-grandfather of four members of the church  when Freeburg observed its centennial in 1957. They were Esta Carr Middendorf, Ona Carr Goetz, Susie  Carr Hubbard, all now deceased, and Elbert Carr, currently a Freeburg resident. 

    The constituent members of this early Richland Baptist Church were William Sanders, Hannah Arnott, Marinda Smith, Sarah Holroid and Sara Tiner. Rev. Arnott was chosen as pastor, Nathanial  Smith as clerk, and John Wood as deacon. Nathaniel  Smith deeded three acres of land to the church trustees for the use of the church. The old cemetery remains but the church building was razed about 1937.

     Late in 1856 Rev. H.S. Deppe preached the first sermon in Urbana, now known as Freeburg. On Jan. 3, 1857 members met to discuss the organizing of a church in Urbana. Upon a motion by Brother Solomon Teter, seconded by Joseph Hill, Elder H.S. Deppe was elected as chairman and John T. Lemen as clerk.

    On Jan. 4, 1857, Elder H.S. Deppe preached a sermon in the forenoon, after which the brethren and sisters  were called to order by the moderator. The question was submitted to them as to whether they should go into an organization. Upon a motion made and seconded, it was decided to organize a church. Elder Deppe read the covenant to them and they "bound themselves in a covenant to keep house for the Lord in this place".These  names went into the charter of the Urbana Church: Solomon Teter and Polly Griffin of the Silver Creek Church, Joseph and Elizabeth Hill and Patience E. Lemen of Belleville Church, and Jacob and Theresa Wilderman and Sarah F. Thrift of the Richmond Church. During the next week the following were also received into the church; Julia Wilderman, Elizabeth McLemore, Anna Christina Thrift, Polly, Louisa and Esther Teter.

    Rev. H.S. Deppe was the first pastor, being called on Jan. 24, 1857 and served until 1874. In April a meeting was called to select a suitable place to build a church house. At the time Rev. Deppe, Solomon Teter, Joseph Hill, Jacob Wilderman and John Lemen were elected trustees. In Nov. 1857 it was resolved to build a meeting room house on the west side of the public square on land George Wilderman proposed. Upon approval of the site it was purchased from George and Mary Wilderman for $125. In June 1859 the building was put under contract and by Sept. 25, 1859 dedication serves were held, Elder Peters preaching.

    Among the early pastors were the revs. Deppe, John Peters, Jackson and Wright. Early deacons were Joseph Hill, Solomon Teter, and Lewis Holcomb. Early clerks were John Lemen, G.E. Patterson, Robert Lemen, T.O. Holcolm, A. Anthony and W.A. Wilderman. In1869 the membership was 160 but by 1880 it had dwindled to 75 with Sunday School at 40.

    Rev. Deppe, who was pastor here several times, was the leading force that organized this church.  He was predominant in organizing church in this eara. He lived on a farm just south of Freeburg. He married several generations of some families, among them were William Hill and Emeline Phillips, Mary Hill and Jace Collet, Lina Hill and Albert Carr.

    In June 1864, the town of Urbana changed its name to Freeburg, thus the church was known as the Freeburg Baptist Church. In 1905 the church building had electricity turned on, and in 1939-40 a basement was dug. In 1947 Rev. Patterson started a building fund for an annex, finally in 1955 Rev. Roberts pursued the issue and a loan was secured. The first activity held in the new annex was a Valentine party in Feb.1956. The annex includes kitchen facilities, room  for Sunday School and social gatherings. It was paid for in 21 months.

This article was written by: Joyce Ingold  

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Church Events *09:30am - Sunday School *10:30am - Sunday Services *05:30pm - April 2, 2015 Maundy Thursday  Service.                    Soup will be served for dinner. This service                    will take place in the Fellowshio Hall. *06:30pm - April 3, 2015 Good Friday Service *06:30pm - April 4, 2015 Trivia Night in  Fellowship Hall *07:00am - April 5, 2015 Easter Sunday Service                    with continental breakfast after service

First Sunday of the month Communion. First Sunday of the month Food Pantry Collection. We go out to eat once a month after Service. And More