Church History

In 1827 and 1828, Charles Finney held revival meetings that included stops in Little Falls. It is our belief that First Baptist came into being as a direct result of those meetings. In 1829, a group of Baptist believers from Little Falls requested permission to join the local Upstate Council of Baptist Churches. This was granted in 1830 and the Church called its first pastor, the Reverend C. G. Carpenter.

On the first day of spring in 1832, the church dedicated its first building on this site. In 1876, a major building and renovation program was undertaken. From December 1,1879 to February 1, 1885, the Rev. Francis Bellamy pastored the church. In 1892, while advertising editor of the weekly, "Youth's Companion", he authored the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States. In 1902, another major addition was added to the church for the Sunday school.

On October 1, 1949 the Rev. Frederick Thorne became the pastor of this church and remained its pastor until his retirement in April 1976. It was under his ministry that the church in 1953 began broadcasting its morning worship service. Under his leadership in 1962 the church withdrew from the Mohawk Valley Baptist Convention (ABC) and in 1964 brought them into the Conservative Baptist Association of America.

In 1968, the Sunday school area of the church was extensively remodeled and a new heating system installed. In 1973, the church saw the need for a youth pastor and filled this position by calling George Hopper. In February of 1977, our Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Donald L. Dixon began his ministry. Rev. Dixon served as our Senior Pastor until his retirement in December 2006.

Pastor Chris J. Wintermute is our new Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church of Little Falls. He came to us in the Spring of 1996 to serve as our Associate Youth Pastor from the Second Baptist Church in Auburn, NY where he was Associate Youth Pastor for 9 years.

In the fall of 1980, the Mohawk Valley Christian Academy opened its doors for the first time. The Academy is currently located at 156 W Monroe St, Little Falls.

Other projects completed during the 80's have included extensive renovation of the interior of the church and education facilities, and restoration of the exterior of the church.

Click here for more information & pictures of First Baptist Church of Little Falls' first 175 years.