History of the First Baptist Church of Belmont

First Baptist Church began meeting in 1926 and was originally known as Belmont Baptist Church. The charter members were: Mr & Mrs. Ira Looney, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Hammett, Mr. Arthur Hammett, Mr. John B. Hammett, Mr. & Mrs. C.B. Shingleton, Mr. Raymond Shingleton, Mrs. George Ingraham, Mr. & Mrs. George H. Henson, and Mrs. Carrie Walters. They worshiped every fourth Sunday of the month in the Union Church, which is the present location of Belmont United Methodist Church. Our founders shared the Union Church for 25 years with congregations of various denominations for Sunday school and special meetings. First Baptist Church members laid the cornerstone of our present building on August 12 1951, and the building was dedicated on November first of the same year. Francis Williamson donated the bell for the church in 1955. It came from the old Belmont School. The pulpit we use today was purchased from the Grantsville Church. During the 1970's out church building was improved and enlarged. At this time the baptistery was added in memory of Johnny Bogard. the parsonage was constructed in 1986. From 1926 till 1989, First Baptist Church was affiliated with the American Baptist Convention. On June 15, 1989, the members voted to become an Independent Baptist Church. In November of 1997, the Church purchased the "Cox property" adjacent to the Church and increased the property holdings of the Church five-fold. First Baptist took possession of this additional property in March 1998. In the spring of 2000, the families of the Church remodeled the "Cox House", to become the main parsonage for the Pastor's family. In the spring and summer of 2001, the Church installed vinyl siding and insulation on the out side of the church. In the summer of 2004 the main auditorium ws remodeled & enlarged.

Ministers who have served the church include:

Rev. H.W. Martin, 1925-1932 Rev. R.L. Stump,1933-1935 Rev. Denver Davis, 1936-1937 Rev. Jarett Chandler, 1936-1939 Rev. W. Woofter, 6/40 Rev. Amundson, 7/40-8/40 Rev. Denver Davis, 1940-1941 Rev. Carl Finch, 1942-1947 Rev. T.B. Turley, May 1949 Rev. Clyde Bush, 6/49-8/49 Rev. Baber Morris, 10/49-1952 Rev. Boyd Sparks, 1952-1955

Rev. Bill Lilly, 1955-7/59 Rev. Harry Ramsey, 11/59-11/60 Rev. George Stout, 3/61-9/61 Rev. Frank Kozac, 1/63-4/63 Rev. Calvin Ferrell, 7/63-1968 Rev. Ernest Hammack, 11/68-7/80 Rev. Baber Morris, 3/81-6/85 Rev. Patrick Wheeler, 4/86-5/88 Rev. Ralph Kisner, 11/88-8/91 Rev. Brian Weber, 10/91-5/96 Rev.Rob Berry, 6/96-5/99 Rev. Kelly Snyder, 3/2000-present