About FBC Seneca

Leadership

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Heritage

A brief history of First Baptist Church, Seneca, MO

The First Baptist Church of Seneca was organized Saturday before the 5th Sunday, August 1869 by Elders William Dooley and James Ball. When the church was first organized the inhabitants of Seneca numbered 350 to 400 people. The county records state the deed was made November 5, 1883, filed March 31, 1885, Gus Hick to the trustees of the First Baptist Church of Seneca.
Information gained from old church records reveals the following people constituted the charter members of the church, these being among the first settlers in this part of Newton County: Elder James Ball and Sarah Ball, Elder William Dooley and Melissa Dooley, W.M. Hays, Mary E. Bunch, Elder Spencer Neil and Nancy Neil, Thomas Childers, Lucinda Quick and Martha Hunt.
There were no cars for transportation, the only mode of travel was by foot, horseback or wagon and team over rough hills and dim trails. The early pastors lived in the country and preached under great difficulty. Meetings were held in residences until the school house was built in 1876. It was a two room log house back of the Stone Garage and was a community center where all faiths gathered to worship.
Several years later the Union Church was built, later known as the South Methodist. The Baptists held regular services there until 1884, when they erected the first house of worship built by a denomination in Seneca. In 1886 the bell was hung in the belfry.
In 1898, the frame building was moved from the west part of town to its present location. What is now the main auditorium originally stood on lots north of the Norman King home, and was moved at a cost of $540.
Elder Dooley, one of the organizers, was our first pastor and a worthy and much loved member for a number of years. His remains now lie in the Kirk Cemetery.

This history was taken from a book titled "First Baptist Church Seneca, Missouri - A History of 115 Years of Ministry 1869-1984".