First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church
300 E Daggy St - Tuscola, IL, 61953
The First Baptist Church of Tuscola was organized on May 29, 1858 by Rev G. W. Riley. The first services were held in the homes of members. The church was formally ordained in 1859. Its first and present building, which was for 30 years the largest church structure in the community, was erected in 1865 at the cost of $10,000 and sits at the northeast corner of Daggy and Court Streets. Mr. Elijah McCarty and Dr. I. N. Rynerson directed the building program. The building is of brick and measures 40 by 50 feet. Originally, it had a brick tower 90 feet high, which was a striking landmark, but also a source of worry as to its safety. While engineers assured as to its strength, the fears of the congregation eventually got the upper hand and the tower was removed down to the roof. The original tower never had a bell. Apparently, the members were not happy with a church without a steeple. This was remedied in 1892, when a steeple and bell were added to the structure.
The church, like many other institutions, has seen its years of prosperity and its years of adversity. Remodeling has been done over the years. The steeple was removed in 1994. Lean years brought “supply ministers.” The late 1990’s brought solvency to the church and a full-time pastor was called. Dr. Elizabeth Killeen answered this call.
Interim pastors served after Dr. Killeen’s departure until 2004 when Pastor Gerald Silver of Hume assumed part time duties.
