1921-Present
Judson Baptist Church
Belle, West Virginia WV
A Baptist Sunday School was organized at Belle on the last Sunday in March, 1916, in the old school house on Simmons Creek. It continued through 1920 when it was determined that a Baptist Church was needed in Belle. An organizational meeting was held on May 5, 1920, at the home of J. K. Nelson where actions were implemented to raise money and proceed in an orderly manner.
That plan culminated with a protracted meeting which was held January 4-19, 1921. As a result of this meeting 26 persons were converted and baptized on January 19 by Rev. B. F. Howell. There were also 18 who were received on experience and two by letter as a result of this protracted meeting. Thirty-nine people made the initial membership role of the Judson Baptist Church of Belle when it was formally organized on January 19, 1921, at the end of the protracted meeting and baptism. An associational council of recognition affirmed the new congregation on February 25. Representatives from Baptist congregations in Kanawha City, Witcher Creek, East Bank and Brownstown extended the right hand of fellowship to the new congregation at Belle. Rev. B. F. Howell was selected as the first pastor.
On November 19, 1922, the first service was held in the new church building but this original facility served as home for only 14 years and was turned over to the Dupont Corporation to allow for expansion of their chemical plant. The congregation acquired land on Eighth Street in Belle in 1935 and moved into their second worship center on August 16, 1936. This new building was formally dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1937, while W. B. Miller was pastor.
The education building was completed in 1948 and dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1949. A new parsonage was constructed that same year and first occupied by pastor G. R. Pauley. The third sanctuary was constructed in 1963 and dedicated on November 3 of that same year when the church membership was about 600.[1]
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[1] History of Judson Baptist Church, unpublished 3 page manuscript, May 21, 1954.