How it all started...
Tracing UBC's beginnings shows the faithfulness of God to bless those who seek Him fully. In 1806, a mother with “anxious thoughts…for the welfare of her children” saddled her horse and rode several miles to the home of Mary Giggell. They spent the day “reading the Bible, talking & praying together" and out of that encounter, in 1809, a total of 19 people joined together to create a house church, with no pastor for the first 24 years of their history.
That small band of believers were faithful in confession, prayer, preaching and teaching. Sixty years later, in the Clark Homestead on Main Street, they gathered together and planted the first seeds of a new church to be known as the First Baptist Church of St. Johnsbury. They saw the Holy Spirit move in two revivals that swept through St. Johnsbury; including the Great Awakening in 1875.
In 1874, just prior to the Great Awakening, the First Baptist Church was organized by a preacher from New York City with only 13 members and, again, meeting in the home of a local woman in St. J.
In 1916, the two groups of believers came together to form the Union Baptist Church of St. Johnsbury, Inc., agreeing to use the First Baptist Church’s building on Railroad St. (now Natural Provisions). In following years UBC grew, and renewed its commitment to seeing God honored in all of life. We moved to our current building and held our first services there on Christmas Eve 1998.
In 2016 we were humbled and thankful to throw a Centennial event, celebrating God's faithfulness to UBC over the 100 years we have worshipped, grown, and changed.
That small band of believers were faithful in confession, prayer, preaching and teaching. Sixty years later, in the Clark Homestead on Main Street, they gathered together and planted the first seeds of a new church to be known as the First Baptist Church of St. Johnsbury. They saw the Holy Spirit move in two revivals that swept through St. Johnsbury; including the Great Awakening in 1875.
In 1874, just prior to the Great Awakening, the First Baptist Church was organized by a preacher from New York City with only 13 members and, again, meeting in the home of a local woman in St. J.
In 1916, the two groups of believers came together to form the Union Baptist Church of St. Johnsbury, Inc., agreeing to use the First Baptist Church’s building on Railroad St. (now Natural Provisions). In following years UBC grew, and renewed its commitment to seeing God honored in all of life. We moved to our current building and held our first services there on Christmas Eve 1998.
In 2016 we were humbled and thankful to throw a Centennial event, celebrating God's faithfulness to UBC over the 100 years we have worshipped, grown, and changed.
Expanding the vision...
Today, our mission is to continue to serve the towns of St. Johnsbury and Waterford; loving God first and upholding His truth, loving people with the mercy and love God has given to us, and by His grace leading those people to see His love and care for them through Jesus Christ.
In the past few years its been our heartbeat to not only serve our own body of believers well, but to unite with other gospel-preaching churches in running events and serving the community. We usually have a tent at festivals and events in St. Johnsbury as well as opening up our building for many community organizations and businesses to use for sports practices, meetings, and conferences.
In the past few years its been our heartbeat to not only serve our own body of believers well, but to unite with other gospel-preaching churches in running events and serving the community. We usually have a tent at festivals and events in St. Johnsbury as well as opening up our building for many community organizations and businesses to use for sports practices, meetings, and conferences.
Where we are headed...
First and foremost, we want to continue to be a place where God's truth and love are shown and where God continues to be glorified in all that we do.
Second, we want to continue to partner with and lend support to other gospel-preaching churches to serve St. Johnsbury and surrounding communities through events like Kingdom's Kids Camp, parenting seminars, suicide prevention education, and others.
Lastly, we want to be a place of restoration and healing for anyone who walks through our doors. Everyone who comes to UBC has a story that includes brokenness and hurt which only Jesus can heal. We're deeply committed to the restoration of the hearts of men, women, and families in our church as well as in our community.
Second, we want to continue to partner with and lend support to other gospel-preaching churches to serve St. Johnsbury and surrounding communities through events like Kingdom's Kids Camp, parenting seminars, suicide prevention education, and others.
Lastly, we want to be a place of restoration and healing for anyone who walks through our doors. Everyone who comes to UBC has a story that includes brokenness and hurt which only Jesus can heal. We're deeply committed to the restoration of the hearts of men, women, and families in our church as well as in our community.
