First Baptist Church - California, MO - Baptist Churches on Waymarking.com

County of church: Moniteau County
Location of church: 208 S. Oak St., California
Phone: (573) 796-4452
PastorL Greg Morrow

They have a spiffy U-Tube commercial: First Baptist Church

"In 1838 it was decided to come to California and a committee was selected to make the proper arrangements, but the next year there was a split in the church on account of the missionary question, and some 48 members withdrew, some of the members formed a Hardshell Baptist church, while others returned and were reinstated by recantation.

"The California church commenced with the building of the old church house now south of the railroad and occupied by the colored Baptists. The block on which the church now stands was purchased for $25. It was finished in 1858 at a cost of $303.45. Wm. M. Robertson, G. W. Johnson and Kemp Scott were the first pastors.

"From 1861 to 1865 the building was used more or less for school.

"In 1865 Robt. H. Harris became pastor and remained four years. During his pastorate the Sunday School and weekly prayer meetings were established.

"In 1870 the trustees were ordered to sell a portion of the block for building purposes, and a subscription fund was started in 1874 to build the present church. The old building was sold for $55 and some of the lots sold also. Certificates of incorporation were issued under the name of the California Baptist church in 1878.

"The records regarding the completion of the present house are meager, but the efforts of the congregation have been remarkable. Some three years ago during the pastorate of Rev. J. L. Ford the building was remodeled and almost made new, at a cost of about $1,000, so that the congregation now have an excellent church building, a large earnest membership and the property paid for." ~ History of Moniteau County, 1898