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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BONNE TERRE
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First record of the First Baptist Church of Bonne Terre appears in the minutes of the Franklin Baptist Association for the annual meeting August, 1887. This record shows 93 members. It is believed, however, that the group was actually organized two or three years previously in East Bonne Terre.
In 1888, St. Joseph Lead Company deeded the lot on which the Church now stands to the congregation, with a reverting clause in the event the lot was ever used for other than church purposes.
Rev. V. T. Settle was the pastor at the time of organization and he was followed, in 1888, by Rev. J. N. B. Hepler. The following pastors served the congregation in the order named: Rev. J. T. Hill, C. T. Fortune, M. M. Munger, E. F. Curle, J. W. Epperly, H. J. LaTour, H. Goodin, J. G. Hardy, Rev. Cole, Reverends W. W. Pearce, W. Bays, Dr. Setzer, J. B. Ragsdale and the present pastor, Rev. Victor Connelley.
Four of the Charter members of the church are still living, Mrs. F. P. Lesser, Mrs. Lou Horton, Mrs. Willis Fite and Mrs. George Belknap.
The present building was constructed in 1926 during the administration of Rev. Ragsdale. It has a seating capacity of 800 and has 33 separate class rooms. Present valuation of the church is placed at $60,000.00 and the parsonage, which is on the adjoining lot, is valued at $5,000.00.
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Present membership numbers 584 and the average Sunday School attendance during 1937 was 243.
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