Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives
This Day in Baptist History – Oldest Baptist Church in West Virginia

There is a marker in the old Baptist section of the Bridgeport Cemetery, which marks the site of the first meeting house for the Simpson Creek Baptist Church. The date on the marker is 1770.

The early records of the Church states that the Church was founded and constituted by five members and was ministered to by itinerant pastors during the period between 1770 and 1780. At the Centennial Convention of the West Virginia Baptist Convention held in Parkersburg in October 1965, Simpson Creek Baptist Church was recognized as the oldest existing Baptist Church in West Virginia.

It is generally accepted that this church is the oldest existing Baptist church west of the Allegheny Mountains. It is indeed fascinating to note that the Simpson Creek Baptist Church was organized six years before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776.

By 1880 Simpson Creek had established itself as a stable congregation and an organizer of other churches. Its pastors were respected men, both locally and denominationally, and the church served as a place of worship, caring fellowship and discipline.

The church had been many years without a covenant, and in September of 1831 two members of the group were appointed to write one to be presented to the church for adoption. On November 12, 1831 the covenant presented was adopted and was still in effect until January 10, 1973, when after much consideration, a new covenant was prepared by a group of older youth and college students. Both covenants have been retained in our records–the first for its historical value and the second for its practical use of our members in their personal relationship between born again believers and God.

Simpson Creek Baptist Church has stood for 238 years as a symbol of God’s love and a haven to those seeking salvation. The church continues to move forward in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to the world searching and seeking for hope and assurance. It is a Bible preaching, Bible believing Church, and all who enter will find peace, comfort and renewal to meet the challenges of today’s world.

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: Simpson Creek Baptist Church History