History
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90:1-2
Imagine.
Imagine the North Shore in 1826. The revival fires of the Second Great Awakening were still burning when Benjamin Knight of Salem began holding church services in a small schoolhouse in Beverly Farms. And Mr. Knight imagined. He imagined that this small gathering could grow into a thriving gospel-centered church that would impact its neighborhood for Christ. And it did.
Humble Beginnings
1795
Miss Rebecca Goldsmith was the first person of Baptist persuasion on record in Wenham. She was a teacher in the school located in that part of town known as Wenham Neck about the year 1795.
1831
The first Baptist meetinghouse in Wenham was built in 1831. Its 73 members were mostly residents of Wenham Neck who had been attending the Beverly Baptist Church and the Wenham Congregational Church.
1836
On December 13th 1836 the church voted “To observe the – Sunday evening of every month as a season of prayer for the ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. “
A Gospel Movement.
The group became an official church in 1829 and began baptizing believers, sharing communion, and holding concerts of prayer. More and more committed their lives to Christ and were baptized over the next 70 years. The building expanded to accommodate the growing congregation. And it all began with a gospel-driven imagination.
Building the Church
1860
The construction of a new church was completed and a service of dedication took place on December 25, 1860. This is the present structure.
The church was built from the same plans as the Hampton Falls meeting house.
One of the requirements was that “there should be a spire of imposing design and strong enough to hold a bell weighing not less than 800 pounds.” The contractor was George Hanson.
A business meeting followed at the close of a prayer service at the home of Mr. Curtis December18, 1860.It was “Voted: To make preparations for dedicating our church.” “Voted: That the ministers of those churches which have aided us in building our new house of worship be invited to take part in the dedicating services.” “Voted: That a committee of general arrangements be chosen consisting of Francis M. Dodge, John Curtis, Joseph Caswell, Benjamin F. Spiller, Richard Doge, Jr., Martha A. Prince, Annie Conant, and Sarah E. Doge.” “Voted: That Samuel R. Prince and John Curtis be a committee to convey passengers from that depot to the chruch and return.”
Reborn again and again.
But in the early 1900s, orthodoxy was abandoned for universalism. The congregation dwindled to 15 people by 1938. But there was a small group of believers who imagined. They imagined what God could do if the gospel witness was kept alive. So they prayed fervently.
And in 1950 they called Millard Fraumann, an evangelical pastor, to lead the church for the first time in 50 years. Fraumann and his successors – including William Nigel Kerr, Wayne Hill, Richard Schoenert, and Mark Coleman – all imagined that God could expand His Kingdom through the local church.
The Transition to NSCBC
1971
Church Merger
The Wenham Neck Baptist Church and the Beverly Farms Baptist Church corporations were dissolved and at once incorporated under the name North Shore Community Baptist Church.
1975
Land was purchased bythe North Shore Community Baptist Church at the corner of Rubbly and Grapevine Roads between the Iron Rail Building and the Marjorie Davis residence.
1977
A Building Committee was formed from the membership of the North Shore Community Baptist Church.
Architect Kenneth Parry was retained to provide a building site survey and preliminary planning for a new church building.
The Executive Council of the church voted to offer for sale its property located near the corner of Dodges and Larch Row so as to provide down payment funds for the purpose of initiating new construction.
In the mean time the North Shore Community Baptist Church is addressing itself to the question of how to better serve the community with a new facility of more adequate size encompassing off street parking on a lot size more adequate for this congregation.
For Gospel, Community, and Mission.
The ministry of what is today North Shore Community Baptist Church has been marked by deep understanding of Scripture, a community that encourages and supports one another, and a commitment to spreading the Gospel throughout the world. And it all happened because someone imagined what God could do.
We are the same church.
Today, we feel as though we are once again on the cusp of a major move of God. Essex County is one of the least reached counties in the U.S. Less than 3% of the people in our county have a meaningful relationship with Christ. Imagine if that percentage were doubled or tripled.
Imagine if your neighbor began asking you about what’s different in your life. Imagine if your life was renewed and your family was transformed by the power of the Gospel. Imagine if homes were opened up, prayer was mobilized, skeptics were welcomed, leaders were developed, old divisions were healed, and churches were partnering together in mission. Imagine if there were a gospel movement on the North Shore! If thousands of people were meeting Christ, growing as disciples, and serving in Gospel-centered churches. If our neighborhoods declared the reign of Christ and re-aligned all of life to His holy love.