Church History
General History
Littleton Baptist Church was organized in 1849. Much credit for the present church goes back to the evangelistic efforts of Rev. Samuel Pickard, great grandfather of one of the oldest members, Opal Fulks.
The first Baptist church in Schuyler Count was organized by Rev. John Logan in 1832 and in 1837 a log church was erected four miles northwest of Rushville. On September 15, 1849, seventeen members of this church who lived in Littleton area organized the Littleton Baptist church. Rev. Henry Davis was the first preacher.
Meetings were originally held in a log school house. The first real church building was a simple frame structure. However, that first church building was ruined in the tornado which struck Littleton in October 1856. A brick church was erected in 1857. In 1882 it was a flourishing church of 150 or 160 members and was presided over by Rev. Sanders. It had a large and interesting Sabbath-school.
In June 1909 the Baptist congregation decide to build a new brick church at the cost of $4,600 on the sit of their old brick edifice, and so tore down the old building. This is the building that is standing today with editions added onto it. Rev. J.C. Conway was pastor at that time. Opal Fulks’ father, William Elliott and her Uncle Ed Elliott, used their horses and dug the large basement. This was the only church of its denomination in Schuyler County at this time.
In the early years there was a Ladies Aid Society which later changed to the Ladies Mission circle, which worked on various project to be of help in the community as well as for missionaries. This has always been Mission minded church and sever missionary are supported on a regular basis.
Later, under Rev. Elmer L. Smart, patricians were added to the basement making several much needed classrooms. It was also under Rev. Smart that the Vacation Bible School first started. These first VBS’s were held in union with Methodist church in the 50’s, 60’s and through 1976.
In 1977 Kim Gee who began his ministry in Littleton. Under his supervision attendance grew from the 40’s to the 90’s. In June 1978 it was voted to build a new addition onto the church. That Thanksgiving the Thanksgiving Dinner was held in the Fellowship Hall. 93 persons were present.
In the devastating tornado of June 1981 the church and parsonage were both damaged but were able to be repaired while the new Fellowship Hall was among the few building in the town that was not damaged.
In 1990 the First Baptist Church of Littleton affiliates itself the General Association of Regular Baptist. This was also the year that the long standing problem of an aging parsonage is remedied with the construction of the current parsonage. Construction began in July and the McIntosh family moved into the new building in October.
Eleven years later in 2001 it became evident that the church building itself needed renovation. What started out as a remodeling of the kitchen and the bathrooms turned into an addition project that added approximately 3,000 extra square feet to the building. This new area supplies four extra classrooms, a new nursery, and two new bathrooms. At the same time the fellowship hall interior and adjacent kitchen under went major modification with new widows being installed, drywall replacing the dark paneling and drop ceiling, the kitchen area being adjusted as well as expanded, and all new appliances and cupboards installed. This was completed in one year's time under the supervision of Pastor Jason Thacker. This was Pastor Thacker's first church.
Since then the building has not undergone any major changes but the church body continues to change and grow under the current guidance of Pastor Larry Lindow. With Pastor Lindow’s background in camp and school ministry, the church is never lacking in activities or new bold ideas. We look forward to the future knowing God’s plan is true and right.