The first building devoted exclusively to worship by Baptists in Milford was an old church located in Milford Neck, just north of Milford. It was known as the Old Baptist Meeting House with services conducted in accordance with what was called “old school religion,” according to “The History of Milford, DE,” written by George P. Hynson. It is believed that the building was constructed around 1760 and there is evidence it was repaired and re-roofed in 1796.
Most of the prominent families in Milford Neck affiliated with the church and it was not until the Methodist Church began actively recruiting membership in the area that the membership in “old school religion” dropped off. There is no information regarding who founded the church, but Reverend Matthew Hynson of Milford, who was the father of Garrett L. Hynson, preached there occasionally, according to Hynson’s book. Rev. Hynson was buried at Christ Church.
Reverend Peter Meredith preached there as well, holding services every fourth Sunday for many years. This continued until just prior to the Civil War. When the state passed public school laws, the building became a schoolhouse during the week and dedicated to worship on Sunday. Eventually, it became more important as a school than a church. Many students from a wide area of Milford gained their schooling in the building. When schools moved into a smaller, district format, the building was abandoned.
However, the building gained a new use when an African American man, Josh Clark, moved in and made the church his home. He had worshiped there as a child. His mother was locally famous as she reached a great old age and was largely considered a witch. While Clark lived there, the building was associated with mysteries that caused children to avoid it, according to Hynson. Clark made his bed of straw in front of the pulpit.
After his death, the Old Meeting House was torn down. After the Civil War, there was a new effort to revive the Baptist faith in Milford as settlers from other states arrived and purchased land. For a while, the Baptist’s practiced in Lincoln, but there was limited membership and the decision was made to move the church to Milford.
On June 14, 1873, a meeting was called at the old M.E. Church on North Street to consider organizing a Baptist congregation. Two months later, at a meeting held again on North Street, the decision was made to reach out to the Baptist organization and be recognized as a church of that faith. In August of the same year, a committee was appointed to purchase the old M.E. Church if the terms were satisfactory. Another committee was established to raise funds, but the plan never came to fruition.
In October 1873, the congregation was formally established as the First Baptist Church of Milford with S. Todd Jenkins, Seymore C. Horton, Daniel H. Weeks, George L. Rice and Abner M. Webb appointed as trustees. In early 1874, H.H. Leary was called to the charge as well. There was occasional preaching with only 19 available and less than one hundred members of the congregation.
On March 28, 1874, a committee was named to solicit funds for the erection of a building. Members of the committee included Jonathan Smith, A.M. Webb, Stephen Shockley, Daniel Weeks and George L. Stevens. In 1875, the church edifice was completed as a frame structure which stood on Second Street.
At the time Hynson wrote his book in 1899, the Baptist congregation was still struggling as they had not had a preacher for some time. Yet, he writes “there is a lack of numbers, but not of zeal, and their energy and courage argue success in the years to come.”
The Second Street church served the congregation for more than 86 years and in 1940, there was an attempt made to enlarge the Second Street location, but instead they decided to relocate. In 1959, the church purchased property on Old Shawnee Road and a new building constructed in 1962.
