Clinton's First Baptist Church remains a steady foundation for its members

CLINTON Without looking closely, the large, weather-worn rock near the entrance to First Baptist Church would seem to be purely decorative; however, the stone actually serves as a landmark for the church's vast history.

The rock began its tenure with the church 175 years ago, providing an uplifted surface for women to mount and dismount from their horses, said the Rev. John Roberson, who joined the church in 2003 and became its 41st pastor in 2005.

It's quite amazing to be celebrating something that, quite frankly, many churches may never reach, he said. There's nothing that brings stability to a community better than a well-rounded church, and (First Baptist) has delivered people the true gospel for 175 years.

First Baptist, currently located at 220 Illini Drive in Clinton, has called four church buildings home since its founding on Feb. 1, 1839.

Though we don't have any photos of the first church, it was described as having the humble beginning of a log cabin, he said.

The change in location throughout the years was driven by various factors, including torrential tornado damage in 1878 and disruptive noise from the railroad when it came to Clinton in the 1890s.

The church has expanded greatly since the time of its log-cabin roots, and the current building was constructed in June 1967. It sits on five acres of land, covers about 22,000 square feet and contains about 25 rooms, Roberson said.

For Clinton resident and church secretary Nancy Neatherly, First Baptist has played an immense role for three generations of her family. Her father even installed the electrical foundation for the current building during its construction.

When I was a child, (the church) was all I knew; it was my social life, and it was my family life, she said. I'm amazed that the church has been here so long, and I'm proud that my children are a part of that.

Though many cosmetic changes have taken place over the past two centuries, First Baptist's methods have stayed the same, said 72-year-old Barb Stone, who began attending the church in 1959.

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Clinton's First Baptist Church remains a steady foundation for its members