United Baptist Church was established in 1932. It was formed by the merging of Pleasant Street Baptist Church and Curtis Memorial Church. The merger was the result of the two congregations feeling that they could accomplish more together to reach Concord with the gospel than they could accomplish separately.
The meeting house of the Pleasant Street Baptist church. In 1946 the building was sold and the steeple removed. It is the current location of the offices of the NH Charitable Foundation.
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The former Curtis Memorial Church is the current meeting location of United Baptist Church. It was named for Silas Curtis, former pastor and benefactor.
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The first pastor of the unified church was Rev. Ernest McKenzie. The church was very active, with an official roll of 162 members engaged in wide variety of ministries and services. The benevolence budget (for care of the poor and needy) was $1600 at the establishment of the new church. That would be the equivalent of over $25,000 in today's dollars. After one year, a local Concord newspaper noted "a year of increased activity, services well attended, all financial obligations met; many new pledges for church expenses."
In 1942 the church celebrated its tenth anniversary with the general observation that the joining of the two churches had been the best possible move. Existing histories record the decades of the 40s and 50's to have been a time of both spiritual and organizational movement and growth. Especially notable were activity in youth ministry and increased missions support.
An education wing was added in 1962 to provide additional room for christian education, fellowship, youth activities and offices. The 1960 saw more renewed emphases on evangelism, and missions, as well as structural changes for the church organization and the building.
Since that time, United Baptist Church, like the city of Concord, has undergone many changes. Pastors were called, served and retired. Many came to Jesus and were baptized, joined and grew in the faith. Children were born and dedicated. Many of our elder brothers and sister passed on to await the resurrection.
In late 2011 David Doyle retired after serving faithfully for 24 years, the longest single term served by a pastor in the history of the church. He is much loved and his departure was difficult. After a period of self-evaluation and reflection, United Baptist Church called David Denis to serve as its 9th pastor.
In 1942 the church celebrated its tenth anniversary with the general observation that the joining of the two churches had been the best possible move. Existing histories record the decades of the 40s and 50's to have been a time of both spiritual and organizational movement and growth. Especially notable were activity in youth ministry and increased missions support.
An education wing was added in 1962 to provide additional room for christian education, fellowship, youth activities and offices. The 1960 saw more renewed emphases on evangelism, and missions, as well as structural changes for the church organization and the building.
Since that time, United Baptist Church, like the city of Concord, has undergone many changes. Pastors were called, served and retired. Many came to Jesus and were baptized, joined and grew in the faith. Children were born and dedicated. Many of our elder brothers and sister passed on to await the resurrection.
In late 2011 David Doyle retired after serving faithfully for 24 years, the longest single term served by a pastor in the history of the church. He is much loved and his departure was difficult. After a period of self-evaluation and reflection, United Baptist Church called David Denis to serve as its 9th pastor.
Our future history
We believe that we are now seeing a fresh wind of God's Holy Spirit moving in northern New England. We pray that United Baptist Church will be part of that movement, used of God to bring the gospel of Jesus to our neighbors in Concord, to Merrimack County, and all of New Hampshire. We don't know all the details of the shape of this gospel revitalization, but we are working hard while we watch to see where the Spirit will lead.
We invite you to join us to help write these new chapters.
We invite you to join us to help write these new chapters.