First Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church for years stood at 56 Federal St. The oldest portion was built in 1805, after a small building on the same site proved too small for the growing congregation. In 1827, the building was enlarged and fitted out with a lovely three-stage Federal tower topped by an octagonal dome. Around 1850, a chapel was added.
The tower was removed in 1926, due to cost of repairs.
Rev. Lucius Bolles was the first pastor and the most noted because of his connection to Adoniram Judson, the early foreign missionary. Judson contacted Bolles when he had turned to Baptist beliefs (though he began his missionary journey in 1812 as a congregationalist) looking for support.
A beautiful stained glass round window was installed in 1962, depicting the ship Judson sailed on, the Caravan.
The original part of the church dated back to 1806. This portion was moved a short distance to the corner of North and Federal Streets, and converted to a law library, part of the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center.
The state paid the church two million dollars in 2008 for the church building after prolonged negotiations. With this, they were able to secure a new church location at 292-296 Lafayette St. (This building was used by the Methodist Church until it merged with the Wesley Methodist Church on North Street.)

First Baptist Church Church website
"Baptist make sad decision to sell church" Salem Evening News, Feb. 8, 2002, p. A1
"Former First Baptist Church demolition begins" Salem News, Aug. 28, 2008, p. 2
"A church's own Christmas story: the First Baptist Church will celebrate Christ's birth in its new home" Salem News, Dec. 24, 2007, p A1
Architecture in Salem by Bryant F. Tolles, Jr. p. 120.

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