Eighteen months before the beginning of the Civil War, a small group of believers met on October 16, 1859, at the district school of the village of New Richmond for the purpose of organizing a Baptist church. The village had a population of 175 – 200 people.

On December 3, 1859, an agent of the Home Mission Society and pastors from River Falls, Hudson, Osceola Mills, and Taylors Falls, were invited to be present when a church covenant was read and adopted. Nine names were submitted to be charter members of the church: Ira Parks, Freeman Parker, Joel Bartlette, Edward Smith, Levert Beal, Mary Beal, David Beal, T. B. Rodgers, and Alvin Briggs. Ira Parks and Levert Beal were elected as deacons. Rev. T. B. Rodgers was elected as pastor of the new First Baptist Church.

On September 26, 1876, a meeting was called for the purpose of making plans to build a church. On October 30, 1876, the first church building was completed and dedicated. It was situated on the corner of Fourth Street West and South Washington Avenue. The first Sunday School was organized on October 18, 1886. In 1887 the church building was enlarged by 20 feet. A baptistery was installed at that time.

On June 12, 1899, the church building was destroyed by the tornado that devastated a good part of New Richmond. A new church was erected on the corner of South Dakota Avenue and West Fourth Street. It was dedicated on September 30, 1900. Tragedy again struck the body of believers when the church building was destroyed by fire on January 3, 1903.

Another house of worship was built and dedicated on June 19, 1904. In 1935, a parsonage was purchased on Washington Avenue. The church was remodeled in 1954. The work was done by men of the church

During the ministry of James Chambers, the new parsonage was built and the church entrance was remodeled.

Rev. Sam Bell became pastor for a second time in 1968. A Church Planning Committee was chosen to determine the future direction of the church with regard to the existing facilities. In 1971, a building fund was started for a new church building.

In 1973, the old church building was sold to the Child Care Center of New Richmond, the present property was purchased, and ground-breaking service was held on Palm Sunday, 1973. The first service in the new building was on December 1, 1973. It was on May 4, 1975, that the new church building was dedicated.

In February, 1976, the first missionary commissioning service was conducted for Paul Setter who was to serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

In 1977, the church voted to affiliate with the Conservative Baptist Association of Wisconsin. The Constitution was revised.

Since that time we have continued our pursuit of spiritual growth and look to the future.

Pictures of First Baptist Church and Members