Historical Sketch

CIRCULAR LETTER

The First Church in San Francisco

************

    The American Baptist Home Mission society appointed Rev. O. C. Wheeler as its Missionary to California, and he arrived in this city on the first day of march, 1849, accompanied by his wife. At that date, the only place of public worship, other than the Catholic, was a small schoolhouse near the southwest corner of Portsmouth Square, occupied by Rev. T. D. Hunt, first pastor of the First Congregational Church. On March 18th, public worship was commenced by O. C. Wheeler, in the private house of C. L. Ross, then in process of construction. On may 27th, regular services were instituted and a Sabbath School was organized; the first of the present numerous existing schools. At the close of services, June 17th, Mr. Wheeler requested all Baptists then present to remain for the purpose of consulting about the propriety of organizing a Baptist Church. Seven brethren responded to this invitation, and, after a free express of views, it was unanimously resolved that a committee of four be appointed to consider and report upon the subject at close of public worship, the next Sabbath morning. That committee reported at the appointed time, recommending that a Baptist Church be organized without delay, and that they adopt as Articles of Faith those known as the New Hampshire Articles of Faith and Church Covenant.

    On Friday evening, July 6th, that following individuals met at the house of Charles L. Ross, and after reading the Articles of Faith and Covenant, all joined in prayer, each taking part in the exercises, and then entered into covenant relations as members of the First Baptist Church of San Francisco. A brief address from the pastor, and the right hand of fellowship given, the church entered upon its existence with a constituent membership of:

O. C. Wheeler, Jersey City Church
Elizabeth H. Wheeler, Jersey City Church
Charles L. Ross, Laight Street Church, New York
Emily Ross, Laight Street Church, New York
Lemuel P. Crane, Galway, New York
William Lailie, Columbia South Carolina

    Public services of recognition as a church were held July 8th, at which time a sermon was delivered from the text Luke xii:32: "Fear not, little flock: it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." On July 10th was commenced the erection of the first house of worship erected in this State as a Protestant church; it was built on the site of the present church edifice, thirty by fifty feet in dimensions, of Oregon scantling, rough siding, roof of ship's sails, walls and ceiling of cotton cloth. On August 2nd, it was completed at a cost of little more than $6,000; this expense, as well as that of the lot, seventy-two by one hundred and thirty-seven and a half feet ($10,000), was sustained almost entirely by one person, C. L. Ross...

Early Church buildings in California

This is the same building as above, but using boat sails for the roof

************

&
Manual of the
First Baptist Church
San Francisco, 1875