Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

first Baptist.—The First Baptist Church was organized ‘at the house of Mr. Samuel Hancock’ in Cambridgeport, Dec. 17, 1817, seventeen males and twenty-nine females then subscribing the ‘Articles of Faith and a Covenant.’¹ The church was publicly recognized on the 25th day of the same month by a Council regularly convened; and on the same day the meeting-house, which had been erected at the junction of Magazine and River streets, was dedicated. This house was a wooden structure, which was enlarged in 1827 and twice afterwards; it was utterly consumed by fire Jan. 22, 1866. Preparations were immediately made for the erection of a much larger house on the same spot. The corner-stone was laid Aug. 17, 1866. The chapel was dedicated March 17, 1867, in which religious services were held until the completion of the main edifice, which was opened and dedicated Dec. 25, 1867, on ‘the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the church, and of the dedication of the former house of worship.’ ‘The cost of the whole building was about $90,000.’ It is a spacious brick edifice, not only convenient to its occupants, but ornamental to the city. On the 8th of February, 1819, William Brown and twenty-one others (several of whom resided in Brighton) were ‘incorporated as a religious society, by the name of the Baptist Church in Cambridge.’²

The first pastor of this church was Rev. Bela Jacobs, formerly pastor of the Baptist Church in Pawtucket, R. I. He was installed July 22, 1818, and served the church faithfully and successfully until May, 1833, when he resigned, and became Secretary of the Baptist Educational Association. He received the degree of A. M. from Brown University, 1822. A further notice of him will be found in connection with the Second Baptist Church, of which he was afterwards pastor. Rev. Stephen Lovell was installed March 24, 1834, and resigned May 15, 1836, ‘and immediately after his resignation united with the Methodist Church in Portland, Maine.’ He was afterwards associated with Rev. Thomas F. Norris, in the editorship of the ‘Olive Branch,’ and died in Boston, Sept. 29, 1858, aged 59 years. Rev. Joseph W. Parker, U. C. 1831, was ordained Dec. 11, 1836. The church enjoyed prosperity during his ministry, which continued until Jan. 1, 1854, when he resigned, and entered upon his duties as Secretary of the Northern Baptist Education Society and