The Beginnings (1840s)
The Vision: On April 10, 1840, a group of Baptists living in the Mansfield area requested to be dismissed from the East Sullivan Baptist Church congregation to establish a local branch.
The Founders: Deacon Daniel Sherwood is credited with taking the initial steps to organize the church. Twelve foundational members—primarily from the Sherwood, Clark, Elliott, Jerald, Utter, and Ripley families—originally met at the Sherwood home.
Official Recognition: The First Baptist Church of Mansfield was officially recognized by the Tioga Baptist Association on April 10, 1843—fourteen years before the town of Mansfield itself was officially incorporated.
The First Sanctuary: Before building a dedicated space, the early charter members met at the home of Albert Sherwood. The first physical church building was erected between 1848 and 1849 at the corner of Sherwood and Main Street, costing approximately $1,112.
Growing Through the Middle Years (1880s–1990s)
The 1889 Brick Edifice: Because the congregation quickly outgrew its original space, a handsome new brick building was constructed and dedicated in March 1889. It featured stunning stained-glass windows gifted by founding families, an 85-foot belfry tower, oak pews trimmed with black walnut, and a ceiling made of hemlock.
The “Debt Free in ’43” Milestone: During the historic 40-year pastorate of Rev. David J. Griffiths (the longest-serving pastor in the church’s history), the church celebrated its centennial in 1943 with a mortgage-burning ceremony to announce it was completely debt-free.
Expanding Ministry: In 1952, the church broke ground on an enlarged annex to accommodate its growing ministries, which was later named in honor of Rev. Griffiths. Music ministries continued to flourish, underscored by the purchase of a new handbell choir set in 1979.
The Modern Era & Recent Restorations
Preserving Heritage: Over the last few decades, the church has undergone several thoughtful restoration projects to keep the sanctuary beautiful and historically accurate. The exterior brick was cleaned and repointed in 1996, and the roof was replaced in 2001 with shingles designed to resemble the church’s original historic slate.
Sanctuary Updates: During recent ceiling renovations, the prominent structural beams were completely stripped of old white paint and beautifully restored back to their original natural stained wood look.
Current Leadership: Rev. Cheryl Filson was installed as the church’s 35th pastor in August 2015. Under her modern leadership, the church has integrated technology, such as installing smart-screen TVs for services, while maintaining a deeply welcoming spirit by offering quiet Sunday evening prayer and meditation hours for the community.
Fun Historical Tidbits
🌾 The Great Sermon vs. Harvest Showdown (1855) In August 1855, excessive rains threatened to ruin the local wheat crops. On Sunday, September 2, the sun finally broke through, prompting the founder’s brother, Dan L. Sherwood, to rush to the fields on
Pickel Hill to save his family’s livelihood. Meanwhile, inside the church, his brother
Rev. Abijah Sherwood was preaching directly on the Fourth Commandment
keeping the Sabbath holy. The congregation watched out the windows as
Dan harvested his wheat, while the pastor openly expressed his firm
disapproval of the field work right from the pulpit!
The “Unforgiven” Political Slip: During the Civil War era, the church’s 5th pastor, Rev. N.L. Reynolds, was specifically asked to keep politics out of the pulpit. He couldn’t resist, reportedly praying, “May God smite the tongues of the Democrats.” Because the founding Sherwood family was staunch Democrats, a major rift ensued, and he was promptly asked to leave the ministry (though he happily returned years later to preach at the new building’s dedication).
A Magical Discovery behind the Paneling: During a 1960s/70s remodeling project to make way for a new organ, workers removed layers of brown paneling and made an amazing discovery: the church’s original, ornate 1889 stenciling was still perfectly preserved in the northwest corner.
No Horse Thievery Allowed: The church’s 10th pastor, Rev. J.E. Bell (1874–1876), was dramatically dismissed from his duties after several church record accusations caught up to him—including allegedly cheating someone on the sale of a horse.
The Squeaky Floor Marathon: When the congregation gathered for a “work bee” to pull up old carpets and refinish the pews, they discovered just how much the old wood squeaked. The volunteers hammered a whopping 60 pounds of nails into the bare floorboards just to tighten them up and quiet down the sanctuary!
