Our History

Dutton Baptist Church traces its roots back to 1875, when Rev. L. M. Randall, pastor of the First Southwold Regular Baptist Church in Iona, began holding simple worship services every two weeks in the small schoolhouse in Dutton. These services were instrumental in bringing together the few Baptists in the community.

On August 1, 1876, a council gathered in Dutton to formally organize a Baptist church with ten members. In 1877, the congregation built its first church building—a spacious, wood-framed chapel. For some time, the chapel served as a shared place of worship for other denominations in the community.

In 1882, under the warm leadership of Rev. C. S. Harrington, the church experienced renewed energy and growth, and before long services were often filled to standing room only.

In 1900, the church underwent extensive renovations. The wooden structure was lifted, rotated 90 degrees, and set on a new cement foundation facing Main Street. Modern upgrades for the time included a brick exterior, electric lights, oak seating, a furnace, and beautiful leaded stained-glass windows.

The church building at 218 Miller Road, first raised in 1877, has stood as a fixture on the corner ever since. For nearly 150 years, Dutton Baptist Church has been blessed with generations of ministry, worship, and community. Through every season of growth and change, the congregation continues to thank God for His faithfulness and provision.