Our History
Organized in 1852 with seventeen members, The Central Baptist Church of Pawling dedicated its meeting house in the fall of 1853. In 1876 the church edifice was moved to a new location where it was enlarged, remodeled and refinished.

On the evening of June 8, 1879 the church was destroyed by fire although most of the furniture was saved. With a generous community and the insurance ($4000) the present church was erected, furnished and paid for within a year at the cost of nearly $8000. The church was rededicated June 16, 1880. There were ninety members at the time of rededication.

A centennial service was held Sunday, May 18th, 1952. Dr J. Havergal Sheppard of Norristown, PA preached the Centennial sermon. On his return home he composed the poem "Remembrance."

"To preach the Gospel of Christ they founded this church, In accordance with God's holy word, 

Then worshiped and witnessed with rare wisdom and will, 

That others would learn of their Lord.

To this splendid inheritance we glad homage pay, 

For one hundred years that are past,

For they faithfully followed their Christ-guided way,

Remained true to their task to the last.

The remembrance is sweet of such service sincere,

A challenge to continue the strife,

Thus the future to face without falter or fear,

Where sin, sorrow and suffering is rife.

Lord, we thank Thee, for them, although they are gone,

For Thy blessings vouchsafed through the years,

And we pray for Thy grace, to still carry on,

Through times of test, triumph and tears."

-Shane O'Sheppard

Many other changes have taken place since then including the addition of the Erle Clark Christian Center which was dedicated in 1982 along with the new downstairs Sunday School rooms. More than a building, our church is a group of people who have accepted Jesus’ invitation to come to Him to find rest for our souls. Through the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and each other, we are learning to live in that rest and to make it a reality in every area of our lives.

Now as of 2022 this church has been in service to the Lord for 170 years. In the duration of this church's history, we have endured:

-The Civil War

-World War 1

-The Great Depression

-World War 2

-The Korean War 

-The Vietnam War

-9/11

-The COVID Pandemic

Through all of those events, our church has continued on with God's work in the village of Pawling. We recognize that there will be many more trials for us to endure in the future, but we will trust in the Lord and stay faithful to fulfilling His Great Commission.