Rare church records donated to WCHS

Posted 8/21/12

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — Records of Wayne County’s earliest settlers from the First Baptist Church of Damscus have been donated to the Wayne County Historical Society (WCHS).

Damascus Township is …

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Rare church records donated to WCHS

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WAYNE COUNTY, PA — Records of Wayne County’s earliest settlers from the First Baptist Church of Damscus have been donated to the Wayne County Historical Society (WCHS).

Damascus Township is one of the first townships to be founded in Wayne County. By 1822, 44 individuals formed a congregation known as “First Baptist Church.” In recognition that these records contain first-hand history of Wayne County’s earliest settlers, their worship, and their lives, as well as rare genealogical information, the church provided funds to copy and preserve them. Copies of the records have been donated to the Wayne County Historical Society to be placed in its research library, and those of three other local historical societies: Damascus Historical Society, Equinunk Historical Society and Tusten Area Historical Society.

The First Baptist Church of Damascus’ sanctuary building was built in 1832 and the congregation still thrives after nearly 200 years of continuous worship and history. This congregation also created three other churches: two churches in New York State, the Ten Mile River Church in 1840, and Callicoon Church in 1847; and one other church in Pennsylvania, The Second Baptist Church in Calkins in 1851, now the present day Calkins Baptist Church. The Damascus congregation also founded the Damascus Christian Academy in 1977 and expanded the building structure for the Academy in 1990.

Call 570/253-3240, email wchspa@ptd.net or visit www.waynehistorypa.org.

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