BARNESVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH

Founded in 1871, Barnesville Baptist Church sits among a stand of large white oaks in the small, quiet, and well-preserved town of Barnesville, Maryland in western Montgomery County.

sign on Barnesville Road

intersection at Old Hundred Road and Barnesville Road

main sanctuary

view from front yard

We are a traditional, evangelical Southern Baptist Church. Our members believe Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, and that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God.

We actively support missions abroad and in our local communities. We emphasize the importance of Bible study through our Sunday School, Discipleship Training, and Vacation Bible School activities, and believe in the power of prayer. We fully concur with the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.

view toward the southeast

We have a close-knit fellowship. Many extended family groups are represented in our pews, a continuing legacy of the farming stock that founded our Church. Over the years, many new families have been welcomed into our Church family, and have richly contributed their time and talents. Barnesville places great value on children, and is a good place to grow up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord".

view of Sugarloaf Mountain from the parking lot

Our music style is predominantly traditional. In addition to using the Baptist Hymnal, we also sing praise songs, and have several musicians to accompany our Choir: a pianist, organist, drummer, and banjo/guitar player. We hold a monthly hymn-sing, and sponsor several Gospel concerts each year.

choir room

Ralph Ed, guardian of the pastors’ office and Hymn Sing music star

Fellowship Hall

Barnesville has a congregational form of government. Church members vote on major decisions and fiscal issues at monthly business meetings. A committee system supervises our educational, financial, outreach, administrative, and worship activities and reports motions to the Church for its approval. The Pastors and Deacons attend to the spiritual oversight of the Church and search out new opportunities for service. Our Church values the spirit of unanimity, volunteerism, and cooperation that characterizes our deliberations and activities.

Barnesville Baptist Church retains its rural federal style architecture with white clapboard siding, bell tower, and tall paned windows.

The building has twice seen major renovations. In the 1950s a Sunday School addition was constructed that now houses a basement-level nursery and Fellowship Hall, and a first floor level of Sunday School classes, library, choir room, and pastoral office.

library shelves

Pastors’ Office

inside the Pastors’ office

In the 1980s, a solid concrete wall was installed around the building’s perimeter; above ground new siding and pews were added. In recent years, the restrooms have been renovated, the carpeting has been replaced, an access ramp for our senior citizens has been constructed, and a playset for our youngsters has been installed.

In 2005, the century-old bell tower was refurbished and the tin roof was replaced with a new green metal roof.

The original pews in the balcony area of the sanctuary remain in place to remind us of our past and of our progress. We are proud of our landmark in this small country town.

We are fortunate to own our parsonage, which sits on one acre of land adjacent to the church. The dwelling is a brick Cape Cod design, and a concrete walkway extends from the parsonage to the church building.

view of the parsonage from the parking lot

nursery room

one of the children’s’ Sunday School rooms

The Sunday School has classes in every age group. Our average Sunday School attendance is 35, and there are approximately 65 regular worship attendees. Choir practice is held on Tuesdays, and prayer and Bible study are held on Wednesdays. Every summer we sponsor a week-long Vacation Bible School for 100 students and teachers.

We have been blessed with four pastors who have served in our pulpit over the last 55 years: Horace DuBois, Jeddie DeFries, Blaine Welker, and Joe Ivey.

The women of Barnesville Baptist Church take an active role in supporting community outreach and missions activities under the broad umbrella of the WMU, which leads the Church in observing the Weeks of Prayer for foreign and state missions. The women collect items for clothing and health kits and prepare holiday baskets three times a year for shut-ins. Our women serve meals, save soup labels, mail cards, visit and form prayer chains, and other acts of hospitality.

The Baptist Men are also active. The men of the Church sponsor Church-wide fellowship meals, Father-Child banquets, family fishing trips, and distribute Christmas presents to children. Each January during Baptist Men’s Day the men cook breakfast for the Church and lead the morning worship. The MOB, or Men of Barnesville choir, gives its annual performance. The men are always looking forward to serving the Church family and our community.

view of the kitchen area