In the late 19th century, a group of Baptists in Worcester felt moved by the Holy Spirit to establish a Christian witness in the vicinity of
Lincoln Square. In the spring of 1879, a Sunday School was started in a small hall at 1 Main St. The interest and the enthusiasm grew
considerably so that, by 1881, formal steps were taken to organize a church. And so, on April 4, 1881, the Lincoln Square Baptist
Church was officially formed with 31 charter members. By April 1892, only 11 years later, the church had grown to 435 members. The
Church remained a vibrant witness of Christ to the community.
In 1956, the state took over the church land and building by eminent domain in order to make way for an addition to the Worcester
County Courthouse. After considerable negotiations with the City and the expert help of members, the Church was sold and new
property was purchased on 475 Burncoat Street for a new building. The Building Committee oversaw all the work that resulted in a
beautiful new Sanctuary for the congregation. At that time in 1956, the Church was renamed “The Burncoat Baptist Church”.
Burncoat Baptist Church has held fast to the mission to spread the Good News of the Gospels to a world that desperately needs to
hear the truth found in God’s Word. We would be happy to have you join in that same mission with us.
History of Lincoln Square / Burncoat Baptist Church
April 4, 1881 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church was formerly recognized as a church organization with 31 members, tracing itself to
meetings in a hall at 1 Main Street in Worcester as far back as 1879. The 31 members came from the Pleasant Street Church and
The First Baptist Church in Worcester.
June 10, 1884 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church was dedicated at a total cost of $30,000, the largest contributors being the Hon.
Joseph H. Walker and the Main Street Baptist Church. Seats were free and there was no parish.
Spring 1889 - Lincoln Square Baptist Church released 31 members in 1889 to form the Adams Square Baptist Church.
1911- Lincoln Square Baptist Church formed a “Missions for Italians on Shrewsbury Street” – The mission became the
Christ Baptist Church.
1914 - Lincoln Square Baptist Church burned the final mortgage payments and became free of all debts.
1923 – 1929 – Lincoln Square Baptist congregation erected a large electric revolving cross on the church tower, which became
a landmark to passersby.
1944 – $10,000 organ was installed in Lincoln Square Baptist Church.
October 23, 1954 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church announced taking option on land at Burncoat Street. The land included 3 ½
acres of land and was bought from Milton F. Moran, developer, at a price of $14,000.00. The land was formerly owned by
Assumption College.
November 4, 1954 – Lincoln Square members approved sale of church at $210,000. Land was taken for street widening and
courthouse parking as part of Lincoln Square-Worcester County Court House redevelopment project.
April 26, 1955 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church announced preliminary approval of architect’s plan for a new church on Burncoat
Street.
June 25, 1955 – Worcester City Council Finance Committee authorized city manager to sign a deed for the city’s share of the
property.
October 7, 1955 – Worcester City and County took joint title to the church.
October 18, 1955 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church opened fund drive to underwrite construction of new church on Burncoat Street.
February 4, 1956 – Worcester City building permits were approved.
June 3, 1956 – Rev. H. Norman Korb, Pastor-elect, gave the principle address at laying of the new building cornerstone.
Clippings and historical items were buried with the cornerstone. Lincoln Square Baptist Church’s name was changed to
“The Burncoat Baptist Church”.
August 5, 1956 – Harold M. Holdredge of Holden, Building Committee Chairman, said original construction cost of $275,000 will
probably reach $315,000.
September 30, 1956 – Last service was held at Lincoln Square Baptist Church.
October 8, 1956 – First service was held at Burncoat Baptist Church in Fellowship Hall.
February 24, 1957 – First service was held at Burncoat Baptist Church in the Sanctuary – about 400 people attended.
March 1957 – 1,100 pipes and 21 chimes of 15 year old Moller organ was removed from Lincoln Square Baptist Church and
installed in new Burncoat Baptist Church building.
March 17 to March 24, 1957 - Dedication services were held at Burncoat Baptist Church.
October 20, 1965 – Burncoat Baptist Church paid its final mortgage balance.
April 4, 1981- Burncoat Baptist Church celebrated its 100th and 25th Anniversaries.
April 27, 1997 – Burncoat Baptist Church celebrated its 40th Anniversary.
June 27, 2004 - Burncoat Baptist Church passed an amendment to its By-Laws supporting traditional marriage.
July 23, 2005 - July 23, 2006 - Burncoat Baptist Church distributed 1,289 Bibles and New Testaments in the city as
part of their Bible Distribution Challenge.
April 2, 2006 – Burncoat Baptist Church celebrated its 125th Anniversary. At the end of the service,
Pastor James A. Fontaine presented the church with the gift of a hymn he had written to God's glory and in honor of
the church's two anniversaries. The hymn is entitled "Jesus Christ Is Lord of All".
October 8, 2006 - Burncoat Baptist Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary of ministry on Burncoat Street.
December 20, 2007 - Burncoat Baptist concluded Bible Distribution Challenge begun in 2005 by giving away 1810th Bible!
Lincoln Square. In the spring of 1879, a Sunday School was started in a small hall at 1 Main St. The interest and the enthusiasm grew
considerably so that, by 1881, formal steps were taken to organize a church. And so, on April 4, 1881, the Lincoln Square Baptist
Church was officially formed with 31 charter members. By April 1892, only 11 years later, the church had grown to 435 members. The
Church remained a vibrant witness of Christ to the community.
In 1956, the state took over the church land and building by eminent domain in order to make way for an addition to the Worcester
County Courthouse. After considerable negotiations with the City and the expert help of members, the Church was sold and new
property was purchased on 475 Burncoat Street for a new building. The Building Committee oversaw all the work that resulted in a
beautiful new Sanctuary for the congregation. At that time in 1956, the Church was renamed “The Burncoat Baptist Church”.
Burncoat Baptist Church has held fast to the mission to spread the Good News of the Gospels to a world that desperately needs to
hear the truth found in God’s Word. We would be happy to have you join in that same mission with us.
History of Lincoln Square / Burncoat Baptist Church
April 4, 1881 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church was formerly recognized as a church organization with 31 members, tracing itself to
meetings in a hall at 1 Main Street in Worcester as far back as 1879. The 31 members came from the Pleasant Street Church and
The First Baptist Church in Worcester.
June 10, 1884 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church was dedicated at a total cost of $30,000, the largest contributors being the Hon.
Joseph H. Walker and the Main Street Baptist Church. Seats were free and there was no parish.
Spring 1889 - Lincoln Square Baptist Church released 31 members in 1889 to form the Adams Square Baptist Church.
1911- Lincoln Square Baptist Church formed a “Missions for Italians on Shrewsbury Street” – The mission became the
Christ Baptist Church.
1914 - Lincoln Square Baptist Church burned the final mortgage payments and became free of all debts.
1923 – 1929 – Lincoln Square Baptist congregation erected a large electric revolving cross on the church tower, which became
a landmark to passersby.
1944 – $10,000 organ was installed in Lincoln Square Baptist Church.
October 23, 1954 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church announced taking option on land at Burncoat Street. The land included 3 ½
acres of land and was bought from Milton F. Moran, developer, at a price of $14,000.00. The land was formerly owned by
Assumption College.
November 4, 1954 – Lincoln Square members approved sale of church at $210,000. Land was taken for street widening and
courthouse parking as part of Lincoln Square-Worcester County Court House redevelopment project.
April 26, 1955 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church announced preliminary approval of architect’s plan for a new church on Burncoat
Street.
June 25, 1955 – Worcester City Council Finance Committee authorized city manager to sign a deed for the city’s share of the
property.
October 7, 1955 – Worcester City and County took joint title to the church.
October 18, 1955 – Lincoln Square Baptist Church opened fund drive to underwrite construction of new church on Burncoat Street.
February 4, 1956 – Worcester City building permits were approved.
June 3, 1956 – Rev. H. Norman Korb, Pastor-elect, gave the principle address at laying of the new building cornerstone.
Clippings and historical items were buried with the cornerstone. Lincoln Square Baptist Church’s name was changed to
“The Burncoat Baptist Church”.
August 5, 1956 – Harold M. Holdredge of Holden, Building Committee Chairman, said original construction cost of $275,000 will
probably reach $315,000.
September 30, 1956 – Last service was held at Lincoln Square Baptist Church.
October 8, 1956 – First service was held at Burncoat Baptist Church in Fellowship Hall.
February 24, 1957 – First service was held at Burncoat Baptist Church in the Sanctuary – about 400 people attended.
March 1957 – 1,100 pipes and 21 chimes of 15 year old Moller organ was removed from Lincoln Square Baptist Church and
installed in new Burncoat Baptist Church building.
March 17 to March 24, 1957 - Dedication services were held at Burncoat Baptist Church.
October 20, 1965 – Burncoat Baptist Church paid its final mortgage balance.
April 4, 1981- Burncoat Baptist Church celebrated its 100th and 25th Anniversaries.
April 27, 1997 – Burncoat Baptist Church celebrated its 40th Anniversary.
June 27, 2004 - Burncoat Baptist Church passed an amendment to its By-Laws supporting traditional marriage.
July 23, 2005 - July 23, 2006 - Burncoat Baptist Church distributed 1,289 Bibles and New Testaments in the city as
part of their Bible Distribution Challenge.
April 2, 2006 – Burncoat Baptist Church celebrated its 125th Anniversary. At the end of the service,
Pastor James A. Fontaine presented the church with the gift of a hymn he had written to God's glory and in honor of
the church's two anniversaries. The hymn is entitled "Jesus Christ Is Lord of All".
October 8, 2006 - Burncoat Baptist Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary of ministry on Burncoat Street.
December 20, 2007 - Burncoat Baptist concluded Bible Distribution Challenge begun in 2005 by giving away 1810th Bible!
Contact Us |
| Church Phone 508—853—6240 Church E-Mail burncoatbaptist@charter.net Pastor’s E-Mail pastorjim@charter.net |
| Write to us at Burncoat Baptist Church 475 Burncoat St. Worcester, MA 01606 |
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| Burncoat Baptist Church An Evangelical American Baptist Church Preaching the Gospel in Truth and Love |