Founded in 1771 by Dr. Samuel Shepard, the First Baptist Church Began as the Brentwood Baptist Church.

A loyal follower of King George III, Dr. Shepard ministered effectively throughout the American Revolution and well into the 19th century, serving the church for a total of 40 years, until his retirement in 1811.  He died in 1815 and is buried just a few hundred yards from the church.

During his ministry, Dr. Shepard served as an Evangelist, traveling throughout Southeastern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts, establishing two dozen satellite congregations in places such as Amesbury and Salisbury Massachusetts as well as Hawk (now Danville), South Hampton, and Hampton Falls. 

Each of these satellites remained part of the Mother church, it being known as “The Brentwood Baptist Church and it’s Branches”.  As such it was, at one time, New England’s largest church.  While some of those satellite churches no longer exist, over a dozen continue the ministry first begun by Dr. Shepard.

The original building burned; the existing brick church was erected in 1829. The Vestry, attached to the church, was added during the mid- 1950’s.  It houses the Pastors office, church office, Sunday School Classroom, a large meeting room, a kitchen, and restrooms. 

We celebrated our 250th Anniversary on May 2nd, 2021, the exact date of the church’s incorporation and we look forward to providing diligent, caring, ministry for many years to come.