Richland Baptist Church got it’s beginning as a vision of Morgan Street Baptist Church in the spring of 1960. Morgan Street Church voted to begin a mission in the Richland Farms addition of East Peoria that summer. A small storefront building was rented at 222 Chicago Street from Ms. Minnie Woodruff. The first service began in June of 1960 with Sunday school and Morning Worship following. Mr. & Mrs. Frank Cassidy and Mrs. Beatrice Cassidy (Mom), from Morgan Street Church, assisted in the beginning of the chapel. The chapel began to grow with the addition of the Al & Delta Giddens family from South Side (now Laramie Street) Baptist Church. In July, a Wednesday night Prayer Service was added to the weekly services. Mr. Al Giddiness was elected as Sunday School Superintendent that same month.
In August; Rev. Thomas Miller was called as the mission’s pastor. That same month, Sunday night services were added to the chapel’s other services. At that time, Training Union was added with Mrs. Al Giddens being elected to serve as the chapel’s first Training Union Director. The Chapel’s first revival was held in February of 1961, with Rev. Dick Belcher of Washington Park Baptist Church in East St. Louis as the evangelist.
Since the store building on Chicago Street only seated approximately thirty (30) people, the Chapel felt the need to find a larger location. At the same time, the United Brethren Church was planning to move to a new location on Springfield Road. Their build at 200 Center Street was for sell. With the backing of the mother church, the chapel stepped out on faith and purchased that building on 200 Center Street, just three blocks from the store building.
Sunrise Services, Easter morning, March 1961 was the first services held in the new building. The membership and attendance began to grow. Dedication of the new building was held on Sunday, May 28th of 1961 with the Reverend Charles Howard, of the Illinois State Mission Dept. brought the message of dedication to the chapel.
The first Vacation Bible School was held in June of 1961 with average attendance of 125. The first baptism was held on Sunday afternoon, June 25, 1961, in the Illinois River in Spring Bay. Nine (9) people were baptized and added to the membership that day.
The Chapel was constituted into Richland Southern Baptist Church, October 26, 1961. Forty-five (45) charter members signed the constitution that day and nine (9) were waiting baptism. Rev. Russell Pittman, pastor of the mother church led the Constitution service. Dr. Noel Taylor, then, Executive Secretary of the Illinois Baptist State Association presented the message using the passage, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35. Rev. Thomas Miller was then called as Pastor of the church.
January 10,1962, in a regular business meeting the church voted to send a letter to Rev. David Williams, moderator of the Illinois Valley Baptist Association asking to be admitted to the association. On April 13, 1962, the Executive Committee of the association met with the church to explain the constitution of the association and question the church about their beliefs and policies. The church was accepted as part of the Illinois Valley Association at its Annual Meeting that year. The church began to activity support and work in the Association.
Work began on the basement of the church on Center Street for much needed classrooms and Nursery in March 1962. Also, in March 1962 we had the privilege to participate in the first School of Missions for the church. In August, of 1962 the church felt the need for three more men to be elected to assist the men serving as deacons. The men serving at that time were: Bro. Ira Childs, Bro. Al Giddens, and Bro. David Hale. In addition to these men the following were added to the deacon office at the Annual Business meeting: Bro. Ard, Bro. Travis Munsell, and Bro. Isaac Young.
In February of 1963, a bid was made on the parsonage at 111 Edmund Street next door to the church building. In April 1963 the church voted to sell bonds to purchase the parsonage and pay off the loan on the building at 200 Center Street. Shortly after that time, Rev. Thomas Miller and family moved on the field. He faithful served the church and remained until he resigned January 10, 1964 to pastor Shiloh Baptist Church in O’Fallon, IL. In May of 1963, the church bought a bus and began a Bus Ministry. In 1963, the church become a Four-Star church with the following ministries; Sunday School, Training Union, Women’s Missionary Union, Intermediate and Junior GA’s, active Brotherhood, and with several boys enrolled in RA’s. November 6, 1963, Bro. Ira Childs was licensed to preach by the church.
After Rev. Miller resigned, Rev. O. W. Lasater of Preston, KY was called to be Pastor. Rev. Lasater, his wife, and their son, John, came on the field in early June of 1964. Not only did Rev.& Mrs. Lasater serve his duties faithfully but his son John served as pianist and gave lessons to many of the members. On October 2,1964, Bro. Travis Munsell, Bro. Virgil Hardwick, and Bro. Isaac Young were licensed to preach. Rev. Lasater resigned of June 1968 the church is without a Pastor until October 1969.
During the time without a Pastor, God continued to bless with two great revivals and much work was done to the building and parsonage including the installing of new pews in the sanctuary. Rev. & Mrs. Leo Belcher moved on the field October 1969.
On March 10th, 1971 Springfield Road Baptist Church asked to come to fellowship of Richland Church. They brought all the church properties including a debt on a lot 2022 Springfield Road where they planned to build a church. In August 1971, a tent revival was held on the lot where many prayers were answered. The church had grown until about this time a need for more classrooms where felt. Tile and paneling was added to one-half of the parsonage basement for the use of the nursery in order to allow more classrooms. The church was very thankful to Rev. & Mrs. Belcher for encouraging the use of their home.
By April 1972, the church felt that a junior and a children’s worship service would enable them to witness to other homes possibly otherwise unreachable. This would also give the opportunity to double use the present classrooms. Another bus was purchased in August of 1972 to assist in the children’s ministry.
Plans were approved for the construction of this building in August of 1973. In November of 1973, the church incorporated. The church felt the need the assistance of another deacon.
January 20, 1974, the first Ordination service was held with Bro. Earl Freeman being ordained. In March of 1974, the Samaritan Church Finishing and Equipment Company was asked to start soil drillings on the lot on Springfield Road. After a period of illness, Rev. Leo Belcher resigned his position as Pastor, which he faithfully fulfilled. On November 1974, Rev. Travis Munsell was called as Interim-Pastor.
In May of 1975, the church filed a variance on the building permit because of the parking shortage. Soon the church felt a need for more deacons to assist in the ministry of the church. On May 18, 1975, three men were ordained as deacons. They were Bro. Fred Childs, Bro. David Hutchinson, and Bro. Noah Willis. In August of 1975, Mr. Herman Nuckum presented a plan to purchase his property that was adjoining the church. The church accepted this plan. God blessed the church, as this was needed amount of property that state required for the building permit. Also, this month the church voted to start an Extension Program of a once a week ministry at Fire Side Nursing Home in Peoria. Bro. Travis Munsell, after leading the church faithfully for one year he resigned in October 26, 1975.
Bro. Harold Pope accepted a call to Pastor the church and moved on the field with his family in January of 1976. With great excitement, the church held groundbreaking ceremony on April 25, 1976 with Bro. Bob Hastings, editor of Illinois Baptist Paper. The following month the construction of the building started with much enthusiasm and prayer. In constructing a new building on Springfield Road with a large sanctuary with seating capacity of 350 people, 8 classrooms, a large kitchen, and fellowship hall. The church began stepping out on faith and God’s promises. In July, the church petitioned the Metro Peoria Association for accepting into their association. After the dissolvement of Illinois Valley Baptist Association, Richland Church, along with the other churches of Illinois Valley were accepted by Metro Peoria Association. The church was accepted in September 1976. Men in the church did most of the construction and work on the building. They spent long hours of hard work on construction of the building to finish the exterior and interior before and after their regular jobs. Work continued through the summer and winter.
The first meeting in the new building was a Mother –Daughter Banquet on the 21st day of May 1977 with 49 women and girls in attendance. The first Sunday service was held June 6, 1977. The next day VBS started. It was held for two weeks with an average attendance of 100 children and workers. Much work was done on the church after moving in such straightening, seeding the yard, putting in the gas line, painting, and finishing the floors. With the new growth, the church felt the need for men to assist the Pastor and other deacons in the ministry of the church. Two men were sought out. In August of 1977, Bro. Loyal Van Order and Bro. Henry Walker was ordained as deacons.
Richland Day Care Center was begun on August 22, 1977 in the basement of the church. At the end of the first week enrollment totaled 22. On September 08, 1977 a daycare board was formed with Dave Hutchison serving as chairman.
On April 30, 1978, Rev. Pope resigned to serve in southern IL after serving the church for two years. During this time Bro. Alvie Daily served as Interim-Pastor from June 18, 1978-March 2, 1979. Rev. Terry White was called to be the Pastor. He and his family moved on the field on March 12, 1979. On November 1979 the church had the parking lot black topped which made it much nicer for the daycare and church family as well as neighbors who complained about the dust. On February 3, 1980, Rev. Pete Riviera, Director of Missions of Metro Peoria Association, recognized and gave a certificate of completion of the “Deacon Family Ministry,” a study of how to best serve the church family, to Earl Freeman, Dave Hutchison, Henry Walker, Fred Childs, and Loyal Van Order.
On January 23, 1983, Rev. Terry White resigned to take a church in Missouri after serving the church for four years. Rev. Dan Wilfred was elected on Feb 3, 1983 as an Interim-Pastor and served in this capacity until July 9, 1983 in which time he was elected as Bi-Vocational Pastor. On July 1, 1984 he resigned to move to a church in Missouri.
Rev. Gary England was called as pastor of the church and moved on the field with his family on December 16, 1984. On February 10, 1985, he was ordained and installed as a Pastor. There were 14 gentlemen representing from the Metro Peoria Baptist Association. Bro Jerry Parker and Bro Russell Holliday were ordained as deacons to serve in Richland Church. Also ordained was Bro. James Barnhill and Bill Green as deacons.
Licensed to the ministry was Bro. Dick Willis to assist in the Prison Ministry. Bro Buddy Estes (8/25/02 and Jeremy Davis (3/06) and Scott Estes (12/07).
In 1995, the church felt the need to make the church more assessable to handicap or persons with difficulty walking the stairs. An elevator was installed in one of the stairways to be access each level of the building.
In 1996 the bathrooms on the main level were remodeled to make them handicap accessible. In 1999 Auditorium lighting to help with the drama ministry and worship were installed. The same year a Ford van was purchased for the transportation of persons to church and activities.
A steeple was purchased and installed to the roof of the church November 2, 2002.
Missions have been an important part of the church’s out reach for years. We give to the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Christmas Missions, Anne Armstrong Easter Offerings, State and Associational Missions. These Offerings support thousands of missionaries from local to foreign lands. They support Children Homes, Maternity Centers, Hospitals, Schools, Homeless Shelters, Addiction Centers and many other facilities.
The church became personally involved in mission work starting in 1989. The pastor and one other went on a mission trip to Jamaica and began to encourage others to do the same. In 1993, a group of 16 went to New Mexico to do Vacation Bible School & work projects. Working with Navajo Missions in Farmington, New Mexico started a relationship with the Navajo Indian Nation that is still strong today. We returned to the Navajo Reservation to work with Victory Life Church, Shiprock, New Mexico in the years 1997, 98, 2000, 01, 04, & 2008 to do work projects, conduct VBS, hold revival meetings and a distribute Bibles to home. Many of our congregation have gone at other times as either individuals or small groups of 3-4 to do work projects or hold conferences in Shiprock. The church has also done missions in Mexico, Romania, South Korea, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri. The church has had groups do flood repairs and other ministries activities in the state of Illinois and locally in Peoria. Our church sent out one of our own young adults as a full time missionary to Dongducheon, South Korea in 2008.
Richland Church has Sunday morning Bible classes and worship services for both children and adults. Wednesday and Sunday evening classes are also available. We strive to provide a safe and positive learning environment for our children and adults. We are looking forward to the future as a time of growth both spiritually and numerically. As we grow we are continuing to reach out to the community, and beyond to lead others to Christ and disciple them in His love.
