Our church’s history is built on the individual member’s past accounts relating to our church where fellowship and Christian service abounds.  It is important to keep a record of what really happened, not in general terms, but in a more personal experience.  They could be big contribution or trivial service for the cause of Christ, yet they’re all worth keeping and, therefore, considered part of our Church’s history. Would you be part in building our Church History?  Tell your stories so the present and future generation can learn from them. Send your story using the form below.

The Annual Festival of Carols is one of our church’s hallmark ministry to the community. Currently led by our choir director, Richard B. Freeman and Rosalind Mohnsen as organist. An article was published by Nathan Lamb in 2013 telling the history and purpose of this event. This is our story.

FBC Malden MA. 218th Annual Meeting in pictures >

 

The Annual Festival Of Carols

Community involvement by Marilyn Glover and Barbara Tolstrup. Event: Reading of Malden’s Historical Document in support of the American Revolution in 1776. Go to link. Watch video:

 

Paul Patrie small
Paul Patrie

I received the Right Hand of Fellowship in May 1978. Chuck Huddy and I were welcomed into Church membership at the same time. The Rev. George Tooze officiated.  I remember meeting with the entire Board of Deacons (as they were known at the time) to discuss how my life journey led me to FBC.  The Board was about 15 members strong with most of them in attendance. I must admit that the thought of meeting the group was bit intimidating but the actual experience was pleasant and I was made to feel welcome. 35 years later I still feel the warmth!

When I joined the Church,  I was not part of any organization and shied away from involvement in activities that would require my taking a leadership role. Believe  it or not I was a pretty shy person. However,  shortly after becoming a member I was nominated to be a Trustee. I chaired several committees  and eventually followed Mark Foxon as Chairman of the Board  – a tough act to follow. I’m not sure how many years I served on this board but it was quite a few.  I have stayed involved in one capacity or another since that time. I currently serve on the Board of Christian Education and the Pastoral Relations Committee.

I can recall some memories that at the time they occurred didn’t seem so humorous  but over the course of the intervening years I’ve been able chuckle as they come to mind,  There was the time that my son got bored with his role as a wise man in a Christmas pageant and decided to slowly disrobe in front of the entire congregation (much to his parents’ chagrin), And there was the bathroom incident following a Carol Festival  – details not necessary for this project.  My prayer for our Church is that we’re always here to reach out to others with compassion and love.  Happy 210th Birthday!


Cindy Huddy
Cindy Huddy

I joined in 1972. Chuck followed a few years later.  Shortly after I joined, I became Superintendent of the Junior High Sunday School Department.  Chuck and I were very active in the Mr. and Mrs. Group,  serving one year as Presidents.  Chuck was a member of the Morse Brotherhood.  I attended the Clark Fellowship for a while.  We had both our boys dedicated as infants.  They have Hawaiian middle names and the minister at the time,  Rev. George Sinclair, stumbled over the names during the dedication.  Happy 210th Founding Anniversary.

Article about Chuck on his 3rd Year Death Anniversary here.

 

 


Irene Hofmann
Irene Hofmann

I came to First Baptist in the fall of 1976 to join the choir as alto soloist under the direction of Robert K. Love. To sing in such a large and well-trained choir was a wonderful experience for me! In December of 1986 I became an official member of the church along with my husband, Frank. We both enjoyed the fellowship of this warm and welcoming congregation. I have served on many boards and committees over the years including the church council, mission board and church use committee. I was active in the Mr. & Mrs. Fellowship group for many years and especially enjoyed working on the “Famous Ham & Bean Suppers” with musical entertainment which the group presented.
I was the leader of the Group Q women’s group for many years, and have been an active member and treasurer of the American Baptist Women’s Group until the present time.
Although our congregation is much smaller now, we all still enjoy the warm and friendly fellowship of our present members and friends. I am still singing each week with our choir and thank both Richard Freeman and Marilyn Glover for their good leadership. All in all, my experiences at First Baptist have been some of the best times in my life and I praise God daily for his presence in my own life and in that of our church. Irene Hofmann is Vice Chair of the Mission Board 2014.


David Williams

I, David L. Williams, came to Malden in 1961 as a new PhD at Monsanto in Everett.   As a Baptist by baptism, I joined the Malden Church in 1962, and soon joined the choir.   I had been singing in church since being a boy soprano in Christ Church Cathedral, Episcopal, in Springfield.

By 1964 I married into a church family, by marrying Virginia Tingley, daughter of a trustee, Earle Tingley.

 

 

David and Virginia Williams during church yard sale on August, 2017

Dr. Straton was impressed by Dr. Williams, and I was soon a Deacon (1968).   Finishing that term I became a trustee (1970); that was more interesting.    I recall being baffled by the number of funds, named for donors, and which one paid which bills.   Basically it was the fund with the most accumulated interest in the bank where Aylmer Jones, church treasurer, was President.   The property committee seemed to pay a lot of general bills.    With the assistance of Pastor George Sinclair we generated the Current Expense and Property accounts out of the named funds.    I recall going to Gordon Joyce’s home to help explain the process, and he got out his slide rule.    OK, now at 85, I do not own a smart phone.  During this time State Street Bank held some of our trust funds and decided to close our small account.   We interviewed other financial institutions, and my analysis helped choose Malden Savings and Loan as the best alternative (now Eastern Bank).

Term limits next sent me back to the Diaconate, where I became Treasurer (1987-1993).     Not a problem, the reports matched the check book.

In six years I was re-elected to the Trustees, and as Chairman (1993, in absentia).   I then saw the ledger sheets.   There were more cost entries than columns on the ledger sheet..    Many columns were used for multiple purposes using stars and crosses.    “Columns” and rows did not often add up to the same number.     Computers and spreadsheets (Lotus 1-2-3) were now available, but Helen Fleet, our church bookkeeper needed help, but also was willing to learn.    Expenses were rising and income from offerings was decreasing.   We set a goal to spend only 7% of our endowment on expenses, annually.     After 5 of the 6 year term the treasurer’s position opened up, because the current treasurer had been in office for 10 years.

At this point Richard Freeman was the bookkeeper, and he had computer and banking expertise.  The concept of writing computer checks and on-line banking was available, which could by-pass the treasurer.    A system was set up, using Quicken1999 which could include expense and income items and Quicken output could then be transferred to a Excel program for the Treasurer’s monthly report to the trustees.   The trustees were soon disbanded, but the reports were still generated.

Is this progress?    We were not leaders in using technology, but also not the last.  I never ran a business, nor took an accounting course.   Fortunately, my chemical research experience helped me to understand the problems and the potential solutions.

Other activities

From about 1983 to 1987 I was chair of the Property Committee.  This was a time of new vinyl windows replacing the old 1918 wooden windows, and a time of boiler replacement.   The steam engine boiler in the church basement was retired, but not removed.   The new oil burner furnace was much more efficient.   The two-pipe steam heat was blown into the sanctuary, and the old hot air system was closed off.  The radiator room remains.   The boilers in the parish house were removed and replaced.

My second term included a reconstruction of the church tower and many other structural/stone repairs, including lowering and closing the chimney in the church parlor.

I was pleased to be chosen to be on the committees to choose Dr. George Sinclair, Dr. George Tooze, Dr. David Kilpatrick, and the elevation of our associate minister Martha Dominy to Senior Minister.

Virginia and I now spend most of our time in Florida and are not involved with any of the church business activities.   We do occasionally sing solos or duets in church during the summer.  Published on July 26, 2021

Achievement and Awards:

Mark Foxon

Congratulations to Mark Foxon, who by his services for restoring and preserving freedom and democracy in Korea, has been proclaimed Ambassador for Peace by the Minister of Patriots and Veteran Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

During the Korean War, Mark proudly defended our freedom by serving as a Seaman 3rd Class in the United States Navy where he was a recipient of The Korean Peace Medal.

Mark Foxon is proclaimed “Ambassador for Peace” by the Minister of Patriots and Veteran Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Learn more >

 

 

 


Stephanie and Michael Proszkow

Hello! I have been coming to First Baptist with my Mom and Dad, Christine and Joseph W. Mercuri since I was a young child, attending Sunday School with my 3 siblings, followed by church and children’s time. I remember my extended family coming to church as well!  My grandmother and grandfather were part of the Mr. & Mrs.!  I officially became a member when I was baptized in May of 1992 by Pastor Dominy, followed by my right hand of fellowship. Some of the memories I have, left a mark on my heart.  My family and I were able to host a family from outside the United States through a program with the Church. I was able to attend Grotonwood camp with my siblings, be a member of one of the board’s for the Church, participate with: 1) the Singing Angels taught by Doris Porter and Pastor Dominy and 2) the Ringing Halos, taught by Pastor Dominy. I remember the Easter Sunday Sunrise services, then Easter Breakfast before Sunday School and Church. The First Baptist Church of Malden was also the place of my marriage to my husband, Michael, who loved this church! Although there have been many sad times, the First Baptist Church of Malden has been my church for many happy times for almost 30 years officially. Although I have lived out of state, I am thankful for such a loving community that I can come to when I visit.



A form is provided below for you to fill out about your personal experience with First Baptist Church, Malden. Hoping that you will find writing a bit of history of your life in church would be fulfilling and fun, too. Thank You.

 

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FBC Malden MA. History (in Progress)

Celebration of Life >

Letter on our journey towards a merger. Addressed to FBC and MBC Members and Friends. Read here. >

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