First Baptist Church, Bristol, RI
About UsWe provide a holy place of respite in the tumult of life. So come, put aside the cares of the week and find yourself in the presence of God.
Our Story
Many faces, one faith.
We care about one thing more than anything else, Jesus Christ. First Baptist is a family of individuals that have found hope in Jesus, and simply want as many people as possible to experience that same freedom
We are a diverse group of believers – bankers, musicians, social workers, teachers, public servants, business owners, parents – united by our shared faith in a loving God.
What does this mean for you? Most importantly, you’re always welcome here. We’re saving a seat for you. Wherever you’re at in your faith journey, you’ll always be accepted as part of the our family.
Our Values & Beliefs
We believe Jesus Christ is the Risen Saviour
He died for our sins and rose to the right hand of the Father.
We believe in the Bible
We believe in the Trinity
Baptism
Believer baptism by immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Jake
Rev. Jacob McGuire was called to serve as head Pastor in January 2014. Jake and his wife Rachel reside in Bristol with their children Esther, Spencer, Bruce , and Ian.
Jake earned his Masters of Divinity at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and received a Bachelors of Science in Finance and Economics at Lake Superior State University.
Pastor Jake and Rachel’s first experience with ministry started as campus ministers at Anchor House. Years later, Jake felt the Lord’s call to pastoral ministry and enrolled in seminary while he served under Rev. Terry Morgan as an ordained deacon, and was a Sunday school teacher and preacher at Woodlawn Baptist Church, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Contact Pastor Jake directly at:
Pastor Mike
Mike Del Tatto and his wife Karen reside in Bristol and have two children and three grandchildren.
Mike began serving as Associate Pastor in January 2019 with a focus on Sunday School, Small Group Ministry and visitation. Karen serves in the women’s ministry.
Michael earned his Masters of Divinity at Bethel Seminary of the East and received a Bachelors of Science at Roger Williams University in Marine Biology.
Prior to coming to First Baptist Church, Mike served as deacon at Rehoboth Baptist Church, pastored North Christian Church in Dighton, Massachusetts, and he was the Director of Christian Education at Barrington Baptist Church where his wife Karen also served as a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) mentor and Women’s Bible Study facilitator.
Our History
1811 – On August 22, Dr. Nelson led in founding our church with 23 members.
1813 – Reverend James M. Winchell became our first ordained minister on June 23.
1814 – Dedication of the Federal style “Stone Chapel.” Our building is on land granted by the Town of Bristol. Built with granite blocks, it has a gable roof supported by post and beam construction.
1814 -Reverend Barnabas Bates became pastor; in 1816, at his suggestion, the first Sunday school in town was established. The Baptist and Congregational Churches often collaborated in this endeavor.
1868 – A pipe organ was installed for $1,100.