Our History ...
In 1952, Wendell Mullen, then pastor of Southgate Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, came to Hartford to visit his parents. While visiting, he became burdened for the need of a strong, fundamental, Bible-teaching, soul-winning Baptist church in the greater Hartford area. In 1959, he resigned his pastorate in Georgia, and moved his family to West Hartford; and ten days after arriving, he was able to hold the first service of our church at the Webster Hill School. This new church was named Webster Hill Baptist Church.
In 1960, the Lord led Pastor Mullen and the congregation to the present site of our church on Mountain Road. The property itself was purchased from Miss Mary Stanley, whose family had owned it since the Civil War. In 1961, the first building, a chapel seating 125, was completed, and the church name was changed to Farmington Avenue Baptist Church. In 1965, an addition was built onto the chapel, expanding the seating capacity to 250; and in 1971, the third addition was completed.
In 1980, Pastor Mullen answered God’s call to minister in a Christian college, and God led Pastor Gary Jones, then pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to be our pastor. In August of 1980, Pastor and Mrs. Jones and their four children, Beverly, Brian, Brent and Bradley, arrived in West Hartford. Under his leadership, new Sunday school classes were started and a nursing home ministry, a deaf ministry, and a recording ministry began. Pastor and Mrs Jones retired in August 2015 after 35 years of faithful and fruitful ministry at FABC
On September 20, 2015 the church congregation voted to call Pastor Jeremy Sweatt and his wife Reneé to serve at FABC. Pastor Sweatt has a burden to make the Bible applicable to everyday life and is often heard to quote James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.” The Sweatts come to Connecticut after 23 years of ministry in South Carolina and Georgia. In 2002 they planted Community Baptist Church in Canton, GA (a northern suburb of Atlanta). Pastor has a vision for FABC and believes that God has an exciting plan for our future.
In 1960, the Lord led Pastor Mullen and the congregation to the present site of our church on Mountain Road. The property itself was purchased from Miss Mary Stanley, whose family had owned it since the Civil War. In 1961, the first building, a chapel seating 125, was completed, and the church name was changed to Farmington Avenue Baptist Church. In 1965, an addition was built onto the chapel, expanding the seating capacity to 250; and in 1971, the third addition was completed.
In 1980, Pastor Mullen answered God’s call to minister in a Christian college, and God led Pastor Gary Jones, then pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to be our pastor. In August of 1980, Pastor and Mrs. Jones and their four children, Beverly, Brian, Brent and Bradley, arrived in West Hartford. Under his leadership, new Sunday school classes were started and a nursing home ministry, a deaf ministry, and a recording ministry began. Pastor and Mrs Jones retired in August 2015 after 35 years of faithful and fruitful ministry at FABC
On September 20, 2015 the church congregation voted to call Pastor Jeremy Sweatt and his wife Reneé to serve at FABC. Pastor Sweatt has a burden to make the Bible applicable to everyday life and is often heard to quote James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.” The Sweatts come to Connecticut after 23 years of ministry in South Carolina and Georgia. In 2002 they planted Community Baptist Church in Canton, GA (a northern suburb of Atlanta). Pastor has a vision for FABC and believes that God has an exciting plan for our future.