HISTORY
The following is the roughest of sketches of the history of Somers Baptist Church, focusing on the seven pastors (plus interims and pulpit supply) who have served SBC throughout the years. We hope to fill out this history as time goes on. As we approach SBC’s 60th anniversary, we thank our Lord Jesus that the doors are open, the building is in repair, lives are being transformed, and, most importantly, the Gospel is still being proclaimed.
TIMELINE
1968
Somers Baptist Church was incorporated on 13 June 1968. Pastor Len Waterman, a church planter with the Conservative Baptist Home Missions Society, was the first pastor. The first public service was held about five months later, on 3 November. Thirty-nine people met at the Kibbe-Fuller Elementary School.
The church voted to affiliate with the Conservative Baptist Association of America, which today goes by the name “Venture Church Network.”
1970
In 1970, the church acquired 4.5 acres of land on Battle Street, much of it donated by Gordon Schlaf, a neighbor.
1972 – 1977
In January of 1972, Pastor George Bertrand became SBC’s second pastor.
In 1975, Pastor Sedgewick came as the interim pastor. Then Pastor Waterman returned to step into the interim role in the late summer of 1976.
In April of 1977, Pastor Russell Buisch became the third pastor of SBC.
1978
On 15 October 1978, the church held its first services in the new building on Battle Street.
1984 · 1991
In 1984, a new addition to the building was completed.
In 1991, another addition to the building was completed.
1992
On 17 May 1992, the newly established Ellington Baptist Church called Russell Buisch to be its first pastor. A year later, 25 members were released via vote to go out with Pastor Buisch to help establish the church.
1993 – 2011
On 19 August 1993, the church voted to extend a call to Denis Frediani to become SBC’s fourth pastor.
In September of 2003, a year after Pastor Frediani left to serve with the Prison Ministry of Vision New England, the church called Russ Wight as the fifth pastor of SBC.
On 9 January 2011, John Reilly was installed as the sixth pastor of SBC.
COVID-19
Pastor Russell Buisch returned as an interim and helped guide SBC through the time of COVID-19.
2022
On 10 July 2022, in the church’s 54th year, Pastor Colin Landry answered SBC’s call to become its seventh pastor. After relocating from the Denver, Colorado, area, he was installed on 16 October of that year.
