W. A. Connolly Memorial Baptist Church
Helena Avenue
Delbarton WV
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80feac_fd52816a96cc44b1b0c1ea35f846b4d1.jpg/v1/fill/w_84,h_113,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/80feac_fd52816a96cc44b1b0c1ea35f846b4d1.jpg)
CMBC History 1940-Present
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January 1940: The first organizational meeting to form a new Baptist church was held. There were 8 charter members, and the church was named The Delbarton Baptist Church. Rev. W. A. Connolly was the first pastor.
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May 1941: Plans were made to begin a church building.
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October 1941: Rev. Connolly was killed in a hunting accident in Rupert, WV. The name of the church was changed to W. A. Connolly Memorial Baptist Church.
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February 1942-April 1943: Rev. O. C. Anderson was the pastor. The first service was held in the new church on Easter in 1942.
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September 1943-May 1946: Rev. W. W. Williams was the pastor. There was no pastorate, and Rev. Williams’ family remained in Milton while he stayed in a room at the church.
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Spring 1946-June 1973: Rev. Thomas J. Eastes (Emma) was the pastor.
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1957: Final note for church building was paid, and the note was burned.
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June 1973-July 1974: Rev. R. C. Thornbury was the interim pastor. A new parsonage was erected during this time.
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July 1974-December 31, 1983: Rev. Julius Mahon (Lorene) was the pastor. Property was purchased across the street and to the back and to the right of the church in preparation for a new building.
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1983-1992: Rev. Ralph Farley (Mitzi) became interim pastor upon the retirement of Rev. Mahon.
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1985: Property to the left of the church was purchased, and plans were made for the beginning of a building program.
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1991: On Palm Sunday the first service was held in the new church.
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1992-1993: Rev. Richard Swanson (Ruth) served as interim pastor.
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1993-1995: Rev. Joe Duncan (Ann) filled the pulpit.
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May 1995-October 1995: Rev. Greg Swisher (Robin) accepted the pastorate.
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April 1996-October 2000: Rev. Stephen Fridenmaker (LaDonna) was the pastor.
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June 22, 2000: The final note for the new church building was paid.
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2001-2002: Rev. Fred Dillon (Kathryn) was interim pastor.
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2002-2009: Rev. Ron Page (Beverly) was the pastor.
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2009–Present: Danny Mitchell (Rita) is currently the pastor.
Historical Highlights
![Pastor W. A. Connolly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80feac_ff45f65bd2bb4fbfb0c9e33f0ba9b116.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/80feac_ff45f65bd2bb4fbfb0c9e33f0ba9b116.jpg)
was the first pastor of CMBC .
![The old church bell](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80feac_c09f7df511444568b8cb3f6ad81d15e3.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1470,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/80feac_c09f7df511444568b8cb3f6ad81d15e3.jpg)
still rings every Sunday morning.
![BURNING THE OLD CHURCH NOTE](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80feac_ca69bd2966dd4fd0a1de3db56f6dbc9e.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_748,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/80feac_ca69bd2966dd4fd0a1de3db56f6dbc9e.jpg)
Mr. Younce, Tom Eastes, and Mrs. Lowe