First Baptist Church, Sharon. That there is often a distinct cleavage among new settlers on the line of denominational religion seems to be borne out by several conspicuous cases in Mercer county. At the county seat and the central part of the county almost the entire population were divided among the different sects of Presbyterianism. In the upper Shenango valley about Greenville the Methodists came as early and were as prominent as any other denomination. While in Sharon, the denomination that took the lead during the pioneer epoch was the Baptists.

Rev. David Philips came to the Sharon community as a missionary in 1802, and after working in this vicinity about two years gathered the Baptists into a regular organization in April, 1804. The family names that appeared on the first roll of membership can readily be identified with those of the pioneer settlers of this locality, including such as the Morfords, Hoaglands, the Joneses, the Renos, Rigdons, Norths, Bentleys and Budds, John Morford and Henry Hoagland were the first deacons. For a number of years the 29th of April was celebrated as the anniversary of the founding of this church, and was an occasion for the assembling and the religious devotion and rejoicing of the people through all the vicinity. In 1805 Thomas Jones and family were brought through the wilderness from New Jersey to preach, though for the first three years the congregation had no place of assemblage except private houses, barns and groves. Mention is made in the history of Sharon that William Budd donated a lot for a church and graveyard, and the first building to be erected there was a log church twenty by thirty feet in dimensions. This was in 1807, and in the same year the activities of the church spread to West Salem township, where another church was organized and remained in relationship with Sharon until 1826, the same pastor serving both.   

In 1825 the church had seventy-five members. Then in 1828 the bonds of unity were broken. The doctrines of Alexander Campbell made converts of 

First Baptist Church Sharon, photographed in May 2000.  Click to enlarge photograph

Another early view of the First Baptist Church, 

First Baptist Church and the Sacred Heart Church in 1910.  

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