History
The information below is found in Heritage and Horizons, Historical Commission, Great Rivers Region, Springfield, IL, 2000, pgs. 120, 155. "
In the early years of the twentieth century, Baptist students on the UIUC campus rented a house at 1002 S. Sixth Street (Champaign) as a student center. The group took the name Gregory Guild in honor of John Milton Gregory, a well known Midwestern Baptist leader and first Regent (President) of the University. The Guild had as its stated purpose “to promote good fellowship among Baptist students of the University community; to promote the spiritual welfare of students with Baptist tendencies; (and) to form a nucleus for the University Baptist Church when it becomes a reality.”
The University Baptist Church became a reality in 1912, when Illinois State Baptist leaders joined forces with the National Board of Christian Education to invite Rev. Martin S. Bryant and his wife, Harriet, to take up the work on the Illinois campus. The University Baptist Church was formally organized on November 20, 1912, in the home of Rev. J. W. Primm, a retired Baptist minister living in the community.
While plans for an adequate house of worship were being developed, the infant church met in the assembly room of the campus YMCA. In the meantime, the State Convention arranged for the purchase of an adequate building lot at the corner of Fourth and Daniel Streets in Champaign, just three blocks from the University campus. This was followed by a spectacular state-wide fund raising campaign, orchestrated by the Springfield office, which by the summer of 1915 showed cash and pledges on hand totaling $40,500. Construction soon began on the classic, red brick Greek revival structure with its distinctive white columns, and was pushed rapidly to completion. The dedication of this handsome building took place on November 2, 1916.
It was Martin Bryant’s dream to mold the dedicated body of Baptist students into a fully functioning Baptist church as rapidly as possible, and in this he was remarkably successful. This is all the more striking when one remembers that the body of participating student members, leaders and followers alike, has a life span of only 3 to 5 years so far as membership in the campus church is concerned.
Two factors have contributed to the strength, stability and continuity of the UBC. One was the early decision that all boards and committees—deacons, trustees, Christian education, student council and any other unit in the policy making structure—would have equal student representation upon them. The other factor has been the presence over the years of a small, but dedicated body of community members who give oversight and a degree of permanency to the church. Many of these came from the University faculty and staff, others from various walks of life in the twin cities. Another source of strength throughout the history of the UBC has been the pattern of strong ministerial leadership combined with fairly long tenure on the part of those holding the pastorate. Pastor Bryant gave twenty-two years of steady direction to the campus work before his death in 1934, and the combined service of Bryant, Sam Binch and Wayne Rogers represents over half of the ninety-four years of the Church’s existence.
One of the “defining moments” in the life of the campus church was the decision reached in 1949 to purchase Stratford House, a sturdy brick residence next to the church, capable of housing thirty young women. By this action the church committed itself to the principle of cooperative Christian living on the part of University students which has become one of the hallmarks of its campus ministry since that time. Koinonia Cooperative for young men followed in 1952, and in 1986 Sutton Place for graduate and international students joined in. In 2006, the Baptist Student Foundation built a new Stratford House building, with the prior one becoming the 312 House, a residence for undergraduate and graduate women.
This greatly expanded effort with its broadened vision of Christian service called for a new corporate structure to reflect the cooperative nature of the ministry. The Baptist Student Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation chartered by the State of Illinois, came into being in 1950, with a broadened Board of Trustees. With its ability to hold titles to several properties, execute contracts, borrow money and engage in fund raising activities, the Baptist Student Foundation greatly strengthened the legal and administrative aspects of the local mission.
No account of American Baptist work on the UIUC campus can be complete without a tribute to the thoughtful generosity of Mrs. C.M. Hobart, a long time community member. Upon her death in 1969, Mable Hobart left the bulk of her considerable estate to the BSF to support the work of the UBC and its Christian based student housing mission. The steady income from the carefully managed Hobart Endowment enables the UBC/BSF to extend its influence in challenging new directions, including Habitat For Humanity and other mission projects.
The UBC is truly a mission church and its goal is two-fold: (1) to strengthen and encourage students in their Christian faith, and (2) to seek to win young people to new faith in Jesus Christ. In the Church one finds worship experiences, Bible studies, opportunities for musical leadership, avenues of Christian education and practical exercises in church leadership. We’re thankful for UBC’s legacy, and look forward to the years to come.
The University Baptist Church became a reality in 1912, when Illinois State Baptist leaders joined forces with the National Board of Christian Education to invite Rev. Martin S. Bryant and his wife, Harriet, to take up the work on the Illinois campus. The University Baptist Church was formally organized on November 20, 1912, in the home of Rev. J. W. Primm, a retired Baptist minister living in the community.
While plans for an adequate house of worship were being developed, the infant church met in the assembly room of the campus YMCA. In the meantime, the State Convention arranged for the purchase of an adequate building lot at the corner of Fourth and Daniel Streets in Champaign, just three blocks from the University campus. This was followed by a spectacular state-wide fund raising campaign, orchestrated by the Springfield office, which by the summer of 1915 showed cash and pledges on hand totaling $40,500. Construction soon began on the classic, red brick Greek revival structure with its distinctive white columns, and was pushed rapidly to completion. The dedication of this handsome building took place on November 2, 1916.
It was Martin Bryant’s dream to mold the dedicated body of Baptist students into a fully functioning Baptist church as rapidly as possible, and in this he was remarkably successful. This is all the more striking when one remembers that the body of participating student members, leaders and followers alike, has a life span of only 3 to 5 years so far as membership in the campus church is concerned.
Two factors have contributed to the strength, stability and continuity of the UBC. One was the early decision that all boards and committees—deacons, trustees, Christian education, student council and any other unit in the policy making structure—would have equal student representation upon them. The other factor has been the presence over the years of a small, but dedicated body of community members who give oversight and a degree of permanency to the church. Many of these came from the University faculty and staff, others from various walks of life in the twin cities. Another source of strength throughout the history of the UBC has been the pattern of strong ministerial leadership combined with fairly long tenure on the part of those holding the pastorate. Pastor Bryant gave twenty-two years of steady direction to the campus work before his death in 1934, and the combined service of Bryant, Sam Binch and Wayne Rogers represents over half of the ninety-four years of the Church’s existence.
One of the “defining moments” in the life of the campus church was the decision reached in 1949 to purchase Stratford House, a sturdy brick residence next to the church, capable of housing thirty young women. By this action the church committed itself to the principle of cooperative Christian living on the part of University students which has become one of the hallmarks of its campus ministry since that time. Koinonia Cooperative for young men followed in 1952, and in 1986 Sutton Place for graduate and international students joined in. In 2006, the Baptist Student Foundation built a new Stratford House building, with the prior one becoming the 312 House, a residence for undergraduate and graduate women.
This greatly expanded effort with its broadened vision of Christian service called for a new corporate structure to reflect the cooperative nature of the ministry. The Baptist Student Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation chartered by the State of Illinois, came into being in 1950, with a broadened Board of Trustees. With its ability to hold titles to several properties, execute contracts, borrow money and engage in fund raising activities, the Baptist Student Foundation greatly strengthened the legal and administrative aspects of the local mission.
No account of American Baptist work on the UIUC campus can be complete without a tribute to the thoughtful generosity of Mrs. C.M. Hobart, a long time community member. Upon her death in 1969, Mable Hobart left the bulk of her considerable estate to the BSF to support the work of the UBC and its Christian based student housing mission. The steady income from the carefully managed Hobart Endowment enables the UBC/BSF to extend its influence in challenging new directions, including Habitat For Humanity and other mission projects.
The UBC is truly a mission church and its goal is two-fold: (1) to strengthen and encourage students in their Christian faith, and (2) to seek to win young people to new faith in Jesus Christ. In the Church one finds worship experiences, Bible studies, opportunities for musical leadership, avenues of Christian education and practical exercises in church leadership. We’re thankful for UBC’s legacy, and look forward to the years to come.
UBC Pastors
|
Martin S. Bryant (1912-1934)
Paul E. Alden (1934-1942) Paul Offenhiser (1943-1946) G. Avery Lee (1947-1948) Pierre Tangent (1948-1956) |
W. Haydn Ambrose (1956-1963)
Samuel R. Binch (1963-1974) L. Wayne Rogers (1974-1991) M. Richard Gibbons (1991-1998) Brett H. Smith (2000-present) |