The First Baptist Church of Novi was organized on February 21, 1846, when ten charter members voted to form into a Baptist Conference by presenting church letters. The first members were Loren Flint, Betsy Flint, Rachael Flint, and Catherine Flint from Cherry Valley, New York; Orin Tharyer and Harriet Thayer from Hunday, New York; Moses Maxim from Northville; and Elizabeth Munn from Walled lake. A church covenant was adopted as a written expression of their faith. Many new members were added as people of deep faith Christian faith migrated from the east, and as others professed faith in Christ.
This little congregation which had been worshipping in the school and in private homes, immediately began to build a House of Worship on the Walled Lake Northville Road (now, Novi Road) at the southern end of the little village of Novi Corners. It was on about an acre of land, a quarter of a mile south of Grand River, donated by Daniel S. Lee. And in a year a beautiful edifice, 34' by 40' was erected at a cost of $1,080.00 and dedicated for the Lord's service on February 3, 1847.
The congregation grew and in 1876 a new church bas built to to accommodate the growing size. This building was used until July 14, 1913 when it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Some near by workers helped to carry out some valuable windows and furniture but the structure was completely lost as you can see by the picture in this article.
The faith of the Christians was strong and unquenchable. Under the leadership of Pastor H. A. Huey they built and dedicated the third church on the same site.
A new and more adequate church was proposed in 1958 and on November 8, 1959 ground was broken at Taft and Eleven mile Roads for the current church facility. The new church was dedicated on June 28, 1964.
In 1976 Rev. Richard Burgess was called to be the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Novi. Shortly there after the church voted to establish Novi Christian School. The school opened its doors in Septembers of 1976 with 23 students in grades 2-9. It is now in its Thirty-fifth year.
In the spring of 1977 work was begun on a 12,000 square building. The building was completed in November of the same year. An addition was begun in the fall of 1981 and completed in the fall of 1983.
In 1990 Rev Elfner was called to the ministry and Christian Home School of Novi was added to the school ministry. In 1994 Novi Christian Day Care was added to the School Ministry. In 2001 First Baptist Church of Novi began to promote the concept of Family Integrated Church.
