Baptists have a great reputation when it comes to music.  Over the years Baptists from every corner of New
England gathered regularly for hymn sings.  In the south, Negro spirituals arose out of Baptist congregations.
 
  In our church we can trace the music back to the late nineteenth century when the first organ was installed.  It was just a console but it provided a beautiful sound. By the turn of the century a beautiful pipe organ was installed and there was talk of solos, quartettes and other musical selections to inspire the congregants.
 
  Our records show that in 1920 Mrs. Walter M. Cowen was called on to play the organ and direct the choral program.  We have pictures of a youth choir as early as 1926.
 
  Annie Cowen had a gift for music and she demanded a lot from those who sang in the choir.  As always, the members of the choir had varying degrees of ability but she managed to get the most out of them.  Soloists like Gladys Johnson and Donald Royce were often called on to supplement the choral singing and many of our older church members remember the beautiful music they shared.
 
     In 1942, fire broke out in the basement of the Church and the whole chancel area of the sanctuary was destroyed.  As a result, the whole front section of the sanctuary was redesigned and fitted with new pulpit, lectern and oak railings.  The old organ was replaced with a very good reconditioned organ which we still use today.
 
    Although the names and faces have changed over the years, the music and the choir have remained central to our experience of worshipping the Lord at First Baptist Church.

    Today Adele DiBiagio Cofer  is at the organ and she continues the fine tradition that started over a century ago.  She leads a choir of twenty one members and works with Lori Lord to direct a junior choir of ten voices.
 
    As we near our Two Hundredth anniversary celebration, there is a murmur rising that it might be time to replace the 100 year old tracker organ with something much newer. Wouldn't that be nice?  Something new to continue a beautiful tradition very old!

Our choir, led by Adele DiBiagio Cofer, brings many glorious songs to our Lord during our Sunday Services.
 

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