KENT BAPTIST

There has been some question about when the Baptist Church of Kent was formed.   George Ide’s 1908 Union County History, says the Baptist Church was a union of the church at Madden’s Grove and one at Riggs Grove.   Another source lists the church as being the union of a Baptist Church in Union City and one holding meetings at a school house 4 miles northwest of Kent.  The American Baptist Historical Society lists a “Hickory Grove Church” as being the forerunner of the Kent church but no location has ever been found for that church.  The Baptist church in Kent was built in 1875 on Maple Street,  lots 7 and 8 of the original town, at a cost of $1,200.  The Baptist church was closed in 1913 and the building in lots were sold to Dr. C.C.  Rambo, who turned the church into a home and a number of families have lived in the house before it was moved by Clinton Claiser to his home on Highway 25, section 24 of Grant Township, Adams County.