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In 1885, with the help of the Baptist denomination, the first church building was erected at a cost of $2,275. In 1886, William Monroe, on behalf of the Monrovia Land & Water Co., offered the church 3 lots and $500 if they would move to the new township of Monrovia, which the 24 members voted to do. In 1887, the church completed its second building at a cost of $7,000 at the corner of Olive & California Avenues and changed it name to First Baptist Church of Monrovia.
In 1908, with a growing congregation, the church voted to purchase 2 1/2 lots at a cost of $2,700 at the corner of Palm & Encinitas Avenues for a new church site. In 1910, Norman F. Marsh was commissioned to design the basically Gothic Revival structure and to incorporate the 8 leaded glass windows from the old church. The main sanctuary has 2 very beautiful stained glass arches, one depicting the Lord as our Beloved Shepherd, the other, Christ praying in the garden of Gethsemane and a 10 ft. leaded glass dome. The structure was completed and dedicated for worship on November 21, 1912. The parsonage was built next to the church in 1923 and a new educational facility was erected in 1958.
In 1971, the merger of the First Baptist Church of Arcadia and the First Baptist Church of Monrovia was completed and became the First Baptist Church of Monrovia-Arcadia.
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