The Regular Baptist Church of Smethport, was the first church in McKean County to be chartered as a religious corporation.Somewhere between the years 1813-1814 a small colony of energetic men and women came from the town of ‘Norwich’ , in Chenango Country, New York. They came with the purpose of farming in the wilds of McKean Country, Locating themselves near the head of the Potato Creek. They soon built cabins and then Cleared an area, in which to live and plant corps. They realized the need for the fellowship and instruction of the Structures found in religious services. Then on December 20,1820, They organized a Baptist Church, naming it after the settlement ‘Norwich Church.’

In 1836 this fellowship met in the court house, and private homes until such time as A church building was constructed.

In 1837 the academy was opened with Luther Humphrey as its principle. The school Was turned over to the Smethsport School District in 1870.

In 1847 on Main Street in the area later occupied by ‘Johnson’s Diner’ a church Building was constructed.

In March of 1850 the Church sought to be incorporated under the name of the ‘Regular Baptist Church’ of Smethsport. This was marked and filed on June 17, 1850 in the Court of Common Pleas of McKean Country.

In 1879 the ‘Meeting House’ was moved to Water and Fulton Streets.

In 1899 a fire destroyed the Church, so the congregation soon started building a New building on the corner of King and Hill Streets. The ceremony of laying the Cornerstone took place on August 28,1899. The music was provided by a community choir Directed by D.H. McCoy with the message given by Rev. I.T Walker, Pastor of the Methodist Church, the cornerstone was laid by Pastor I.T Ware with the assistance of Mr. W.D. Camp, a deacon and chairman of the building committee.

In the early 1950’s , due to doctrinal deviation within the denomination, the Church stepped out of the Pennsylvania Baptist Convention of the American Baptist Churches. The desire of the group was to maintain the doctrinal integrity consistent with Biblical Teaching. As an aside: The issues that this rift centered on were the authenticity, dependability And thus authority of the Bible. This church had always held that the Bible was the Authority for faith and practice. Specifically that the teaching’s about Jesus are historical And accurate, not fables, that He is declared the virgin born Son of God who came to Purchase our redemption through His death on the cross for all who would believe on Him. These things the church affirmed when the denomination no longer did. So the Church stepped away from the Convention.

In 1969, a ground breaking service was held with Pastor William Stroup officiating, On the site where the Church Building now stands at East Water Street Extension (on Rt.46). As with each new venture since the establishment of the church in this community, the Members sacrificially gave off themselves and that which the Lord had entrusted to them, so that this work might be done. The first service was held in this new building in October 1970.

In 1974 because of concerns with the direction of prevailing philosophies that were effecting and eroding communities, families and the church itself, and under the convictions that arose from imperatives regarding parental responsibilities taught in the Bible, the church voted to establish the Smethport Calvary Academy; as an extension of the home in the training of the youth in our homes and community. There were many factors that led to it, but the work was discontinued and the school was closed, around 2002. Even though the work of an organized Christian school was discontinued, the emphasis of Biblical teaching of our youth continues to this day.

Today we have an energetic and enjoyable folk that fellowship and worship together, which we like to call our church family. We recognize through all these years one consistent theme … that “God is faithful!” Much time has elapsed, and much has been done. The numbers of people who have come to know the forgiveness of God through the reception of His Son are only known in the record of heaven. The Lord deserves all the praises. We would invite you to celebrate and commemorate with us the Faithfulness of God (1 Corinthians 19) on any given Sunday.

Much time has elapsed since its early beginnings, We at RBC maintain the spirit and scriptural standard of those who began this work in the 1800’s. Seeking to reach and teach people from all walks in life, all ages, both men & women, boys and girls, in our community and around the globe, about out great and compassionate God who has done so much for us … having sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins so that we might be forgiven and granted eternal life and a home in heaven with Him.