Calvary Bible Church had its beginning in 1896. Mr. Nelson Reed of Fall River organized cottage prayer meetings and a regular Sunday School. A year later, a full-time Pastor, Rev. Byron Rees, was called to serve the church. Regular meetings were held in the village hall.
The church continued to grow and in 1898, under the leadership of Rev. H.F. Reynolds, the members aspired to build a church.
In 1899, the first steps were taken towards building. The land on Union Avenue, where the first church stands, was donated by Mr. Frank Whalon. Like a community effort, all the members, including workers from the Westport Manufacturing Co., put forth their energies and helped build the edifice. On February 27, 1900, the church was formally dedicated. It was a family affair and the church was packed.
Three years later a parsonage was erected and the total cost of both church and parsonage was $15,000.
The church was originally named the United Gospel Church. In 1919 it came to be known as the Union Church of Westport Factory, under the pastorate of Rev. Alfred Ward.
Although from its inception, the church’s desire was to stay clear of all creeds, the Bible was to be their infallible rule of faith and practice. In the years during the era of World War I, the church was of the “Holiness” type. However, in the 1920’s and up to the mid 1930’s, the church followed a very liberal position and the pure gospel was no longer preached.
The turning point came in 1937 when Rev. Claude Curtis became Pastor. He had become saved while a U.S. Marine stationed in China and was very enthusiastic and zealous in his ministry.
The following men have served the Lord in the role of Pastor at Calvary Bible Church:
Rev. Nelson Reed- 1896-1897
Rev. Byron Rees- 1897-1898
Rev. H.F. Reynolds- 1899-1901
Rev. Albrecht- 1901-1902
Rev. J.C. Johnson- 1903-1905
Rev. George H. Hastings- 1905
Rev. D. Rand Pierce- 1905-1907
Rev. C.H. Hopkins- 1910-1913
Rev. Oliver J. Harvili- 1913-1919
Rev. Alfred E.B. Ward- 1919-1925
Rev. Homer Carr- 1925-1927
Rev. George Young- 1927-1933
Rev. Stanley F. Murray- 1933-1935
Rev. Robert Haskins- 1935-1937
Rev. Dale Dutton- 1937
Rev. Claude H. Curtis- 1937-1939
Rev. Arnold Vail- 1939-1943
Rev. Harold Dame- 1943-1950
Rev. Lawrence Grow- 1950-1961
Rev. William Reed- 1961-1969
Rev. Dean Bonsall- 1971-1991
Rev. Gregory Gifford- 1993-1995
Rev. Richard Gilbaugh- 1996-2005
Rev. Jared Heatherly- 2006-present
