The Antioch Baptist Church was the first established Baptist Church in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis established on March 05th, 1963 by Rev. Dr. William M. Connor O.B.E. affectionately called Brother Connor. Brother Connor was born on June 21st, 1921 and was the fourth of seven children born to Mary and George Connor of Russel Village, Basseterre, St. Kitts.
In 1949 when Brother Connor observed hundreds of children running around in the St. Johnston village area, he felt called of God to establish a Sunday school for what he described as "underprivileged, unwanted, despised, neglected and downtrodden children of the village" where he was raised.
This Sunday School became known as the St Johnston Village Sunday School. This Sunday School would gain a solid footing giving birth to several other Sunday School stations popularly called outdoor Sunday Schools across St Kitts. One of the most well-known Sunday School—Salem was situated in James Street, New Town under the ‘cock and hen tree’.
The St Johnson Village Sunday School would grow to a record attendance of 752 the largest in the Federation resulting in Brother Connor receiving the self-proclaimed title the ‘Sunday School Giant’. The village Sunday School was the fore runner to the Baptist Movement in the federation and the establishment of the Antioch Baptist Church.
Brother Connor also served as sexton of St Georges Anglican Church (Church of England), Cayon Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts, 1943—1962.
The Birth of the Baptist Movement
At a time when the missionary zeal of United States of America was at its peak, when the churches of the United States were sending their people to pastor and pioneer West Indian Mission Houses, and when men like President John F. Kennedy of the United States of America were posting Peace Corps around the world, Pastor Connor was among the first of a handful of native Kittitians to take the initiative to throw out a home-grown lifeline to his own people.
On Monday, 04 March 1963, Bro Connor along with Pastor Ray Thompson of St. Thomas, United States Virgin Island held discussions with twenty-one converts in the Inner Temple including Susanna O' Garro, Josephine Nias, Claris Williams, Ismay Francis, Rosalie Kelly, Urban Penny, Kelvin Jones, Mary Tuitt, Ida Vanlow, Louisa Frazer, Mary Simmonds, Spencer Walwyn, Laura Pemberton, Merleise Allen along with Bro. Connor decided that they were ready for the waters of baptism. The following day, Tuesday 5th March, at 5:00 a.m., the converts were baptised at Lime Kiln Beach. Despite adversity, in the providence of God on that same day - 05 March 1963, Bro. Connor along with the converts came together with the assistance of Pastor Thompson and others of St. Thomas and Started the Antioch Baptist Church of St. Kitts.
On Sunday 26 May 1963, the first communion service was held where twenty-four believers shared in the Lord's Supper at the unity Friendly Society Hall. The hall was locally called "the black and white".
The church met in the Unity Friendly Society Hall Wigley Avenue, Basseterre until the church constructed its new facility in December 1966 at Infirmary Road, Basseterre.
In the year following its formation, driven by a missionary spirit and upon the invitation of Ms. Marjorie Weeks, the Antioch Church Started a new Mission station in Lodge village which was organized into the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.
In 1965 a mission was established in the village of St. Paul’s which organized into the Calvary Baptist Church in 1975 and later renamed the Calvary Baptist Tabernacle now located at Romney Ground Sandy Point.
Pastor William Connor pastored all three churches until he assigned Rev. Kelvin Jones to the Mt Carmel Baptist Church and Rev. Calvin Hazel to Calvary Baptist Church.
The Ministry and vision of Brother Connor with his emphasis on gospel preaching and people development—especially children and young people resulted in significant transformation of all those with whom he came into contact. Brother Connor was credited with introducing to the Federation a Sunday School Saving Corps in 1949; church transportation in 1964 and Vacation Bible School in 1966. In 1957, he established a touch type writing school to assist young girls in their personal development and to gain employment skills. The Wycliffe Crusaders, a group of vibrant young men who rode bicycle through St. Kitts conducting open-air service came on stream in 1958. The Wycliffe Crusaders formed the backbone of the church that was established in 1963.
So significant was Pastor Connor’s work that during his lifetime he was awarded for his tremendous contribution to nation building.
1979 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed him an Officer of the British Empire. He was also awarded the Doctor of Divinity by the Caribbean Evangelical Association Incorporated.
1981 he was appointed an Honorary Deputy Sheriff of the State of Texas, USA.
1982 he was awarded Citizen of the Year by the organization of Progressive Nationals of St. Kitts as eminently and ethically qualified in the field of Sociology.
1983 when St. Kitts was granted Independent status from England, he was afforded the honour of giving the Keynote Address before a crowd of some 23,000 people.
1983 he was commissioned to the Order of Kentucky Colonels of the State of Kentucky, USA.
1986 he was awarded an Honorary Citizenship of the City of Lincoln in the State of Illinois, USA.
1988 he was also appointed as Lieutenant Colonel Aide De Camp Governor, Staff by His Excellency the Governor of the State of Georgia, USA.
1988 he was honoured by the Government of St. Kitts-Nevis by having the new St. Johnston Village Primary School named in his honour, Dr. William Connor Primary.
On 11th November, 1990, Bro. William Connor made the triumphant march and went to be with the Lord. He was buried with full military honours befitting his stature and pioneering work in the federation. At the time of his passing, he had served the Lord faithfully as a Sunday School teacher for 41 years, a Christian for 39 years and Pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church for 27 years.
Rev. Kelvin C. Jones CBE., served as pastor for twelve years 1990 –2002. Rev. Lincoln D. Connor CSM, JP was installed as the third pastor of the Antioch Baptist
Church.Over sixty years, the Antioch Baptist Church has gone forward in faith with a deep commitment to the truth of Scriptures and a passion to serve the community.
In May 2019, a new worship auditorium and multi-purpose facility was dedicated.
Today, the work of the Antioch Baptist Church touches every corner of the globe through an intentional focus on multimedia and technology.
The Antioch Baptist Church continues to leverage our historic strengths as church community while empowering the body of Christ to become responsible disciples in God’s Kingdom.
Mission - To glorify Christ by knowing Him and making Him known.
Vision – To use all available resources to grow people in God and for God.