A Gospel Outpost on Elm Street Since 1833
Central Baptist Church has stood at 115 Elm Street in downtown Westfield, Massachusetts, for nearly two centuries. The congregation was organized on May 23, 1833, when a group led by a former Westfield pastor split from the First Baptist Church over the question of supporting missions. Within a short time most of the older church's members were absorbed into the new body, and Central Baptist was recognized by the Westfield Baptist Association of Churches. Almost two hundred years later the same conviction still shapes the congregation's identity: the church describes itself as a gospel outpost in Westfield, proclaiming the gospel to Westfield, and praying for Westfield's flourishing through the good news of Christ.
The Lord's Day Gathering at 10 am
Worship on Sunday morning is the heart of the church's life together. The Lord's Day Gathering begins at 10:00 am and is built around five simple acts: welcoming one another, singing, sitting under God's Word read and preached, praying, and partaking of the sacraments. The music is intentionally blended, with classic hymns accompanied by piano or organ alongside contemporary songs and hymns led with guitar. Visitors can expect a relaxed dress code that includes a mix of button-downs and hoodies, skirts and blue jeans.
The church building is accessible for a variety of mobility needs. A ramp leads to the front door on Elm Street, a lift is available near the side door on Chapel Street, and the sanctuary has wide aisles that accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility aids. First-time visitors are warmly welcomed.
Midweek Rhythms of Prayer and Study
Beyond Sunday, the congregation keeps a daily pattern of prayer and study that has become its heartbeat. From Monday through Thursday, 9:00 to 9:30 am, anyone is welcome to join Weekday Prayer. Each morning the group reads the Psalm that corresponds to the day of the month, spends a few minutes meditating on the text, and then prays together through that Psalm for the day's needs. It is Bible-guided prayer rather than a Bible study, and the open invitation is clear: if a free morning opens up, come read and pray with us.
On Mondays at 10:30 am, a Weekly Bible Study gathers to walk through Scripture passage by passage. Led by moderator Dave Burgess, this hour-long study stands on its own rather than tracking the Sunday sermon series, and includes reading, discussion, and prayer. All are welcome.
A Confessional Faith Rooted in the New Hampshire Confession
Central Baptist's teaching is anchored in an eighteen-article Statement of Faith adapted from the New Hampshire Confession of 1833, refreshed in May 2026. The confession begins with the Scriptures as God-breathed, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard for all human conduct and creed. It affirms one living and true God in three persons, the fall of man into sin, salvation by grace through the mediatorial work of Christ, and justification by faith alone.
The church teaches that regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit through divine truth, that sanctification is a progressive work carried on in the life of the believer, and that all who are united to Christ are kept by the power of God unto salvation. A local church, in the confession's words, is a congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, and governed by his laws, with pastors (also called elders and overseers) and deacons as its only scriptural officers.
Baptism is practiced as the immersion of a believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and is understood as the entrance ceremony into church membership. The Lord's Supper is observed as a memorial of Christ's dying love, with members examining themselves before partaking of the bread and wine. Christian marriage is taught as a covenant between one man and one woman, with sexual intimacy reserved for that union.
Membership and the Church Covenant
Becoming a member at Central Baptist follows a clear pathway. A person hears and understands the gospel, repents and believes in Christ, is baptized and joined to the local church, and then participates regularly in the life of the body including the Lord's Supper. The church's covenant gathers these commitments into a single shared promise: to walk together in Christian love, to worship God and observe Baptism and the Lord's Supper, to commit to prayer and Bible study, to love and forgive others, to pray for and help those in need, to contribute cheerfully to the mission of the church, to share faith with family, friends and neighbors, to work for unity among Christians, and to join another faithful church when moving away from Westfield.
Second Sundays, Pancake Breakfasts, and Soup Kitchen Wednesdays
Fellowship and outreach shape the church's monthly rhythm. On the second Sunday evening of each month, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, the congregation gathers for the Second Sunday Fellowship. After singing one song together, members work through a guided discussion of the morning's sermon, then break into smaller groups for accountability and prayer.
On the fourth Sunday of the month, the church slows down for a Pancake Breakfast after the morning gathering, with unhurried time for conversation over coffee and brunch. On the fifth Wednesday of the month, about four times a year, the church prepares and serves a full evening meal at the Westfield Soup Kitchen on Meadow Street; the crew meets at 1 pm at the church, transports the meal around 4:15 pm, and begins serving at 5 pm.
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are hosted on Tuesday evenings at 7 pm in Hays Hall and on Saturday mornings from 8 to 9 am. The church also opens its doors to its downtown neighbors through two prayer ministries: a Saturday Morning Prayer on the second Monday of the month from 8:30 to 10:30 am, and Sidewalk Prayer on the third Saturday of the month from 9:00 to 9:30 am, a ministry of welcome and a shared meal with friends in downtown Westfield.
Pastor Luke Callender and the Church's Leaders
Central Baptist is led by Pastor Luke Callender, who joined the church in 2025 with his wife Dominee and their three sons Augustus, Rufus, and Virgil. Luke was born and raised in Texas, where he came to faith in the third grade. He studied music at the University of North Texas, served eight years as a county jail chaplain, and completed an M.Div at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2018. In 2019 he and his family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, to help plant a gospel-preaching church; in 2025 the Lord sent them to Westfield to join Central Baptist. Luke also serves as a campus chaplain at Westfield State University.
Dave Burgess serves as the church's moderator. A professional pilot since 2000, Dave has been part of Central Baptist since marrying his wife Erika in 2006. He has led a weekly Bible study since 2016, teaches at the youth gatherings, and preaches on Sundays throughout the year. Gail Cervonayco serves as the church's administrator.
Two Centuries of Building and City Involvement
The building at the corner of Elm and Church Streets has been a Westfield landmark since 1838, when the meeting house was framed on August 10 of that year and completed on August 29. A larger sanctuary followed in 1868 under Pastor John Jennings, and a Christian Education building was added in 1959. The 1871 split and later setbacks, including a period when a visiting pastor led many members into Mormonism, weakened and tested the congregation, but it repeatedly bounced back.
Central Baptist's footprint on the wider city has been just as long. The organizational meeting of the Westfield YMCA was held at the church in 1888, and the building still hosts community groups today. Over the years the congregation has sponsored Vietnamese and Russian refugee families, sent youth work teams to Bacone College in Oklahoma, hosted Billy Graham Crusade volunteers, partnered with TABCOM camps at Grotonwood and Oceanwood, and maintained a relationship with Westfield State University. Daily Vacation Bible School, the Mother and Daughter banquet, the Men's Palm Sunday breakfast, Boy Scout Troop 102, and youth camperships all began during the long pastorate of Russell Wallace (1951-1971) and continue as beloved traditions.
Giving, Facilities, and the Christian Standard Bible
Giving is offered online through Tithely, and the church frames its teaching on giving around four New Testament words: cheerful, regular, genuine, and sacrificial and generous. The Christian Standard Bible is the translation used in the preaching ministry, chosen for its blend of linguistic precision to the original languages and readable contemporary English.
Both the sanctuary and Hays Hall are available for rental. Inquiries about weddings, funerals, or other events go through the church office at (413) 568-0429 or office.cbcabc@gmail.com.