History:
The 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 Reese, 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 17, 1900, the church was formally dedicated. It was a family affair and the church was packed.
Three years later the parsonage was erected and the total cost of both church and parsonage was $15,000.
The church was originally named the Union 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.