Upper Alton Baptist Church & Preschool

Our address is 2726 College Avenue in Alton, Illinois. We have an entrance from College Avenue & another from Seminary Street. There are also 2 buildings. The larger building in the front (closer to College Avenue) is the Sanctuary building. The smaller building in the back (closer to the playground) is called Peck Hall, and it houses the Preschool, fellowship hall, & offices.

The maps below show available parking. During weekdays, parking is limited to "the lower lot." During weekends & evenings the "the upper lot" is also available for parking, courtesy of the offices next door. The driveway that runs by both buildings can be used for drop-offs & pick-ups, but not for parking. Please note that the Dental School's parking lots are not available to us.

@10:00am Our Hospitality Bar opens with coffee, water, & some yummy treats. You can hang out in the "internet cafe" or find a seat in the sanctuary. @10:30am When the announcement countdown video ends the worship service begins--usually with our first song. (Kids preK - 6th grade, who will go to the kids' E.D.G.e begin with their adults in the sanctuary.) around 11:30am The service concludes, the Hospitality Bar reopens briefly while many stick around to chat in the sanctuary, the internet cafe, or the front porch.

Our music is led by a worship band--most often 2 guitars, a bass, piano, drums, & a few vocalists. A typical Sunday lineup represents our intergenerational congregation--1 song that's really new (or at least new for us), a couple other modern worship songs, and a hymn. Most of our songs are sing-alongs, though a special song may be performed more for reflection from time to time. You can watch samples of our most recent services or check out our playlist for upcoming Sundays.

You can find our belief statement . We are associated with the American Baptist Churches, USA denomination and the Great Rivers Region.

Until they are 3-years-old & potty-trained, we have nursery care available during worship. Preschoolers through 6th-graders will probably enjoy the kids' E.D.G.e (children's church). They will begin the worship time with their adult(s), then--usually after the opening song & prayer--they can meet their E.D.G.e Guide at the back of sanctuary. Sometimes these students will rejoin their adult(s) during the final song, or other times they will still be finishing up when the service concludes.

You'll see t-shirts, ripped jeans, & shorts, you might see a suit coat or a dress, and you'll see everything in between. We're glad to see each other more than what we're wearing, and we think Jesus feels the same way. Our Sunday mornings have a relaxed and informal atmosphere.