Robert Henry Baylis

Robert Henry (‘Bob’) Baylis was born on 21 October 1924 in Oakland, California. Bob followed in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents as pioneers in making significant contributions to the development and health of assemblies throughout the San Francisco Bay area.

Family

Paternal Ancestry

Their father was Harry John Baylis (1892-1968), who served as a respected elder, with a burden for home visitation, with the Gospel Auditorium assembly of Oakland, and also with the Open Door Mission.

Harry's parents were John "Jack" Baylis (1867-1948) and Ellen, both born in England, emigrating in 1887, landing in Oakland in 1896, where he founded a lighting fixture company, later employing his children. In fact, Harry gave special "illuminated" Gospel lessons at various children's initiatives in Bob's childhood.

Jack was saved in 1888 while staying with Will Roberts at Montgomery's Hotel, which was, starting in 1887, the first open brethren assembly in San Francisco, started by evangelists Ross & Goodfellow. Montgomery is credited with introducing Harry Ironside to the Brethren, in 1896.

Jack's friend Will was involved in the founding of a Sunday School in 1902 where Harry attended as a teenager, which became Alameda Gospel Hall, now Chapel. Bob attended SS here in his childhood, alongside Gospel Auditorium. Jack and his wife ministered regularly at the Healdsburg assembly at the "Rose Ranch" north of San Francisco in the 1920's-1940's, as did Naomi's family.

Maternal Ancestry

Bob's mother was Esther E. Jones (1892-1976) Baylis. In 1890, Esther's parents, David D. Jones (1851-1931) and Anna L. Snook Jones (1867-1935) joined the San Francisco assembly in 1890.

David was born in Wales, and converted while in Bristol, England, and emigrated in 1873, initially to Pittsburgh where he developed a burden for the Chinese while teaching a Baptist Sunday School in nearby Beaver Falls. David then ministered two years among a thousand Chinese in Wyoming, then Chicago, Boston, and New York among Chinese laundrymen by 1886, according to "The Christian Union" ed. by Henry Ward Beecher. David also spent five years in China as an interpreter. Upon reaching San Francisco, he married Anna Snook, and they developed a company assisting government workers in correctly spelling Chinese surnames, authoring a textbook in 1904.

Elmer A. Jones (1887-1973) (Bob's uncle) was also commended by area assemblies 1912-1920 to evangelistic work in China, then founding a Chinese children's home on 74th Avenue in Oakland 1926-1932.

Education

Bob graduated from Alameda High School in 1942, having served in leadership with the Sword & Shield Society (Reserve Officers Training Corp), the Swimming team, etc. While employed at While employed at H. P. Capwell’s flagship department store, The Emporium, at 20th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland, he enlisted into the U.S. Army on 26 April 1943, and served during the Second World War.

In 1946, prior to entering San José State College where he would earn his B.A. in English Literature, he attended an evening service at the Gospel Auditorium in Oakland at the request of his parents. An elder, Dr Tom Parks, stopped Bob afterwards and asked if he wouldn’t like to begin college as a Christian. Bob made a split-second affirmative decision, and together they went to the front of the auditorium where Bob gave his life to the Lord.

While at San José State, he was introduced to the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) and served as chapter president for a year. It was through the IVCF that he met Clara Naomi Deffenbaugh, who had been born 15 October 1927, and raised in Santa Rosa, California, and Savannah, Georgia, and was studying education at the University of California, Berkeley. Bob and Naomi were involved with helping found Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) in 1949 among Bay area assemblies. They were also married that year on June 25th.

After graduating from college, Bob continued to serve on staff with IVCF for three years in the Great Lakes region of Minnesota, returning home for grad studies in Literature and Education at San Francisco State, and the University of California.

Family

Clara Naomi Deffenbaugh was born Oct. 15, 1927, was the daughter of Edward R. (b. 1887 PA - d. 1985 CA) & Hilda M. Lawrence (b. 1890 ME - d. 1947 CA) Deffenbaugh. Naomi's mother was of Scottish heritage, and her father's ancestry had settled Pennsylvania from Germany in 1709. Naomi was raised in Santa Rosa, CA and Savannah, GA, and she and Bob married June 25, 1949. They were also involved helping found Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) that year among area assemblies.

In 1955, Bob and Naomi moved to Richmond where they were involved with newly planted Grace Chapel. Naomi taught grade-school for many years in various locations where they lived.

Travel

In 1958, Bob attended an "Experiment in International Living" trip to Europe, which inspired regular opportunities subsequently to organize and lead groups of university students and alumni on "international journeys designed to infuse travel with the deep meaning of the Christian faith", according to his son Jonathan. They traveled throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Church Plant

In 1960, Bob and Naomi and a few other families started Valley Church of Moraga with initial children's meetings held in the Baylis home. Bob served as a teaching and preaching elder for many years there, the church has been rebranded as Willow Spring Church.

Writing

He was the author of six books, including My People (1995), the first general history of the Open Brethren in North America, with special regard to its impact on wider evangelicalism.  Dr. Ross McLaren reviewed the book for Brethren Archivists and Historians Network Review in 1995 which can be found here. The volume is available at Gospel Folio Press here.

He also authored The Brethren by the Bay in 2006, a pictorial history of the San Francisco assemblies. A review for this volume, written by Neil Summerton, is available here, and the book may be obtained also at Gospel Folio Press, here.

Additionally, he wrote Bible study guides on Romans (A Letter to Nonconformists) and Ephesians (Living in God’s Household), and Christian travel guides, Europe on Purpose, and Pilgrims’ London, all of which can readily be found on Amazon, including Kindle versions for the Bible study guides.

Occupations

He taught English at Las Lomas High School until the mid-1970's when he opened Logos, a Christian bookstore, as well as a tour and travel agency, on the northwest corner of Telegraph and Channing Way in Berkeley.

He also served on the early Board of Directors in the late 1970's for New College Berkeley, founded by David Gill, Earl Palmer, Ward Gasque, Don Tinder, etc.

Hobbies

Bob was an accomplished graphic artist, including silk screening (producing (and mailing 400+) original Christmas cards for friends), detailed metal etchings, drawings using pen and ink, charcoal and pencil. He was also an avid photographer, and well-known for a contagious love of books.

Later Years

In 1996, Bob and Naomi retired to senior apartments in Sonoma where he taught a Bible study until he was nearly 90. They were also in fellowship with Sonoma Valley Community Church. Naomi was promoted to Glory on February 7, 2016, and Bob followed her Home on April 11, 2020. They are survived by two sons and one daughter, Jonathan (Lorraine) Baylis, Kenneth (Tania) and Janet (James) Herrick, as well as nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, three nephews and a niece.

Also See

• Andrew Baylis, one of Bob's grandsons, has crafted a tribute page for Bob here.
• Ancestry.com