Robert Henry Baylis

Robert Henry "Bob" Baylis was born October 21, 1924 in Oakland, California, with one elder brother Kenneth (1917-1997). His family contributed significantly to the development and health of assemblies throughout the San Francisco Bay area, that have impacted assemblies, and evangelicals around the world.

Family

Paternal Ancestry

Their father was Harry John Baylis (1892-1968), who served as a respected elder with a burden for home visits, with the Gospel Auditorium assembly of Oakland, where Bob was raised. Harry also served 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. 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 the Ed Deffenbaugh family (Naomi's family).

Maternal Ancestry

Bob's mother was Esther E. Jones (1892-1976) Baylis. In 1890, Esther's parents, David D. Jones (b. 1851 Wales - d. 1931 San Francisco, CA) and Anna L. Snook Jones (1867-1935 California) were involved with the San Francisco assembly by 1890.

David was 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. He then traveled to Evanston, Wyoming where a thousand Chinese were temporarily settled, then to Chicago, Boston, and New York among laundrymen. He was credited in 1886 in a "Christian Union" newspaper, edited by Henry Ward Beecher, for developing Chinese SS's in these various places. He eventually also spent five years working in the Sz Yip district of China as an interpreter for the U.S. government. Upon reaching San Francisco, he married Anna Snook, and they developed a service that assisted government workers and businessmen in correctly spelling Chinese surnames, including a textbook in 1904 that was recently reprinted.

David's son Elmer A. Jones (1887-1973) was commended by area assemblies in 1912 to evangelistic work in China, where he served until 1920, starting assemblies, then laboring in the Lord's work among immigrants in Oakland from 1926 thru 1932, with the founding of a home for Chinese children on 74th Avenue, which included evangelistic outreaches from young men at nearby Bethany Gospel Hall. More on Elmer's life and ministry can be found in Bob's "Brethren by the Bay", available thru Gospel Folio Press.

Education

Bob graduated from Alameda High School in 1942, having served in leadership with the Sword & Shield Society (R.O.T.C. officers), the Swimming team, etc. During a stint working at Emporium Capwell's flagship department store at 20th & Broadway in Oakland, he enlisted into the U.S. Army on April 26, 1943. After the War, he earned a B.A. in English Literature from San Jose State College, which is where he made a personal decision to follow Christ, and he became active with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), including serving as chapter president for a year.

Family

This was also where he met Clara Naomi Deffenbaugh, who was born Oct. 15, 1927, 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 ca. 1709. Naomi was raised in Santa Rosa, CA and Savannah, GA, and she and Bob married June 25, 1949. They was involved with helping found a Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) that year among the Bay area assemblies, which continues to have reunions.

Career

After graduating from college, Bob continued to serve on staff with IVCF for three years in the Great Lakes region of Minnesota, returning to California to pursue graduate studies in Literature at San Francisco State College, and Education at the University of California. In 1955, Bob and Naomi moved to Richmond where they were involved with Grace Chapel, a new assembly plant in that area. In 1959, 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", as his son Jonathan phrases it. These travels extended into Europe, Asia and the Middle East, he was one of the first to lead a tour group into Siberia.

In 1959, Bob, David Searle, David Curran and Hugo Santucci met to discuss and pray about starting an assembly to reach those in the Moraga-Orinda area, and in 1960, with additional help from the families of Vic Namanny, David Pavey, Travers Welch, George Armerding, and Harry Baylis, they elected to cavass neighborhoods, with the first children's meetings held in Bob & Naomi's home in 1961. Bob served as a teaching and preaching elder in this assembly for many years. This church is still active, however rebranded as Willow Springs Church.

Writing

Bob authored six books, including "My People", which is widely regarded as one of the most informative general histories of the Open Brethren in North America, particularly with regard to its impact on wider evangelicalism, with connections with inter-denominational ministries. Another book he authored is "The Brethren by the Bay", a pictorial history of the San Francisco assemblies. Additionally, he wrote commentaries on Romans ("A Letter to Nonconformists") and Ephesians ("Living in God's Household"), and Christian travel guides, "Europe on Purpose", and "Pilgrims' London".

Occupations

Bob taught English at Las Lomas High School, resigning at the age of 50 in the mid-1970's to open Logos Bookstore in Berkeley, and also opening a travel and touring agency. Bob also served on the early Board of Directors in the late 1970's for New College Berkeley.

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 the Village Green senior apartments where they were active in Sonoma Valley Community Church, and it is remembered by his daughter that he continued to teach a Bible study there until he was in his late 80's. On April 11, 2020, Bob died peacefully, survived by two sons and one daughter, Jonathan (Loraine) Baylis, Kenneth (Tania) and Janet (James) Herrick, as well as nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, three nephews and a niece.

Also See

• His eldest son, Jonathan, has crafted a tribute page for Bob at Bob's Tribute.
• Ancestry.com