HISTORY OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

Arvord M. Abernethy

The First Baptist Church was organized in 1873. Rev. D. S. Babb, an early Baptist missionary, had been preaching in the county for some time under the mission work of Leon River Baptist Association. In 1873, he, along with Reverends E. E. Sellers and R. S. Underwood, held a revival in Hamilton and three people were converted. As there was not a Baptist church in town, they were baptized into the Leon Baptist Church which was about seven miles northeast.

The church was organized soon after this time. Captain A. H. Watson taught school in a small box plank building that was located at approximately 505 E. Henry. This was a meeting place for the early Baptists. Among the charter members in addition to the Watsons were Mrs. Elizabeth Rice, Col., C. R. Freeman, W. B. West, S. C. Messer, and J. P. Murphree.

Rev. Dave White was probably the first pastor. The church joined the Leon River Baptist Association in 1974, and the 1875 minutes show a total of 18 members.

The early days were struggling days for the young church. About 1880, a fine revival was held by Major Penn, which strengthened the church, and at approximately this time, they began meeting in the courthouse.

Later they began worshiping in the Presbyterian Church, as neither church had services every Sunday.

Under the efforts of Capt. Watson and Col. Freeman, the present church property was deeded to the church in 1896. Soon afterwards a native stone building was erected and served as a place of worship until it was destroyed by fire in 1923. Under Rev. Clarence Morton’s successful ministry, the brick building that was recently destroyed by fire was erected in 1924.

The pipe organ was a gift of George M. Carlton. Among the early pastors in addition to Rev. Dave White were: Reverends J. A. Land, N. J. Ethridge, P. O’Keef, W. L. Carswell, W. A. Garrett, Noland White, Wharton, Pinkney Hawkins, and Neill Grier. At the turn of the century, the church was pastorless and showed a total membership of 97.

By 1905, under the leadership of Rev. J. M. Joiner, the membership had grown to 168.

Other pastors following Rev. Clarence Morton were: Reverends R. E. Bass, Vernon Shaw, Buford Nichols, Judson Prince, T. Lynn Stewart, M. R. Hancock. R. C. Tennison, Ralph Wooton, Charles N. Gilbert, Douglas Brown, Ray Burchette, Mac Hargrove, Larry Baker, and our present pastor, Rev. George H. Gaston.

Other activities of interest to our church were the building of Sunday School rooms in 1939, and the starting of the library in 1940. The Calvary Mission was started in 1952, and it has since become a church. The Atkinson Hotel property was purchased in 1954, and used for Sunday School rooms until our present annex was built in 1961.

Under the fine leadership of our pastor, Bro. George H. Gaston, and through the sacrificial giving and efforts of our people, we now have this fine house of God in which to worship. May it be a fitting tribute to those who have labored before us and a lighthouse to future generations.

Dedication Day bulletin. Sept. 10. 1971