| |
Thursday, September 12, 2024
|
|
 |
 |
| |
| “…the then latest comers out
of slavery and oppression found hope to organize a visible New Testament
Church that would be among them and their future as “A pillar
of cloud by day to guide them and by night a pillar of fire to give
light” for the rugged way before them. The faith of the early
beginners of their work has been rewarded many times over” |
| Pastor Mack Brown on the occasion of the
125th Anniversary in 1978 |
| |
|
|
|
The First Baptist Church
was originally established by Reverend William Troy of Virginia.
Rev. Troy began with small prayer meetings in 1853. In May 24,
1858 the cornerstone of the original church was laid at McDougall
Street and what used to be London street (now University). The
women of the congregation carried water from the river to form
the bricks.
The cornerstone of the current church was laid on May 24, 1915
and in October of 1915 the congregation marched from the former
location on McDougall to its’ current location at 710 Mercer
Street at Tuscarora. In |
|
| Interior
of First Baptist Church at 710 Mercer St. features pews and pulpit
from 1915 - Photo Courtesy of the Windsor Star 15/04/1972 |
|
1945 the church
claimed approximately eighty members. The church members celebrated
paying of the mortgage
in 1959. By 1978 the membership had risen to about 250. Also
in 1978 members of the congregation re-enacted the historic march
from the original location to Mercer Street. |
|
| |
The First Baptist Church has been the home
base for many important community groups. Charitable groups organized
by the church include; the Women’s Missionary Circle, the Helping
Hands Society, the Love and Service Group and the Evelyn Parker Community
Friendship Group.
(The following lists were compiled from information collected by church
historians Deacon James L. Hyatt, Mrs. Eunice B Kersey, Mrs. Gladys
VanDyke, Mrs Frieda Parker Steele and Mr. Howard Tolson) |
| |
| Early Pastors of First Baptist Church: |
| |
|
|
1853 |
|
Rev. William Troy |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Approx
1870-1902 |
|
Reverends Bonner, Rickman, Binga, Larter, Davis, I. W.W.
Brown,
Gibbs, Faulkner, Redd, T.G. Johnson, T. J. Henderson, M.
Browning |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
1902 -1914 |
|
Rev. R. L. Bradley and Rev. E. E. Thompson |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1915 |
|
Rev Wells |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oct. 1922 |
|
Rev. H.L.Talbot |
| |
|
|
|
| |
1925 - 1933 |
|
Rev. H. L. McNeil, Rev A.R.James, Rev. A. Randall continues |
| |
|
|
|
| |
1934 |
|
Rev H.L. Talbot |
| |
|
|
|
| |
1938 |
|
Rev. C. L. Wells |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1945 |
|
Rev. Mack Brown |
|
| |
| Early Members of First Baptist
Church Congregation: |
| |
|
|
John Jones
R.Baker
C.G. Stewart
Jas. Nall
C.S. Hardiman
John Craig
A.M. Johnson
Albert Wells
I .C.Parker
J.W. Providence
Edward Levi |
|
Jas. L Hyatt
John Simms
Art McDowell
Elvia Banks
Dolly Washington
Lizzie Monroe
Emily Levi
Emma Ware
Annie Steward
Eloise Taylor |
|
| |
| Back to previous page |
| |
