Our
heritage began in 1804 when Rev. Andrew Brown, a Presbyterian
Minister came as a missionary to this area and served for the
next 16 years.
His followers met in homes to worship until John Oliver
Green gave 7 acres of land to build a meeting place. This church was called
the Westminster Presbyterian Church and from this, the town of
Westminster received its name. Because of the close
proximity to the Richland Presbyterian Church and the need of
a church in the Retreat section, the Westminster Church became
known as the Retreat Presbyterian Church.
We
have no record as to how the 7 acres of land and log house
were turned over to the Baptists, however, in 1831, a Baptist
church was organized.
Rev. James R. Smith was the first Pastor. The first mention of
deacons being selected was in 1850. In the year 1862, we
have the first recorded offering for a Pastor. The amount of $15.30
was received and used by Rev. H. M. Barton to go to Virginia
to preach to the soldiers during the War Between the
States.
In
April of 1863, the Sunday School was organized. We had a large number
of members withdraw to organize the Westminster Baptist
church. Immediately our church became known as the “old”
church. This name
remained until 1908 when, during a Saturday night business
conference, Mrs. J. A. Watkins asked that the name First
Baptist replace the words Old Westminster Church.
In
1925, Rev. M. J. Stansell became Pastor and soon the church
was full time and a home was purchased on Hampton Street. Rev. Stansell led in
an era of progress.
A new brick sanctuary and Sunday School rooms were
built in 1949 and soon after, a new Parsonage. During his leadership,
we grew from 200 to 700 members with an average attendance
exceeding 300.
Rev. Ralph Cowan served from 1958 – 1965 and under his
leadership, a new educational building was erected. Also during that time,
renovations were made to the sanctuary and a new front
structure, vestibule and steeple were added.
Rev. T. Alfred Woolbright served from 1966 – 1973. The church saw more
than 400 additions to its membership during his
ministry.
Dr. Stewart B. Simms, Jr. began his ministry in
1974. Under his
leadership, the Knox & Adams property, 27 acres adjacent
to the church was purchased. In 1975, Rev. M. J.
Stansell was honored on the 50th anniversary of his
call to the church as Pastor Emeritus. In 1978, Rev. John B.
Compton, Jr. answered the call to First Baptist where he
served until his retirement in 1996. During Rev. Comptons
leadership, the fellowship hall was built in 1982. The sanctuary was
refurbished in 1992 and a larger kitchen added to the
fellowship hall.
On
October 26, 1997, a Commissioning Service was held for Pastor
Mark Ford. Much
improvement has been made to the buildings, Parsonage and
landscaping of the grounds. Programs have begun
for all age groups and more than 120 members have been
added.
With the growth that is being experienced, in May 1999,
the church body entered into agreement with the Trehel
Corporation to provide studies, master planning, &
drawings for facilities that are required for further
growth
On May 15,
2005, Rev. M. Craig Canton was called as our pastor and began his ministry with us on June 15. On July
24 of that year, the church made a Shepherd's Covenant together as pastor & people.
We look forward to many wonderful years of worshipping,
walking, working, and witnessing together.
Under Pastor
Canton's leadership, the church has experienced an exciting
addition of many members. In his first year of ministry alone,
there were more baptisms than in the previous 37 years of the
church's history. The growth has required an expansion of the
church's ministry organization. For the first time ever, the
church is led by three full-time staff members.
On July 8,
2007, the church voted to reenter a partnership with the
Trehel Corporation to compose plans for a new Multi-Purpose
Facility and/or the expansion of the current sanctuary.
