Our Story
On November 3, 1872, Bamberg Baptist Church was founded. In August 1874, the church's inaugural building was constructed on West Church Street, next to the first Bamberg school building. The congregation's first pastor, Reverend J. F. Buist, began serving during this time. The church's charter members included J. A. J. Rice, J. W. Rice, R. F. Simmons, John J. Simmons, N. Z. Felder, E. M. Cox, Emma R. Buist, Sallie Cox, W. F. Connelly, Elizabeth Connelly, and Thomas Connelly. The establishment of a Sunday School followed in 1873.
Rev. Buist faithfully served as the pastor until 1882. In that year, both Rev. Buist and Rev. Lucius Cuthbert were elected as pastors, and they embarked on a unique arrangement where they jointly served the church. They took turns preaching, alternating their duties, and surprisingly, this arrangement was entirely amicable and harmonious.
By 1875, the church saw a growth in membership, reaching a total of thirty-three individuals. During its early years, the church maintained rigorous discipline, regularly convening conferences to address any shortcomings among its members. In 1875, the church decided to exclude a member from its ranks for alcohol-related behavior, despite giving him a second chance. In a culture of openness and accountability, church members often voluntarily confessed their sins to the congregation, seeking forgiveness and support.
The first baptism occurred on July 14, 1876, and Joseph Hayden and Perry Jordan became church members. In 1881, a church bell was installed, adding to the church's infrastructure. In 1882, the Methodist Church was relocated, and the Baptist congregation generously offered their facilities, which the Methodists gratefully accepted.
In 1884, the church provided spittoons to accommodate tobacco chewers. In 1885, Rev. C. P. Ervin was elected as pastor, receiving a salary of $500 for serving three Sundays each month. Around the same time, it was realized that the existing church facilities were insufficient, prompting the formulation of plans to sell the current building and construct a new edifice.
In 1886, a significant improvement was made by installing a baptistry filled with water manually drawn from an open well. This marked a positive development in the church's facilities and services.
In 1892, Col. T.J. Counts and Dr. J. B. Black were assigned the task of choosing a new building site for the church. They settled on the current location at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Carlisle Street, which was acquired for $505.00. With a steady influx of funds, construction promptly commenced on the new church.
This inaugural brick building, crowned with a tall steeple, was finished and consecrated in 1894. To accommodate visitors, crossties were thoughtfully provided as hitching posts. Simultaneously, the Women's Missionary Society was established in the same year, marking a momentous milestone alongside completing the new church building.
The church debt in 1897 was $1,200.00 and arrangements were made to pay it off. Shortly thereafter, a parsonage was built on the lot south of the church. As there was some difficulty about paying the parsonage mortgage, the building was sold to Dr. M. R. Lewis for $950.00
On November 15, 1889, the church was incorporated, the incorporators being: Rev. W. E. Johnson, C. W. Rentz, T. J. Counts, Dr. J. B. Black, V. J. Hatzog, M. A. Moye, Judge H. F. Rice, J. D. Copeland, Thomas Black, and A. M. Bostick. The same year, the Barnwell Association met with the church for the first time.
An artesian well was completed in 1905 at a cost of $61.00; the church auditorium was equipped with pews to replace the chairs formerly used; electric lights were installed, and a new parsonage was acquired on the corner of North Railroad Avenue and Cannon Street in 1906.
By 1907, the church had a membership of 200, and by 1920 it had grown to 344. By 1923, the membership had increased to 419; the pastor’s salary was $2,400.00 and the church budget was $3,855.00.
It was during Rev. J. B. Caston’s pastorate that the church entered upon a building project to erect the present edifice at a cost of about $100,000.00. The first brick structure was demolished, and the present plant was completed and dedicated in March 1928, and all the church debt was paid in 1937. The building contains 35 rooms, 6 assembly rooms, 28 classrooms, and an auditorium seating 600. A pipe organ was installed at a cost of $6,500.00 and an electrically equipped kitchen. While the present church was being built, services were held in the old grammar school. The cost of the project was enormous at that time. These were “depression days” and many members made great personal sacrifices to help bring the project to completion. Collections were taken every Sunday to ensure the work going on the next week, and so it was continued until the building was completed and only a comparatively small debt remained. The Building Committee consisted of Dr. Robert Black, Chairman; E. R. Cooner, J. Frank Folk, B. D. Carter, and C. W. Rentz, Jr., with W. E. Free serving as Treasurer.
Dr. James P. Wesberry began his ministry in 1933, and under his guidance, the church more than doubled its membership. He resigned to accept the call of the Morningside Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia in 1944.
Dr. James P. Carroll accepted the pastorate in July 1944, and since he has served the church, many improvements have been made in the physical plant. In 1946, the present parsonage was purchased. A new Educational Building was entered on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1958. The Robert Black Fellowship Hall was completed in 1962.
The name of the church was officially changed from “Bamberg Baptist Church” to First Baptist Church” on November 4, 1951.
In her one hundred years of history, the church has had 16 pastors. They are Rev. J. F. Buist, Rev. Lucius Cuthbert, Rev. C. P. Ervin, Rev. W. E. Johnson, Rev. H. M. Fallaw, Re. M. L. Lawson, Rev, J. B. Holley, Rev. A. J. Foster, Rev. O. J. Frier, Rev. W. R. McMillan, Rev. George P. White, Dr. O. Bo. Falls, Dr. J. B. Caston, Dr. W. C. Allen, Dr. James P. Wesberry, and Dr. James P. Carroll.
1975 – Rev. James B Gibson became pastor.
1979 – Rev. Jack Ellenberg became pastor.
1982 – Dr. Dillard Alexander became pastor.
1994 – Dr. Charlie Barnard became pastor.
2000 – Rev. David Pohto became pastor.
2005 – Rev. Tim Futrell became pastor.
2010 – Rev. Charlie Lucas becomes pastor.
2022 – Rev. Brad Hudson becomes pastor.
Rev. Buist faithfully served as the pastor until 1882. In that year, both Rev. Buist and Rev. Lucius Cuthbert were elected as pastors, and they embarked on a unique arrangement where they jointly served the church. They took turns preaching, alternating their duties, and surprisingly, this arrangement was entirely amicable and harmonious.
By 1875, the church saw a growth in membership, reaching a total of thirty-three individuals. During its early years, the church maintained rigorous discipline, regularly convening conferences to address any shortcomings among its members. In 1875, the church decided to exclude a member from its ranks for alcohol-related behavior, despite giving him a second chance. In a culture of openness and accountability, church members often voluntarily confessed their sins to the congregation, seeking forgiveness and support.
The first baptism occurred on July 14, 1876, and Joseph Hayden and Perry Jordan became church members. In 1881, a church bell was installed, adding to the church's infrastructure. In 1882, the Methodist Church was relocated, and the Baptist congregation generously offered their facilities, which the Methodists gratefully accepted.
In 1884, the church provided spittoons to accommodate tobacco chewers. In 1885, Rev. C. P. Ervin was elected as pastor, receiving a salary of $500 for serving three Sundays each month. Around the same time, it was realized that the existing church facilities were insufficient, prompting the formulation of plans to sell the current building and construct a new edifice.
In 1886, a significant improvement was made by installing a baptistry filled with water manually drawn from an open well. This marked a positive development in the church's facilities and services.
In 1892, Col. T.J. Counts and Dr. J. B. Black were assigned the task of choosing a new building site for the church. They settled on the current location at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Carlisle Street, which was acquired for $505.00. With a steady influx of funds, construction promptly commenced on the new church.
This inaugural brick building, crowned with a tall steeple, was finished and consecrated in 1894. To accommodate visitors, crossties were thoughtfully provided as hitching posts. Simultaneously, the Women's Missionary Society was established in the same year, marking a momentous milestone alongside completing the new church building.
The church debt in 1897 was $1,200.00 and arrangements were made to pay it off. Shortly thereafter, a parsonage was built on the lot south of the church. As there was some difficulty about paying the parsonage mortgage, the building was sold to Dr. M. R. Lewis for $950.00
On November 15, 1889, the church was incorporated, the incorporators being: Rev. W. E. Johnson, C. W. Rentz, T. J. Counts, Dr. J. B. Black, V. J. Hatzog, M. A. Moye, Judge H. F. Rice, J. D. Copeland, Thomas Black, and A. M. Bostick. The same year, the Barnwell Association met with the church for the first time.
An artesian well was completed in 1905 at a cost of $61.00; the church auditorium was equipped with pews to replace the chairs formerly used; electric lights were installed, and a new parsonage was acquired on the corner of North Railroad Avenue and Cannon Street in 1906.
By 1907, the church had a membership of 200, and by 1920 it had grown to 344. By 1923, the membership had increased to 419; the pastor’s salary was $2,400.00 and the church budget was $3,855.00.
It was during Rev. J. B. Caston’s pastorate that the church entered upon a building project to erect the present edifice at a cost of about $100,000.00. The first brick structure was demolished, and the present plant was completed and dedicated in March 1928, and all the church debt was paid in 1937. The building contains 35 rooms, 6 assembly rooms, 28 classrooms, and an auditorium seating 600. A pipe organ was installed at a cost of $6,500.00 and an electrically equipped kitchen. While the present church was being built, services were held in the old grammar school. The cost of the project was enormous at that time. These were “depression days” and many members made great personal sacrifices to help bring the project to completion. Collections were taken every Sunday to ensure the work going on the next week, and so it was continued until the building was completed and only a comparatively small debt remained. The Building Committee consisted of Dr. Robert Black, Chairman; E. R. Cooner, J. Frank Folk, B. D. Carter, and C. W. Rentz, Jr., with W. E. Free serving as Treasurer.
Dr. James P. Wesberry began his ministry in 1933, and under his guidance, the church more than doubled its membership. He resigned to accept the call of the Morningside Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia in 1944.
Dr. James P. Carroll accepted the pastorate in July 1944, and since he has served the church, many improvements have been made in the physical plant. In 1946, the present parsonage was purchased. A new Educational Building was entered on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1958. The Robert Black Fellowship Hall was completed in 1962.
The name of the church was officially changed from “Bamberg Baptist Church” to First Baptist Church” on November 4, 1951.
In her one hundred years of history, the church has had 16 pastors. They are Rev. J. F. Buist, Rev. Lucius Cuthbert, Rev. C. P. Ervin, Rev. W. E. Johnson, Rev. H. M. Fallaw, Re. M. L. Lawson, Rev, J. B. Holley, Rev. A. J. Foster, Rev. O. J. Frier, Rev. W. R. McMillan, Rev. George P. White, Dr. O. Bo. Falls, Dr. J. B. Caston, Dr. W. C. Allen, Dr. James P. Wesberry, and Dr. James P. Carroll.
1975 – Rev. James B Gibson became pastor.
1979 – Rev. Jack Ellenberg became pastor.
1982 – Dr. Dillard Alexander became pastor.
1994 – Dr. Charlie Barnard became pastor.
2000 – Rev. David Pohto became pastor.
2005 – Rev. Tim Futrell became pastor.
2010 – Rev. Charlie Lucas becomes pastor.
2022 – Rev. Brad Hudson becomes pastor.
