First Baptist Church

On May 17, 1889, a presbytery consisting of Elders William Robert Gwaltney, James Brantley Richardson, Jesse Lewis Smith, and Joseph Daniel Hackney met in the Thompson School Academy to consider organizing a Missionary Baptist Church. The presbytery elected The Reverend Richardson, Moderator, and The Reverend Hackney, Secretary. Duncan Lane Webster, John Jesse Crutchfield, Adolphus Crabtree Jordan, William Lane Hudson, William Alexander Teague, Daniel P. Beal, David Reid Sears and wife Emma Womble Sears, and A. W. Wilson and wife Patty, presented letters indicating their desire to join the organization. Articles of Faith were adopted. The presbytery then extended the right hand of fellowship. This was the beginning of the ministry of the First Baptist Church of Siler City, North Carolina.

Two days later, the church called the Reverend J. B. Richardson to serve part-time as its pastor and elected A. C. Jordan to serve as Treasurer. D. R. Sears, W. A. Teague, W. L. Hudson, G. W. Womble, and J. J. Crutchfield were elected Trustees. On August 18, 1889, rules and regulations were adopted and a letter of petition for admission into the Sandy Creek Association was prepared. Siler City First Baptist Church was received as a newly constituted church on October 3, 1889.

As early as August 19, 1889, a building committee was confronted with the task of building a house of worship. In November of that year, some framing lumber and logs were secured for the building. Yet it was not until January 1890 that enough material was acquired and work began. Four years later the first church was completed. On the fourth Sunday in January, 1890, the Sunday School was organized.

In May 1907 an annex, consisting of two rooms and a baptistery, was added to the building. The search for a residence for the pastor began on May 4, 1911. This search led to the purchase of a house and two lots on August 31, 1911. In October 1927 the church launched plans for a more adequate facility. On January 1, 1928 the church voted to call The Reverend J. B. Richardson to serve the church on a full-time a basis. Construction of the new church building began April 20, 1928 and was completed two years later. On July 13, 1930, the congregation met at the old church and marched to the new church for its first service. This historic procession was led by the Reverend J. C. Canipe.

Church Sanctuary 1930

Church Parsonage 1911 - 1951

On March 27, 1944, with its financial indebtedness paid in full, the church building was dedicated. A new parsonage was built in 1952. Later in 1959 it was converted into a church annex with space for the church library, administrative offices, and a few additional Sunday School rooms.

A third major building program began on June 2, 1963, with the erection of an educational building and an extensive program of expansion and remodeling of the church building. This was completed in February 1965. In 1975 the church renovated the fellowship hall; in 1979 it purchased a fifteen-passenger van; built a covered driveway entrance in 1981; and renovated the church administrative offices in 1985.

In 1989 the church celebrated one-hundred years of love and dedication to the Lord.

In June 1992, The Reverend C. R. Smith Jr. retired as pastor; and the church called The Reverend Brian William Reynolds to serve as our minister from July 1, 1992 until the Summer of 1999. Interim Pastor J. R. Bouldin served the church until our current pastor, The Reverend Jim Wall was called in March 2000.

After twenty-nine years of service, Mrs. Nancy Clapp Oldham retired May 24, 1996 as Administrative Assistant to the Pastor. Mrs. Ann Faircloth Fulton was elected Church Secretary in May 1996. In October 1997, Mrs. Geraldine Williams Snider was employed as a part-time Bookkeeper to handle the recording and reporting of the church finances. J. Earle Reeves retired in August, 1989 as Minister of Music. Mrs. Barbara Marley filled that position from September 1989 through December 31, 1993. Tony Carson was the Minister of Music from February 1994 through December 31, 1996. Mrs. Dawn Umberger Allred served as interim Minister of Music until May 24, 1997 when she was elected Church Organist. The Reverend Dave R. Pierceall was elected Minister of Music and Special Ministries on May 24, 1997.

Randy Hemphill served as Youth Director from the Summer of 1993 through the Summer of 1995. Then Mrs. Cathy Cain served as Youth Director until the Summer of 1996. Youth Activities are now under the direction of The Reverend Dave R. Pierceall. After the death of Max Womble in 1997, Wade Holder was elected Church Custodian. He began work on August 1, 1997.

A Brotherhood organization was formed in January 1993 with a membership of approximately twenty-five. Leaders of this organization have been Chris Carter and Bob Patrick. Bob Patrick is the current leader. The Reid Webster Baptist Men's Breakfast, under leadership of Ernie McLawhorn and Lewis S. Phillips, Jr., is still being held each third Sunday morning.

The Church budget grew from 153,321.00 in 1988 to 230,275.00 in 1998. Since, 1992, church offerings have exceeded the budget. Due to this, many repair and replacement projects have been completed. The active church enrollment in 1988 was 462, and in 1998 it is 426. Sixty-five church members have been called home by the Lord since 1989.

During the last nine years the average Sunday School enrollment has been 285, with the average attendance 178. The Rachel Alldred Class is the largest class with over sixty members. For the past thirty-three years this class have been taught by Professor Rachel Hall Alldred. Since 1989, Sunday School Superintendents have been Mrs. Diane Bowers Whitehead, Ronnie Brookbanks and Charles Marsh.

There are six women's mission groups in our church with a total enrollment of 80 members. Since 1988, the Women's Mission Union leaders have been Ms. Sylvia Burns, Mrs. Judy Weaver Morris, and Mrs. Diane Bowers Whitehead. Its current Director and President is Mrs. Mildred Hussey Brewer. Our Church has a Deacon Board of eighteen members. Since 1988, board chairmen have been Dalton Marsh, Tommy Emerson, Jack Moody, Bob Patricks and Earl Fitts.

Our Media Library ministry is a growing part of our church. It started with a handful of books in the Pastor's Study. Today our Christian value-driven collection has nearly reached two thousand books and other media resources. The Library is being refurbished to include a parlor-reading area and a children's area. Librarians:Mrs. James T. (Mae Mashburn) Lane 1961-1983; Mrs. Thomas (Ruth Thames) Andrews 1983-1997 and Mrs. Eugene T. ("Joy" Shirl Shupe-Johnson) Turpin 1997 to Present.

Now in our 111^th year, we praise and thank God for our many blessings and the dedicated service of our church leaders. We thank God for the spiritual guidance of our caring, sincere, loving pastor, The Reverend Jim Wall.

OUR PASTORS

The Reverend James Brantley Richardson-May 1889 to Dec. 1890

The Reverend William Thomas Jones-1893 to Apr. 1893

The Reverend Charles James Fox Anderson-Feb. 1893 to Apr. 1893, Jan. 1894 to Dec. 1894

The Reverend William Alonzo Smith-May 1893 to Dec. 1893

The Reverend K. C. Horner-1895 to 1899

The Reverend Gilbert Lafayette Finch-1899 to 1901

The Reverend Charles Alexander Gard Thomas-1901-1902

The Reverend Robert Daniel Haymore-1902-1903

The Reverend George J. Dowell-1903 to 1907

The Reverend Robert Hughes Herring-1907 to 1909

The Reverend James Romulus Edwards-1909 to 1910

The Reverend Berder Townsend-1910 to 1914

The Reverend George E. Spruill-1914 to 1917

The Reverend Albert Thomas Howell, Sr. 1917 to 1918

The Reverend William Otis Johnson-1918 to 1921

The Reverend Richard Speight Fountain-1921 to 1926

The Reverend John Clifton Canipe-1927 to 1935

The Reverend James Louis Price-1935 to 1941

The Reverend Carl Lee Ousley-1941 to 1948

The Reverend William L. Lynch-1948 to 1955

The Reverend Robert Ernst Poerschke-1956 to 1960

The Reverend Richard J. Thornton-1960 to 1962

The Reverend Casper R. Smith-1962 to 1992

The Reverend Brian W. Reynolds-1992 to 1999

Interim Pastor J.R. Bouldin-1999-2000

The Reverend Jim Wall-2000 to 2008

Church Historian-Murray Andrew

The Heritage Room

This special room contains a collection of memorabilia from our past and is located behind the sanctuary and near the north entrance of the church. The Heritage Room is open for viewing on Sunday mornings. Some of the items in the room include pictures of our church being constructed, a bible used in the old church, a 1944 church bulletin, old hymnals and offering plate newspaper articles and100th Anniversary memorabilia.

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