History

The Beginning of First Baptist Church
1839-1897

First Baptist Church was organized on Sunday, April 7, 1839, as 11 Baptists in the small town of Memphis gathered together for worship. They had met on two previous occasions: April 3, in the home of Spencer Hall, for the purpose of constituting themselves into a church; and April 4, to sign the articles of faith. One of the first acts of the church on that Sunday was to baptize Mary Mosby as a new member, and the church elected its first deacons, Spencer Hall and F. Carpenter. Rev. L.H. Milliken served as the first pastor. [It is interesting to note that of the first 11 members, 6 were women, beginning a tradition of service by women in ministry, a tradition that culminated in 2001 when Rev. Carol McCall Richardson, who had attended First Baptist Church from birth, was called to be the church's associate pastor.]

First Baptist Church of Memphis held its first meeting in the  Mageveney Schoolhouse located on Court Square.

Like many of the early churches in Memphis, the church's members met in the schoolhouse of Eugene Magevney in Court Square during its first few years—an example of the ecumenism the church would practice throughout its history by fellowshipping with believers of other denominational backgrounds whose common purpose was to preach the Gospel to all who would hear it.

An early newspaper description of the church stated: “The Baptists as yet have no church, but hold their meetings in the Town Hall. They are increasing, we understand, and will doubtless soon become conspicuous in the community of religious bodies” (The American Eagle, August 12, 1842). Three years after that, the church purchased its first property at the northeast corner of Second Street and Adams Avenue, worshipping in a small house on the property until its building was completed and the first service held on January 10, 1847.

The First Baptist Church of Memphis rebuilt 1886-1887.

The church continued to grow in membership and influence but would soon face its first test as war split the American people. The city fell following the Battle of Memphis in June 1862, and the church's building served as a gangrene hospital for the Union Army and was badly damaged. The pastor, Dr. S.H. Ford, left the city due to the political climate, planning to return when the civilauthorities would allow him to do so, with the understanding that he would resume his pastorate. The membership, without a pastor and without a building in which to worship, dwindled to a small handful. The church eventually stabilized, called Dr. A.B. Miller as pastor, and the members began to rebuild and renovate the facilities with the help of an $8,000 government grant. By 1865, Dr. Ford was allowed by the authorities to return to the city, and there was a split between those members loyal to Dr. Ford and those loyal to Dr. Miller. The split—the first of two recorded in the church's history—led to the organization of the Central Baptist Church with 49 members and a donation of $10,000 from First Baptist Church, and the remaining members of the Beale Street Baptist Church, whose building was burned during the war. This was the first of many churches First Baptist would help establish throughout its history, some of which still minister to the city. Barely a decade after the end of the Civil War, the church would again be tested as the city was laid siege to by the yellow fever epidemics of 1873, 1878 and 1879. The church's members either moved away to escape the virus or they succumbed to yellow fever, which claimed the lives of many including at least one pastor, Dr. D.E. Burns. By 1886, the church had recovered sufficiently and grown in membership that it was necessary to renovate and enlarge the existing building. The new facilities were dedicated in December 1887 and would serve the church until 1906 when the property was purchased by the Shelby County Courthouse Commission as the future site for the new courthouse.