First Baptist Church (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
First Baptist Church is a historic baptist, formerly Southern Baptist, church located in downtown Raleigh
, North Carolina. The church was the first Baptist church in the city of Raleigh and is one of the oldest churches in the city. The church is located on Salisbury Street.
, there were twenty-three charter members; nine whites and fourteen blacks. In 1868 there was a peaceful separation of the two groups when the newly emancipated members established their own congregation.
Using the Bible as its sole guide for faith and practice, the first statement of beliefs of the church in 1812 consisted only of selected passages of scripture. Worship services and styles were in keeping with the customs of the culture at the time. Reverend Robert Daniel was the first pastor, and the first meeting-house was constructed in 1816 on South Person Street when Reverend Josiah Crudup was the pastor.
Reverend Thomas Crocker became pastor of the church in 1821 and baptized Lucinda Briggs in 1822, reportedly by breaking ice in the river during the midst of winter. The membership grew to a total of 224 in 1826. A new building was completed and dedicated in 1840 on the site where First Baptist Church, Wilmington Street, is now located. Thomas Meredith, editor of the Biblical Recorder
and a member of the church, was the dedication speaker. The first president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
was Reverend Patrick W. Dowd, a pastor of the church.
The church suffered internal difficulties in the 1830s and nearly died, but the faithfulness of a few members preserved the church, and in the 1850s, the congregation experienced rapid growth and renewed vitality under the leadership of Reverend Thomas E. Skinner, who led the church to construct the present sanctuary in 1859. The lower level of the building was used as a Confederate
hospital during the American Civil War
.
The congregation has produced some of the most influential leaders in Baptist life, such as Fannie E.S. Heck who was instrumental in the formation of the first missions organization for women in North Carolina, and the national Woman’s Missionary Union, auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention
. Women have served as deacons at First Baptist since 1874 and the policy now requires an equal number of women and men serving on the diaconate.
Pastors of the church have often been biblical scholars who served as professors or presidents of colleges, and seminaries sometime during their career. Meredith College
was stated by First Baptist Church.
Today First Baptist has over 1,400 members, an annual budget of $1.5 million, the city’s largest free-clothing center, an AIDS ministry, two weekday preschool programs, a Japanese ministry, and a wide variety of educational programs for every age group.
On September 23, 1998, First Baptist approved a Resolution on Identity which declared their separation from the Southern Baptist Convention
. They currently find their principal mission avenues to be the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina. The church was the first Baptist church in the city of Raleigh and is one of the oldest churches in the city. The church is located on Salisbury Street.
Church history
WThe Baptist church in Raleigh, North Carolina was organized in 1812 on the second floor of the original state Capitol buildingNorth Carolina State Capitol
The North Carolina State Capitol is the main house of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Housing the offices of the Governor of North Carolina, it is located in the state capital of Raleigh on Union Square at One East Edenton Street. The cornerstone of the Greek Revival building was...
, there were twenty-three charter members; nine whites and fourteen blacks. In 1868 there was a peaceful separation of the two groups when the newly emancipated members established their own congregation.
Using the Bible as its sole guide for faith and practice, the first statement of beliefs of the church in 1812 consisted only of selected passages of scripture. Worship services and styles were in keeping with the customs of the culture at the time. Reverend Robert Daniel was the first pastor, and the first meeting-house was constructed in 1816 on South Person Street when Reverend Josiah Crudup was the pastor.
Reverend Thomas Crocker became pastor of the church in 1821 and baptized Lucinda Briggs in 1822, reportedly by breaking ice in the river during the midst of winter. The membership grew to a total of 224 in 1826. A new building was completed and dedicated in 1840 on the site where First Baptist Church, Wilmington Street, is now located. Thomas Meredith, editor of the Biblical Recorder
Biblical Recorder
The Biblical Recorder is a weekly newspaper published by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina .-Early history:The newspaper was founded in 1835 by Thomas Meredith, a prominent Southern Baptist leader in North Carolina....
and a member of the church, was the dedication speaker. The first president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
North Carolina Baptist Assembly
The North Carolina Baptist Assembly is a Christian retreat owned and operated by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, the state's largest denomination. The grounds of the retreat, on the eastern end of Oak Island, is the former site of Fort Caswell, a military base that was occupied by...
was Reverend Patrick W. Dowd, a pastor of the church.
The church suffered internal difficulties in the 1830s and nearly died, but the faithfulness of a few members preserved the church, and in the 1850s, the congregation experienced rapid growth and renewed vitality under the leadership of Reverend Thomas E. Skinner, who led the church to construct the present sanctuary in 1859. The lower level of the building was used as a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
hospital during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
The congregation has produced some of the most influential leaders in Baptist life, such as Fannie E.S. Heck who was instrumental in the formation of the first missions organization for women in North Carolina, and the national Woman’s Missionary Union, auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. Women have served as deacons at First Baptist since 1874 and the policy now requires an equal number of women and men serving on the diaconate.
Pastors of the church have often been biblical scholars who served as professors or presidents of colleges, and seminaries sometime during their career. Meredith College
Meredith College
Meredith College is a liberal arts women's college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the 2010-2011 academic year, there were approximately 2,300 students enrolled, including about 350 graduate students, making Meredith the largest women's college in the southeastern United States...
was stated by First Baptist Church.
Today First Baptist has over 1,400 members, an annual budget of $1.5 million, the city’s largest free-clothing center, an AIDS ministry, two weekday preschool programs, a Japanese ministry, and a wide variety of educational programs for every age group.
On September 23, 1998, First Baptist approved a Resolution on Identity which declared their separation from the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. They currently find their principal mission avenues to be the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.