First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church, Fairhope was established in 1908 by a small group of dedicated Baptists who built a church house on property located on St. James Street, which belonged to the St. James Episcopal Church and now owned by Theatre 98. There was no report to the association the years of 1921-22. But in 1923, the church was reorganized under the l... eadership of Rev. W.J. Peters. Later, around 1924, they moved to the building on the corner of Church Street and Morphy Avenue. Rev. Peters was followed by Rev. O.R. Helms and it was in 1926 that an issue of the Fairhope Courier listed the announcement of church services and the first mention of a Wednesday Evening Service. The group of believers expanded their vision when, in 1956 they sold the property on the corner of Church and Morphy and purchased the property at 300 South Section Street. The present North Building was constructed and a Sanctuary containing Education Space and a fellowship hall and was dedicated in August of 1956. In 1959 the church called Dr. H.B. Shepherd as Pastor. On September 24, 1961 a significant outreach ministry was begun by broadcasting the Morning Worship Service each Sunday over Fairhope's Radio Station, WABF. In March of 1963 the church family moved into the present South Building containing a much larger fellowship Hall and significant Education Space. Also in 1963 First Baptist Church sponsored Fairhope Avenue Baptist Mission and built the first unit. This mission was constituted into a church in October 1967. Mr. Raymond Powell was called as First Baptist's first Minister of Music in 1963. Expansion continued and in 1965 the church purchased three lots and three houses on the southwest corner of the block. The houses were removed and that area was converted into a parking lot. A continued vision of outreach was prevalent as the church assumed sponsorship of the Point Clear Baptist Mission (now, First Baptist Church of Point Clear) in 1971 with Rev. V.D. Raines as Pastor. This mission became an autonomous church in January of ...Read More