Morgantown First Baptist Church

About Us

 

October 17th 2010, First Baptist Church celebrated it's 125th Anniversary. Records listed in the Gasper River Association minutes from 1840 show a Missionary Baptist Church at Morgantown with a membership of 18. The same was given for 1841 with the addition of a messenger named Braxton Clark plus a 31 membership for 1842. The meeting place for this group may have been in a home, school, or the courthouse.

 

By 1873, a Union church was built on Ohio Street where Methodist, Cumberland Presbyterians, and Baptists would share the services. M.E. Protestant group conducted the services the first Sunday; Baptist the second; Cumberland Presbyterians; the third; and M.S. (Methodists) South for the fourth Sunday preaching.

 

This arrangement continued for Baptist until January 20, 1885 when 15 charter members met and formed a Missionary Baptist Church led by Dr. R.B. Morehead, a physician, and Elder John Casebrier, Rockport preacher.

 

R.B. Morehead was called as first pastor, and the group started a building on Main Street in 1894 and finally completed it in December in 1897. This location contains the dry cleaners in 2010.  On January 18, 1915, tragedy struck when lightening hit the church and it burned. By June 19, 1916, the church committee had purchased a lot on the corner of Main and Hobson, and the present building was planned, built, and dedicated July 14, 1918. Brother A.B. Gardner was the pastor. 

 

In 1918, the flu epidemic was rampant and after visiting a sick member, Rev. Garnder became ill and died October 9th. His funeral was the first one in the new church. 

 

Today, the church welcomes friends and members to enjoy renewing friendships, to continue spreading the gospel of Christ, and to remain faithful to the church's covenant and words of God.