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 First Baptist Church 1888 - Florence, AL Posted by:  Lat34North
N 34° 48.187 W 087° 40.448
16S E 438337 N 3851417
This one sided marker is located next to the church at the intersection of E. Tombigbee St. and N. Wood Ave., Florence, Alabama.
Waymark Code: WMHG09
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 07/07/2013
Views: 2
Marker text:
First Baptist Church 1888
On May 27, 1888, this church was established in the courthouse after a commencement sermon at the State Normal College delivered by the Rev. W. H. Smith. Its initial name was First Missionary Baptist, but in 1910 it became First Baptist. The Florence Land company gave property, and building was erected and occupied in 1890. That building burned in 1909; only the piano, the pulpit Bible, a pulpit chair and the communion service survived. Dedication for the next building occurred in 1910. A new sanctuary was constructed in 1963. First Baptist has always been committed to Missions in the Shoals and around the world.
Erected by Florence Historical Board Florence Alabama.
Marker Name: First Baptist Church 1888
Marker Type: Urban
Addtional Information::
This is an active church.
From there web site at http://www.fbcflorence.com/fbc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=28
First Baptist Church of Florence, Alabama, was organized on May 20, 1888. For more than 122 years First Baptist has served the spiritual needs of Florence.
God has richly blessed the congregations of First Baptist Church over the years. It is our prayer that we will use the beautiful facilities He has given us to help others to know and follow God's will for their lives.
The first church building was built in 1890 at the corner of Tombigbee and Walnut Streets near the heart of downtown Florence. In July 1909 a fire destroyed that original church building.
By November of the same year, the First Baptist congregation held a ground-breaking service for a new church structure on the same site. That second church building still stands and is now used as the First Baptist Church Chapel.
In 1919 a Pastorium was built at 316 East Tombigbee Street, next door to the church building. Beginning in the mid-1950's, the former Pastorium was used as the Church Office building. Educational buildings were added to the church plant in 1920 and 1954.
The present Worship Center (Sanctuary) of First Baptist Church was built in 1963 at the corner of Wood Avenue and Tombigbee Street, across from historic Wilson Park. At the time of its construction, the steeple of First Baptist Church was the tallest structure in the city of Florence. The building also houses the church's Fellowship Hall on its lower level. The Worship Center was remodeled in 1988, and the Fellowship Hall underwent renovation in 1999.
First Baptist Church, while undergoing the 1999 construction, purchased the former Florence/Lauderdale Library property on Wood Avenue next to the FBC Worship Center. The building, referred to as the First Baptist Church Annex, is currently unused as plans are developed for its future use by FBC.
Date Dedicated / Placed: Not listed
Marker Number: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location. Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Alabama history please include that in your log.
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