First Baptist Church of Christ at Macon - Macon, Georgia - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

The historic marker in front of the church gives a brief history:

"This church was founded in 1826 as the city´s first Baptist congregation. It was first located at the site of the present Bibb County Courthouse. The fourth and final move, to this site, occurred in 1883 and the current building was dedicated in 1887. The church was instrumental in the formation of several local congregations including Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church. In 1903 the congregation funded construction of the first Southern Baptist hospital in a foreign land, the Warren Memorial hospital in Hwanghien, China. It was named for Dr. Ebenezer W. Warren, pastor here in 1860-71 and 1879-91"

From the churches website:

"History

The First Baptist Church of Christ began in 1826, shortly after the founding of a frontier town called Macon, Georgia. From humble beginnings, the church grew rapidly, occupying four different sites in downtown Macon during the congregation’s first six decades. On May 15, 1887, the church family entered its present home, a lovely Gothic sanctuary at the “top of Poplar” street, situated on a hilltop overlooking the city.

While deeply rooted in the Christian faith and its Baptist identity, the First Baptist Church of Christ at Macon has long been progressive in spirit. In the early anti-missions controversy that divided Georgia Baptists, First Baptist withdrew from one local association to found another that was decidedly missionary in spirit. Pastors and lay leaders in the church where also instrumental in the founding of Mercer University and the moving of the Mercer campus to Macon in 1871. First Baptist was a leader in the Sunday School movement in the 19th century, in the use of radio to preach the Gospel in the 20s, in integrating the church in the 60s, ordaining women as deacons in the 80s, and in becoming a leading congregation within the newly founded Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in the 90s. Indeed, First Baptist member Dr. Walter Shurden helped write the manifesto at the Fellowship’s founding and the current pastor, Dr. Robert B. Setzer, Jr., was national moderator of the CBF in 2004-5.

Today, First Baptist is a thriving downtown church with a diverse and multi-generational congregation, a free Baptist spirit, a missions heart, and an obvious love for people that permeates the church’s life."
(visit link)

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 05/15/1887 Age of Church building determined by?: Church website If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Baptist If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Sunday Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: 11:00 AM Street address of Church: 511 High Place Macon, GA USA 31201 Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
1) A photo of the church is required for visits to a waymark.

2) Please share some comments about your visit.

3) Additional photos are encouraged. If you can have information in addition to that already provided about this church, please share it with us.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   10/03/2009 Sprinterman visited it

View all visits/logs