History
The history of the First Baptist Church of Senatobia is indeed both a fascinating and inspiring one.A small band of settlers from the Carolinas came to North Mississippi, and, being devout Christians, they immediately set about to organize a church.This church, two miles south of the present site of the town of Senatobia, was called the Carolina Baptist Church.However, due to the growth of the town, the church was disbanded; but on the third Sunday in June 1869 at four o’clock in the afternoon with sixteen members present the First Baptist Church of Senatobia became a reality.Rev. J. W. Lipsey and Rev. White were the ministers in charge, and Rev. Lipsey was elected the first pastor.Two deacons were elected at the time—W. A. Hill and J. T. Goodlett, and J. A. Matthews was elected Clerk.
In 1872 under the leadership of Rev. J. W. Lipsey the first house of worship was built on the present church site.Twenty-three years later with Rev. L. S. Foster as pastor, the membership recognized the need for enlarging the church facilities.With the old church used as a basis on which to build, a more beautiful and commodious church was erected at this time.
It was around 1894 that Rev. L. S. Foster, while a pastor in Senatobia and associate editor of the Record, wrote an appeal for a home for homeless children, closing his editorial with these words:“If this thought is of God, he will put into the heart of someone to send us a contribution for this purpose.”From this appeal a crusade was begun.A charter for an orphanage was drawn up July 18, 1894.
Leaving the First Baptist Church of Senatobia, Mr. and Mrs. Foster moved to Jackson and rented a cottage on West Capital Street where they formally opened a home for orphan children on May 12, 1897.
Again in 1916 when Rev. A. T. Cinnamond was pastor, a Sunday School annex was erected.This church plant served the purposes until 1928, at which time The Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) with Mrs. R. E. Clark, as president, presented in January of 1928 a five hundred dollar check as the first donation toward a new church building program.The building committee consisted of T. M. Gregory, E. E. Moore, C. S. Baker, P. W. Berry, Mrs. Joe E. Veazey, Mrs. R. E. Clark, Mrs. E. E. Moore, and the pastor, Rev. J. C. Wells. A beautiful church was erected on the original church property at a cost of $35,000.The ladies of the church provided the new pews, a beautiful curtain for the baptistery, and carpets for the sanctuary.The sanctuary was dedicated on March 3, 1929, with Rev. A. T. Cinnamond, a former pastor, as the dedicating speaker.
As early as 1880 the congregation had provided a home for the pastor and his family.In 1906 the pastorium was remodeled, and some twenty years later while Rev. B. P. Robertson was pastor the present brick pastorium was constructed at a cost of $4,000.
In 1949 more educational space was needed and more Sunday School rooms were added. In 1958, under the leadership of Dr. Clyde Martin, a beautiful new sanctuary complete in each final detail was dedicated to the glory of God.This building committee consisted of M. P. Moore, Chairman; C. S. Baker, Jerry Veazey, L. L. Owen, Mrs. Heber Aiken, Mrs. Joe E. Veazey, Mrs. John Vickery, and Dr. Clyde Martin.The church with its beautiful lighted spire which extends 110 feet was constructed at a cost of $242,600, and is, indeed, “A thing of beauty and a joy forever.”
In 1963 the church parking lot was paved at a cost of $15,300; in 1966 there was an extension of the Sunday School building which cost $31,500; $2,500 was spent for lighting the ball field in 1967, a gift by Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Baker; and in 1968 the Chapel, at a cost of $14,500, was renovated and beautifully redecorated.
In order to have more available Sunday School classroom space, the church purchased in June of 1987 the Stevens home on the corner of Ward and Church Street and named it the Stevens Building.In addition to church class meetings in the building, the Christian Women’s Job Corp meets in the building during the week
In July of 1995, the then Long Range Planning Committee presented a comprehensive plan to the FBC membership entitled “CONTINUING THE VISION.”It was voted on and adopted by the church membership.
In early 2000 a new Long Range Planning Committee was established and proposed a two-phase plan that was approved by the Deacons and the church:
Phase I: The renovation of existing facilities and the construction of 16,053 square feet of new space for a children’s wing, additional offices, and a welcome center/lobby area.The children’s cottage (once the pastor’s home) was taken down upon completion of the new children’s wing.The choir and all other music-related activities were moved closer to the sanctuary, providing additional space for future staff and Sunday School space.Over 75 parking spaces were included in this phase.
Phase II:This phase will increase the size of our Family Life Center by about 11,000 square feet.It will expand the fellowship area to three times its present size, double the size of our kitchen, add space for Sunday School, create an exercise room and a larger game area, and add even more parking space.The timing of Phase II is unknown at this time.
On November 2, 2003, with the completion of Phase I, a dedication service was held for the new building.
The house to the south of the church property owned by the Tomlinson family was purchased in April of 2002.The Tomlinson House is used to house the Youth Minister and his family.
