HISTORY

On August 19, 1850, about three miles northwest of the present First Baptist Church, eleven determined pioneers organized the Hickory Grove Baptist Church in a small log cabin.  There was no Tupelo at this time.  Elder Elijah Smith served as the first pastor of this small congregation.

In 1854 the 62 members of Hickory Grove Baptist Church built a frame building about one mile south of the original building.  By 1858 the membership had grown to 162.  In 1860 the church building and the records were destroyed by fire.  In 1861 the members built a two-story frame building in Tupelo and the name was changed to Tupelo Baptist Church.  This was the first house for public worship in Tupelo.  Other denominations also used the building.

A red brick church, which was started in 1899, was completed in 1900.  This church had two Sunday School rooms, a nice auditorium and the first inside baptistry.  An old-fashioned organ with pumps and hand stops provided the music.  The dedicatory sermon was in September 1902.  In 1907 a frame Sunday School building was constructed.  It had curtains to separate the beginners, primaries, juniors and intermediates who met in this building.

In 1917 a yellow brick building was built under the leadership of J. J. Cloar, pastor.  A $6,000 pipe organ was installed and the name of the church was changed to First Baptist Church, Tupelo.  A Sunday School annex as added in 1927.  During this period Mary Bibb Long (Ware) went as a missionary from the church to China in 1920.  The first daily Vacation Bible School was held in 1925.

In 1929 an open-air tabernacle with a seating capacity of 2,000 was completed during the pastorate of H. R. Holcomb.  Sunday night services were held in the tabernacle.  An annex for the Business Men's Bible Class and church offices was also built in 1929.  A terrible tornado hit Tupelo in April of 1936 which destroyed the auditorium and did extensive damage to other church structures.  A new church building was constructed on the old foundation with some added space in the basement.  The Sunday School annex buildings were repaired so that the rebuilding was completed by October 1936.

A fire on November 30, 1950, (only three months and one week after the church centennial celebration) destroyed the main church building and badly damaged the Sunday School Annex.  Most of the church records were destroyed.  A new building was completed in August 1952.  The tabernacle, which had been a great asset for the preaching of the gospel, became outdated with the coming of air conditioning and was torn down in 1964.  An educational building was constructed on the site.

In 1977 the church added a Christian Life Center to the other facilities.  The 1980's involved making changes to the buildings and updating the sanctuary.  With a new century approaching, the church again voted to renovate, build additional educational space for youth and children, and provide a much-needed fellowship hall.

The year 2000 inspired the church membership of 1700 as they celebrated the church's sesquicentennial all year.

God has indeed blessed First Baptist Church through the years with pleasant facilities, dedicated members, and progressive, forward-thinking leaders.  Like the small acorn, this church has grown into a mighty oak.  Today its influence is felt throughout the town, the community, the country, and into other areas of our world.