History of the First Baptist Church of Macclenny
Two Separate Churches…
The first Baptist Work of which we have
any good record within the corporate
limits of Macclenny, which was then
known as Darbyville, was begun in the
spring of 1883 by Rev. Robert F.
Rogers, missionary of the Florida Baptist
Convention.
The following members were present
and joined in the Constitution, viz:
James Wolfe Mrs. Georgia Wolfe
J. W. Bryant Mrs. Lizzie McIver
John McIver Mrs. Ida Corbett.
The Reverend Rogers was chosen as
pastor.
Bethel Baptist Church, established near
Woodlawn Cemetery, was constituted in
1877.
The Bethel Church of Macclenny was
constituted in 1877 by a presbytery of
two, viz: Rev. K. Chambers and Rev.
William F. Malphus.
The following members were present
and joined in the Constitution, viz:
Mr. W. P. Horn
Mrs. Levilla Rowe
Mrs. Moses Thompson
Mrs. Mary Thompson
Mrs. Sally Horn
Mrs. E. A. Barber
Mrs. V. C. Williams
Mrs. E. F. Rowe
Mrs. Sarah Alford
Mrs. Julia Rowe
Miss Georgia Fraser
Rev. K. Chambers was chosen as pastor.
This was the first Baptist Church in Baker
County of which we have any record.
United into one…
About September 1887, the Bethel Baptist
Church dissolved and united with the First
Baptist Church of Macclenny.
The following members who united with
Bethel between 1880 and 1887 were
received into the fellowship of the First
Baptist church of Macclenny.
Edward Rowe
Caroline Laurimore
Mrs. L. Sweat
Caroline Tanner
John O. Thompson
Emma Drawdy
Rachel Alexander
I. E. Chambliss
C. F. Barber
Carrie Chambliss
Mollie Barber
Lizzie Bessent
Emma Rowe
Emmy Rowe
Frances Thompson
B. J. Tanner
Ada Drawdy
Miss Sallie Horne
Mrs. Nicholson
Miss Mabel Jones
From this time in 1887 until 1917, First
Baptist Church of Macclenny was
erroneously called Bethel Baptist Church.
History of the First Baptist Church of Macclenny
Building destroyed by a hurricane…
The church building was destroyed by a
hurricane on September 29, 1896.
Everything was destroyed with the
exception of the organ stool. For a time,
there were two organ stools in the new
church after it was built. The pastor at
this time was D. C. Andress.
After the church was destroyed, services
were held for a short time at the
Methodist church. Then, Mrs. Elizabeth
Barber, who owned and operated the
Hotel, generously offered her dining
room to the church to hold its services.
A brick sanctuary is built…
Groundbreaking services for the new
church auditorium (presently known as
the old sanctuary) were held on Easter
Sunday, April 10, 1955. The pastor at
this time was Ralph C. Moore
(November 1954-1959). The building
committee at that time was composed of:
H. V. Griffin, Jr.
Charlton Mobley
Ralph C. Moore
J. R. Rowe
W. A. Ruis
T. M. Dorman
The size of the auditorium was 35’ x 80’
with a seating capacity of 350. The new
auditorium and pastor’s study were
completed and furnished at a cost of
$61,558.86.
The first service was held in this new
building on Sunday, March 4, 1956.
Homecoming services were held with
special music from the choir, under the
direction of Mrs. N. B. Dorman.
Former pastor, O. E. Boals
(June 1950 – May 1954) was guest
speaker for the afternoon service.
The new building was dedicated debt-free in
a mortgage burning service on Sunday,
March 2, 1958.
The Education Building is built….
Later in 1958, construction was begun on a
36’ x 60’, two-story brick educational
building. The construction was supervised
by J. A. Rowe, Chairman of the Building
Committee. The total cost of the building,
including all furnishings and equipment, was
approximately $21,000.
A Hammond electric organ was purchased
and presented to the church on February 10,
1960, in honor of Miss Mae Wolfe who was
the pianist for many years.
A Growing Church…
In June 1966 the church voted to designate
all offerings on the fourth Sundays of June,
July and August for the building fund. Their
goal was to reach $20,000 by September 1.
Additional financing would be secured
through a bond program of $50,000 over a
ten-year period. These monies would be
used to build a second educational unit
directly behind the old one. (This building
presently houses the Nursery, AWANA
store, and children’s Sunday School rooms.
Children’s Church is also held in this area.)
In July 1966 the church approved Martin
Maley to be the supervisor of construction
for the new addition, at a salary of $3 per
hour worked.
In October 1966 the church directed the
Trustees to begin negotiations for disposal
of the old wooden church building and the
removal of the old pastorium, to be done as
soon as the new educational unit was
completed.
History of the First Baptist Church of Macclenny
In February 1967 the church voted to
construct a new pastorium on South
Sixth Street (this pastorium is currently
being used today). The old pastorium
was sold and the old wooden church
building was disposed of. The second
educational building and the new
pastorium were completed in 1967. The
pastor during this time of growth was J.
Thomas Harper (July 1965 – October
1968).
New Construction …. Again!
A Growing Church Staff…
The new facility would consist of a
Colonial-style building with a seating
capacity of 552 (including the choir) with
Colonial-style pews. The pastor and the
Long Range Planning Committee met with
Northway Contractors and authorized them
to erect the building. Financing of the new
sanctuary was secured through a bond
program.
In March of 1979 Dr. Allen R. Carter
began his ministry as our pastor. At that
time, the church hired its first full time
secretary, Mrs. Virginia Harrell.
Virginia had been hired six months
earlier on a part time basis.
In 1980, Jim McCord began his ministry
here as Minister of Music. Also, the
church approved and employed its first
Educational Secretary, Mrs. Barbara
Yawn.
In 1981 the church approved a search for
an Assistant to the Pastor in the areas of
Education/Administration/Youth and
Outreach. By the end of this year, Gary
L. Johnson was called to fill this
position. That year the church approved
the most challenging and demanding
budget in its history.
In the summer of 1982, Robert L.
Lambright, Jr., was employed as a
Pastoral Intern. This program was
initiated by Dr. Carter as a way of
helping a deserving student from our
membership prepare for Christian
service.
Due to a tremendous increase in the growth
of the membership of the church, the Long
Range planning committee began making
plans to build a new sanctuary. In the fall of
1982, the church invited Northway
Contractors to present a plan for building of
a new sanctuary. Earlier in the year, the
church voted to have two morning worship
services on Sunday until the new sanctuary
was ready for occupancy.
The Building Committee consisted of:
John Creamer
Elwood Crews
Glenn Williamson
Main Outlaw
Al Smith, Sr.
Groundbreaking for the new sanctuary took
place in June 1984 and construction began
in July 1984.
History of the First Baptist Church of Macclenny
On February 3, 1985, the new sanctuary
was dedicated with a special afternoon
service. On February 10, 1985, the first
worship services were held in the new
sanctuary. Renovation of the old
sanctuary to an educational building was
begun and dedicated on September 29,
1985.
Centennial Celebration
In the spring of 1983, Baker County
celebrated its 100th Anniversary. In
conjunction with these activities, our
church celebrated with a week of
Centennial activities and a week-long
revival. Our speakers included former
pastors Ralph Moore, O. E. Boals, Tom
Harper and Howard Olive. Dr. Fred
Hubbs, pastor of Arlington Baptist
church of Jacksonville, FL 2as also
invited to speak.
Musical guests were the Brewton Parker
College Choir from Mt. Vernon,
Georgia. Eugene Hattaway, who was
the Minister of Music at First Baptist
church in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1983
and a former member of our church, led
the music for the week.
Staff Changes….
In 1986, Jim McCord resigned as
Minister of Music and Robert
Lambright, Jr., was called to full time
Interim Minister of Music and Youth.
Later that year, the church called Steve
Chastain as Minister of Music and
Youth.
In 1987, Dr. Allen Carter resigned as
pastor and Jack Plew was hired as
interim pastor. In March 1988, Steve
Fain accepted a call as pastor. He
preached his first sermon on Easter
Sunday morning.
In 1989, Linda Haines was hired as the
Minister of Education.
In January 1992, Pastor Steve Fain resigned
and Ray McKendree was hired as interim
pastor. In October 1992, David Hold
accepted a call as pastor.
In early 1994, Steve Chastain resigned as
Minister of Youth but kept the position of
Minister of Music. Later in 1994, Steve
Chastain resigned as Minister of Music. In
1995, Mike Kwiatkowski accepted a call as
Minister of Youth.
Charles (Blimp) Davis from the Florida
Baptist Convention, Church Music
Association, filled in as interim Minister of
Music for the remainder of 1994 and during
all of 1995. In February 1996, Tim Wilder
was called to the position of Minister of
Music.
In the spring of 1997, Mike Kwiatkowski
resigned as Minister of Youth. John
Trippett filled this position on a part time
basis after Mike left. In October of 1997
John accepted a call to full time service as
our Minister of Youth.
In June 1998, Linda Haines resigned as
Minister of Education.
In September 1998, David Hold resigned as
pastor and accepted a call to the
international mission field. Once again, Ray
McKendree filled the pulpit for
approximately 10 months until a new pastor
was called.
In August 1999, Dr. Edsel M. Bone accepted
the call as pastor to our church.
John Trippett, Minister of Youth and
AWANA Commander, resigned his position
as Minister of Youth. In October of 2002,
Matt Altman joined us to fill that position.
Matt resigned in March 2006 and in the late
History of the First Baptist Church of Macclenny
spring Syndey Fields filled the position
in an intern capacity. Sydney left in
August of 2006 and the position is now
held by
Jeremy Hite. Jeremy leads the youth on
Wednesday night and is also a member
of the Praise and Worship team which
leads worship on Sunday mornings.
The Building of the Family Life
Center…
A new Office Complex…
In 2002, the home of Bernice Yarborough
became available for sale to the church. The
church closed the deal on the sale of the
home and renovation began later that year.
Most of the labor was done by volunteers in
the church. After many months of
remodeling the new office complex was
ready to unveil. The ribbon cutting
ceremony was held on Homecoming Sunday
in October 2003.
In 1991 the church had a vision to build
another facility. Under the leadership of
Pastor Steve Fain and the Vision
Committee, plans were made to
construct a 10,608 sf Family Life Center
which would serve our members as well
as be an outreach to the community.
Construction began in 1997 with the
guidance of the Steering Committee.
The cost of the building and its
furnishings was $595,000. A pledge
campaign raised the first $200,000.
Funding for the remaining $350,000 was
from promissory notes from members,
donations and subsequent pledges.
Dedication of the new building was on
Homecoming Sunday, November 1997
with Pastor David Holt presiding. Guest
Speaker at the Homecoming was former
pastor Steve Fain.
More Renovations….
In 2004, renovation of the Educational
Building began. The entire two-story
structure was gutted and made more
structurally sound. The vision for this
project included expanding the preschool/nursery area to a more modern, state
of the art facility for the babies and toddlers.
Currently, this area is used for various
children’s ministries: Children’s Choirs,
Children’s Sunday School, AWANA
ministry as well as a Children’s Church
ministry. The expanded nursery area is
expected to open in early 2007.