Church History

First Baptist Church began in 1868 with a vision by group of Christians gathered in a small house.  The group was not too far removed from the dark night of slavery.

Property was purchased on Franklin and Maxwell Streets in early 1877.  On this property, a two-room frame building for worship was erected. Shortly thereafter, this building was destroyed by fire and a more substantial one was built.  

Reverend Dr. Ezekiel Ezra Smith and served as pastor from 1903 to 1906. He was an outstanding educator and statesman.  E. E. Smith High School is named in his honor.  The stained-glass window, which presently adorns the front of the church sanctuary, was given by Dr. Smith in loving memory of his wife, Mrs. Willie Ann Smith.  When the old church on Franklin Street was demolished, the window was saved and placed in the new building on Moore Street near downtown Fayetteville.

Reverend Thomas H. Dwelle was called from the Tupper Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh to pastor (1923-1952. Dr. Dwelle taught at E. E. Smith High School.  Lincoln University in Pennsylvania honored him with an honorary degree, Doctor of Divinity in 1939. 

In 1953, Reverend Chancy Rudolph Edwards preached his first pastoral sermon that initiated a ministry that would span 37 years (1953-1990) in the history and life of First Baptist Church.  Reverend Edwards was honored in 1963 with a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Shaw University for his outstanding work as a clergyman and leader.

Under the leadership of Dr. Edwards the church grew and prospered.  The new church building was completed and dedicated in 1963.  

In 1973 the 150-unit complex, Topeka Heights, was completed.  This low and moderate income-housing complex was the first of its kind in Cumberland County.  In 1974 another corporation was formed by the church to construct an 18-unit complex for the elderly, Edwards Place, in honor of Dr. C.R. Edwards.    

On the first Sunday in June 1991, Reverend Cureton Lee Johnson assumed full pastoral responsibility of First Baptist Church.  In 2000, Dr. Johnson earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Drew University in Madison, N.J.  Under Pastor Johnson’s leadership the members of First Baptist Church broke ground in 1999 for a two million-dollar Christian center called Grace Place.  The two story facility includes 11,000 square feet of space, a library and learning center, nursery, children’s church, kitchen, lounge, clothes closet and a multipurpose room for neighborhood development and outreach ministries.

First Baptist Church is a Missionary Baptist Church and is active in the Union Baptist Association, the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention.  Today, it is the oldest Missionary Baptist Church in the City of Fayetteville, N.C., with the vision:  “Doing Bold New Things To Connect Fayetteville and the World to Jesus Christ.”

By Ruth W. Johnson
Chair, First Baptist Church History Committee