Tupelo's First Baptist Church, despite difficulties, presses on, continues mission
Much like the Apostle Paul – who was beaten - more than once, stoned, shipwrecked, perhaps suffered from a chronic illness and faced other perils on his journeys – First Baptist Church, through multiple iterations, has faced adversity. There have been fires, a tornado, several rebuildings and possibly a pig in the church in its earliest years. And yet, like Paul, members of FBC through the years have pressed on.
For many months, members have been eagerly planning and working toward a special weekend of celebrating their church's 175 years. 'By God's Grace, For God's Glory' will unfold Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24. An open house and reception will be 2 until 4 p.m. August 23, with former pastors, staff members and missionaries on hand to greet church and community members. As always, August 24 will bring three worship services - at 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m. in the sanctuary, and 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There will be fellowship time from 9:45 until 10 in the Commons.
A book sharing the church's history has been written with information from FBC archives, legal documents, interviews and more. Included will be more than 300 images, and the book will be available for purchase.
Thought to be Tupelo's oldest church, FBC was founded by 11 charter members in 1850. These 11 met in a house, or perhaps a log cabin on farmland near the Harrisburg community, west of today's Tupelo. And the church was called Hickory Grove Church.
The church's membership grew in those early years which necessitated more space, so in 1854 a bigger church was built not far from the church's first meeting place.
Six years later, Hickory Grove Church caught fire, burning the building, destroying all church records and a chunk of history. Church members did not throw up their hands in frustration. Instead, they built a larger, two-story church in the then-unincorporated town of Tupelo on the site where FBC remains today. It was then the name of the church was changed to Tupelo Baptist Church.
It was this two-story building that was used during the Civil War as a hospital. Court was also held in the church after the Lee County Courthouse was lost to fire, and there are stories that mention that after the Civil War, the church was used by Presbyterians ad Methodists on occasion.
Growth once again seemed a good idea to enlarge the building, so in 1899-1900, the wood-frame building was razed and rebuilt. Red brick replaced the wood structure, and the new building housed the first indoor baptistry in Lee County.
With consistent growth in membership, larger facilities were once again needed, so 17 years later in 1917, a new sanctuary was built, with yellow bricks replacing the red ones and 21 exterior steps leading to two doors, one on each side of the portico, that empty into the sanctuary. The new building was dedicated in 1919, The name was changed to First Baptist Church and a pipe organ was bought and installed.
When Tupelo was hit by a deadly tornado on April 5, 1936, 216 people lost their lives. Destruction was widespread – the yellow-brick First Baptist Church was destroyed. Once again the church was rebuilt on the same site, at the corner of Church and Jefferson streets.
And on November 24, 1950, there was a report of a fire in the church basement. It was extinguished, but later reignited and, once again, destroyed the church as well as church records. The church could not afford the cost of rebuilding, but that did little to erode the faith of FBC members.
'The banks were skeptical and the church could not get a loan for $50,000,' said Lee Allred, Executive and Mission Pastor of FBC. 'Fifty church members went to the bank and each borrowed $1,000. And that's how the church was rebuilt.'
The fire in '50 destroyed everything, including the stained-glass windows.
'The church was not in a financial position to replace the windows with stained glass,' said Matt Powell, senior pastor at FBC for 9 1/2 years.
The beautiful windows in FBC are glazed.
It was also during this rebuilding, that a ramp was added.
'A Mr. Adams gave money to build a ramp for caskets,' said Frances Blackwell, church member and chairman of the history committee. 'And actually, his was the first funeral to use the ramp. Another member, Troy Blackwell, whose daughter had polio, also contributed to the ramp.'
Though the 21 front steps are rarely used these days for entrance into the sanctuary, there are reminders in the church's history of a time they were much used. The steps served as risers where many children through the years would pose for a large group photograph at the end of Vacation Bible School.
'If you can imagine, every year during the Christmas parade, people find these steps a great place from which to watch,' Powell said.
The church was dedicated in 1952.
Later in the life of the church, there continued to be additions of programs and structures at FBC. In 1959, a church library came into being, thanks to a $500 gift. In '76, the Christian Life Center was built; in '92, FBC began offering two worship services on Sunday morning (today there are three); English as a Second Language (ESL) started in 1996; and in '97, a Fellowship Hall, preschool and youth spaces were added.
In 1972, FBC formed an a cappella choir, with 33 members who auditioned for their spots. The choir shared their musical gift locally at churches and civic organizations, and also traveled abroad, even singing in Bethlehem. They also made a joyful noise from the front steps of FBC.
'People would be riding by or walking by and stop and listen to the singing,' said Mary Langford, FBC and history committee member. 'Some people would sing along.'
Seventeen of the original members of the a cappella choir are scheduled to be on hand for a performance during the 175th anniversary celebration.
In 2018, continued growth necessitated the addition and renovation of the church facilities. Despite the unwelcome arrival of COVID-19, the church continued 'The Harvest' campaign and construction/renovation. Funds from 'The Harvest' campaign enabled the creation of a new entrance to the Commons that connected the sanctuary and a new Fellowship Hall was completed in 2023
During the pandemic-forced lockdown, like most churches, FBC quarantined. But the faithful folks of FBC, found a way to connect. Quite the fisherman, Powell had a large amount of fish in the freezer. The idea of a fish fry for the congregation was mentioned, Allred procured the usual sides for fried fish and the invitation was issued.
'Cars (a lot of cars) lined up on Matt's street to pick up a meal,' Allred said. 'It was almost like a family reunion, only people were visiting, masked and safely from their cars.'
When the Powell family first came to Tupelo and FBC, they had no idea what trials they would face as a family – the loss of their son Peter, Andrea Powell's diagnosis of breast cancer and a shoulder issue that landed Matt Powell in the hospital.
'This church just put their arms around us every time,' Powell said. 'The Lord used this whole church to show us kindness and hospitality and support. For people who are hurting or who've given up on church, we hope they will give it another try. My wife and I have experienced first hand the love and compassion of this church."
For a church that has had its share of difficult times, there have also been moments of great joy. Through 175 years, the people of FBC have remained resilient, steadfast and determined to not only rebuild the church, time after time, but to continue to be the church and continue its mission to share the gospel with others and help them become passionate followers of Christ.
"In this season of celebration, we are grateful for the vision of those who came before,' Allred said. 'From this corner, we will continue to remain vibrant. This church is not leaving the downtown area. This community is what it is because of this church and this church is what it is because of this community. '
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