First Missionary Baptist Church

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Originally constructed in 1917 under the guidance of pastor Dr. Thomas Bellinger, this brick church is home to one of the oldest congregations in Dothan. First Missionary Baptist Church was established in 1889 with the assistance of Reverend W. M. Carter in what was then the village of Poplar Head. On December 8th, 1909 the congregation incorporated and changed its name to the First Colored Baptist Church. Construction for the church began in 1912 after Dr. Bellinger started a fundraiser for the church. On the Saturday night before the church was to reopen the church was bombed, leading to a delay in opening. In 2001 the church was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage and continues to serve the community today.

Images

Image of the First Missionary Baptist Church

A picture of a red brick church, the church features a fellowship hall to the left, a bell tower, a tall angled roof, and a flat expansion to the right.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

In 1889, Georgian Baptists organized a new church in the village of Poplar Head. Under the guidance of Reverend W. M. Carter, the New Hope Baptist Church was organized with Reverend Robert Nelson as its first pastor. After several years of activity, the church applied to incorporate in 1907. As part of the incorporation process, the newly-elected trustees renamed the church the First Colored Baptist Church of Dothan. On December 8th, 1909 the First Colored Baptist Church was formerly incorporated.

In 1910, Dr. Thomas Bellinger was called from Pensacola Florida to serve as the pastor for the congregation. As part of his time there he organized a funding drive in 1912 to erect the new church building that stands today. To prepare for the building of the new church building the church purchased land from the Saxon family in Dothan. Five years later in 1917, this new church edifice was completed and the congregation operated under the new name of the First Missionary Baptist Church. On the day before the church was to reopen, the church was bombed presumably in an act that was racially motivated.

In 1940 the City of Dothan auctioned the church property for unpaid gutter and curb assessments. Later the church would regain ownership of the property and construct the 1962 education building during the pastorate of Rev Howard Creecy Sr. Between 1972-1992 the church was under the guidance of Rev. Rochester Johnson. In his time he oversaw the creation of a fellowship hall, as well as doubling the membership of the church, and doubling the deaconship. As part of renovations at the time, the choir loft was enlarged to accommodate one hundred members.

In 1989 the church members buried a centennial capsule near the hall’s entrance. First Missionary Baptist Church was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2001 and in 2004 a historical marker was erected by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission.

Sources

Gaines, David J. First Missionary Baptist Church Dothan, Alabama, Historical Marker Database. April 22nd 2017. Accessed November 20th 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=102970.

Philips, Greg . What local churches formed before Dothan became a town?, Dothan Eagle. April 5th 2015. Accessed November 20th 2020. https://dothaneagle.com/lifestyles/faith_and_values/what-local-churches-formed-before-dothan-became-a-town/article_7928f316-d958-11e4-bf87-cbebfb720333.html.

Welcome to our History, First Missionary Baptist Church. January 1st 2016. Accessed November 20th 2020. http://fmbcfamily.org/history.html. Web Archive Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20201020091245/http://fmbcfamily.org/history.html

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Image sourced from: http://www.fmbcfamily.org/newsite/?page_id=607