On Tuesday August 16th of 1831, a delegation of twelve members of Preddy Creek Baptist Church went to Charlottesville and began to preach. They preached Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, and then baptized eighteen converts on Wednesday evening (likely in the Rivanna river!) On Thursday morning, August 18, a new church was organized as Charlottesville Baptist Church with thirty-one members, twelve male and nineteen female. Originally the church met in the Charlottesville courthouse, and at the turn of the last century we became known as First Baptist Church with a new church building.

Dr. John A. Broadus, pastor of Charlottesville Baptist Church and founder of Albemarle Female Institute, held a revival service at the Institute and a young student, Lottie Moon, surrendered her life to Christ. She was baptized at Charlottesville Baptist Church, and in 1873 she sailed for China where she served as a Baptist missionary until her death forty years later. Today 45,000 Southern Baptist Churches participate in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, giving over 153 million dollars in 2017 to support foreign missions.

At a meeting of the young people in 1884, it was Mr. M. C. Thomas who cast a decisive vote which brought into existence the first Baptist Young Peoples Union in Virginia, and as far as is known, the first in the Southern Baptist Convention. This means one of the first youth groups was at FBC – and our youth group is still going strong today.

Vacation Bible School became a well established movement in 1906 as a result of the inspiration and work of Mrs. Virginia Sinclair Hawes, a devout member of First Baptist Church. We continue that tradition with our VBS each year!

On February 2, 1977 an uncontrollable fire swept through First Baptist Church, destroying the beautiful sanctuary and education building. The treasured memorial stained glass windows and the magnificent new organ were no more. The brass bell, cast in the Netherlands in 1854, fell from its steeple into the burning cauldron and broke into pieces. These pieces are later recovered and returned to the Netherlands for recasting; the bell now hangs in the bell tower at the front of the church.

Through the Lord’s leadership and the blessing He bestowed upon His faithful servants, the first services were held in the present facilities (the construction of which was already underway when the fire occurred) on June 25, 1978

Much has happened between 1978 and today, but the constant theme is a family of believers who are faithful to the true church: each other. A church that seeks to point all generations to Christ through teaching the word of God, gospel-centered community, and missional lives! 

This history exists only to glorify the greater story of God's redemption of sinful people.

Come experience Life Together at First Baptist Church on Park Street!

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