First Baptist Church 150th Anniversary April 13,2010

1/9/1841: birth date of our second pastor, Powell Benton Reynolds, who served FBC from 1878-1885. Dr. Reynolds entered the Confederate Army in 1961, where he took part in a number of battles, including Gettysburg. He was captured as a prisoner of war in 1864, and was exchanged for a northern prisoner before just before General Lee's surrender. It was as a soldier that Dr. Reynolds made a profession of religion. He came to St. Albans in 1872 to take charge of the Coalsmouth High School, which afterwards became Shelton College. From 1895-1897, he was acting president of West Virginia University but declined the offer of the presidency, choosing instead to be a professor and chaplain of the university. 1/13/1924: Financial system of church discussed and budget plan adopted for the first for the first time. 02/10/1906- A devastating fire burned most of the commercial area of St. Albans, including the second church building, located just east of the bridge over Coal River, about 100 feet north of East Main Street, on what was then called -A" Street and now part of the street named the "Loop". All that was saved from the church were three pulpit chairs, the pulpit Bible, and a piece of the melted bell, at! of which still currently exist. The church had seated 400 people and cost $4000 to build.
02/17/1918: Church voted to empower the Pulpit Committee to go as high as $1500 (if necessary) for a pastor.
02/7/1990; It was announced that music camp will be held during the summer for unchurched and unsaved children inside and outside the FBS family, as well as those in church.

Bridge from the Past to the Future

Our church is so blessed to be celebrating our 150th anniversary in 2010, During this anniversary year, we want to give back to the community. Each month we will be collecting different items for local chanties and groups. Thank you for helping us meet and exceed (!) our January goal of 150 cans of soup!
For February, we will be collecting 150 valentines to distribute to nursing homes in the valley. Donated valentines should be signed from First Baptist Church, St. Albans. Feel free to also write a short note.
Since Valentine's Day is February 14th, we will need these BY FRBRUARY 7.
During the month of March, we hope to collect 150 cans of vegetables to donate to local food banks.
During the month of April, we hope to collect 150 boxes of food (Hamburger Helper, pasta, potatoes, rice, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, cereal, Jell-o, pudding, pancake mix etc.).
There will be 150th Anniversary collection bins at each church entrance for your donated itims. The historical committee thanks you in advance for your generosity.

THE HAITI PROJECT

Currently there is a lot of attention on the tragedy of the earthquake that has taken place in Haiti. But did you know that our church was instrumental in a project to build a Baptist Church at Fort-Liberte', Haiti? Fort-Liberte' is located about 175 miles north east of the capital of Haiti (Port-au- Prince) and the population is desperately poor. In 1973, Dr. Robert S. Weaver (pastor of FBC) was on a pastoral tour with a stop in Haiti. While there, Dr. Weaver broke his leg, which extended his stay. He met with a Baptist Haitian minister by the name of Rev. Andre Jean who explained the desperate need of the Haitian people. Upon returning home, Dr. Weaver related the needs of the Haitians for a church building and our church led the effort for a project to construct a building for Jerusalem Baptist Church at Fort-Liberte'. Other churches in the WV Baptist Convention helped by providing financial assistance. Plans were drawn up, steel needed for the construction was fabricated at Point Pleasant, trucked by volunteers to Florida, and then shipped to Haiti. In 1976, 30 people, mostly from our church, went to Haiti to start the construction. It actually took seven years to finish the project. Additional trips were made in 1980, 1982, and 1983 before the project was completed. Many of those who participated in those trips are now deceased but some still remain at FBC. In 2000, $30,000 was raised to provide school lunches for the school children at Fort-Liberte' since, for many, this was the only meal they would receive all day. The stained glass window in the eastern wall of our parlor is identical to the one installed in the Jerusalem Baptist Church at Fort-Liberte'. Pictures of the Haiti Project and those who helped are in the new historical display case at the north end of the Lower Auditorium.
Submitted by;
The Historical Committee

11/1/1959: First presentation by Handbell choir. The handbells had recently arrived from England. FBC is believed to be the first church in the Kanawha Valley to have this musical feature. 11/15/1922: Property purchased that is the site of our current church building. The first section was completed on August 30, 1925 and included that part of the current church from the sanctuary choir loft northward. At the time, the area was used primarily for Sunday School rooms. Later the sanctuary was added and completed on April 2, 1939. 11/24/1918: First presentation by Handbell Choir. The handbells had recently arrived from England. FBC is believed to be the first church in the Kanawha Valley to have this musical instrumen

OUR CHURCH WILL BE 150 YEARS OLD in 2010. Plans are under-way for it's celebration. It will be a wonderful time for us to celebrate how God has blessed our church and the families that have worshipped here over the years.
The Historical Committee is looking for old photographs of church families. If you would loan them to the Historical Committee to copy, they will be returned within 2 days. Please contact Bill or Linda Troutman (727-4005) or Tracy Nicholas (757)-1374.
Thank you!

Our Church History

The First Baptist Church St.Albans entered into the National Register of Historic Places on November 2, 2000

Rev. Martin Bibb came to St Albans at the invitation of several Baptist families in the spring of 1859. While no organization emanated at that time, Rev. Bibbs returned the following spring and helped establish the church at Coalsmouth (now the First Baptist Church, St. Albans) formally on April 13, 1860 with 5 chartered members. The church was accepted into the Teays Valley association in July,1860. The small church survived several setbacks: a flood and the Civil War 1861-1865. After the war, in the spring of 1866, Rev. R. W. Davis led the church in reorganization with 11 chartered members.

The church built a one-story rough frame building which served them until 1879.First church building to be built and occupied by the Baptist people in St. Albans was put up on the lot on the turnpike just west of Coal River. The lot was called Baptist Church Lot. The house was to be frame, 36 feet long by 26 feet wide and 12 feet pitch from floor to ceiling. This building was sold and in 1884 the building pictured below served until February 10, 1906. Their early pastors served in "irregular services without salary." The first settled pastor was Rev. Bayless Cade, a graduate of Richmond Divinity School, who pastored the church from September to November in 1865.

Church Building in use 1884-1906,destroyed
by fire.Located on A street by Coal River

Church Edifice in use 1909 to 1938.
Located where the Old Post Office was
just across the street from present building.

In 1938 ground was broken for a new sanctuary on Second Street (the present location); an educational unit was dedicated and occupied on May 18, 1958, a tower and porch with new entrances installed in 1966 the inside of the church was renovated with more modern facilities in 1976, and finally, an activities facility with a full size gym was completed in 1978, except the lower floor.

Facing The Future Together

The task began in 1990 when the Long Range Planning Study Committee recognized the need to upgrade and improve areas of the church such as the lower level of the Activities Building and the addition of an elevator.
In 1992 the First Baptist Church began a program called "Facing The Future Together" to renovate and add needed facilities throughout our church buildings. It was recognized that everyone in the church could not give equally since their financial resources were not equal but everyone could make an equal sacrifice and a theme of "Not Equal Gifts, But Equal Sacrifice" was used when presenting to the members.

The ground breaking Ceremony was held July 18, 1993. There was no part of the buildings that were not touch by the renovation. Some are more visible than others such as the spacious Welcome Center and the addition of a much needed elevator.Rest rooms were added and old ones upgraded, ceiling were dropped, several hundred gallons of paint were used, ramps were installed, kitchen equipment replaced, and the lower level of the activities building completed for all purpose use.These are just some of the many items that were done under the "Facing The Future Together" project. The facilities at First Baptist are now user friendly with the additions, featuring restrooms, inside ramps and an elevator at the parking lot entrance.
On May 3, 1998 in a special dedication service the activities building was named "Wilson W. Plattner Activities Building".

Just as renovation was a dream that became a reality, so was the installation of stained glass windows at our church. Michael M. Watts had envisioned the life of Christ depicted in stained glass and that vision was carried out by a committee in early 1996. No campaign was held but members were informed and money was given in memory of loved ones and desire to add beauty to the sanctuary.There are 11 windows, 10 in the sanctuary and one in the stairwell landing on the Second Street side of the church building.A brief description is as follows: Angels, Manger Scene, The Baptism of Jesus, Transfiguration, Calming of the Sea, Palm Sunday, Jesus in the Garden, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Alpha and Omega, Jesus and the Children(landing window).

Through the years God has seen that people with great faith and a determination to do His will have been available to carry out His goals for a witness in this valley. When you study the history of these very special people and let your mind wander back through time to ponder over their labors and sacrifices, you'll come to a common conclusion that we have been truly blessed. With such a rich heritage, can we in all sincerity do less.

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