First Baptist Church (Memphis, Tennessee)

First Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in Memphis, Tennessee. It was established in 1839. The church has been considered influential amongst moderate Baptists throughout the southern United States since its founding.

First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church, March 2018
35.1408°N 89.9822°W / 35.1408; -89.9822
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
CountryUnited States
DenominationCooperative Baptist Fellowship
Websitewww.fbcmemphis.org
History
FoundedApril 1839 (1839-04)
Architecture
Functional statusFunctional
Architectural typeTraditional
CompletedDecember 1, 1951, additions completed in 1998
Specifications
Bells1
Tenor bell weight3600 LBS
Clergy
Pastor(s)Rev. Dr. David Breckenridge
Laity
Director of musicRev. Ray Hatton

History

The First Baptist Church of Memphis was organized in April 1839.[1] First Baptist was organized with eleven charter members, meeting in an old log schoolhouse in Downtown Memphis. Its 1907 neo-classical church building designed by R. H. Hunt was completed in 1907. In December 1951, famed Baptist Statesman Rev. Dr. R. Paul Caudill moved the church from the corner of Linden and Lauderdale in the southern portion of Downtown Memphis, to a new location on the edge of Midtown Memphis at 200 East Parkway North. The former building became the home of Mt. Olive Cathedral Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.[2]

Music

The church has had a rich history of traditional music. Musical instruments include its 1951 Wicks pipe organ, located in its sanctuary, and its 1958 M.P. Möeller pipe organ, located in the Caudill Chapel.

Rev. Ray Hatton was the minister of music since 1986 and Dr. Michelle Dixon-Cronk, D.M.A. had served as the organist since 1990. Music director Earl Holloway preceded Rev. Hatton, and organist Lamar King preceded Dr. Cronk.

Senior pastors
  • Rev. Dr. R. Paul Caudill 1944-1976
  • Rev. Dr. Earl C. Davis 1976-1994
  • Rev. Dr. Kenneth C. Corr 1996-2007
  • Rev. Dr. David Breckenridge 2008–2018

Notable clergy
  • Rev. Dr. Carol McCall-Richardson
  • Rev. Phimphone Phetvixay

Controversies

During the early 1970s, the church voted to allow an African American family to join, being the first Southern Baptist Church in Memphis to do so.

During the 1980s, the church began ordaining women to the diaconate.

During July 1994, Rev. Dr. Earl C. Davis led approximately half of the church membership to plant Trinity Baptist Church, in Cordova.

During 2001, the church ordained a lifelong member of the church, Rev. Dr. Carol McCall-Richardson to the pastorate. She served as the church's associate pastor until her retirement in 2012.

References
  1. James, A. R. (1912). Standard History of Memphis, Tennessee: From a Study of the Original Sources. H. W. Crew. pp. 510.
  2. "First Baptist Church / Mt. Olive CME Church". Read the Plaque. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
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