According to church records, the embryo of the church dates back to June 28,
1874. The church was first started in a small house on Lake Street near what is
now known as Tangier Street. It was then known as the Baptist Mission. A few
years later they moved to Walnut Street. Through providence guiding, the
kindness and sympathy of Mrs. Louis Davis and the New England Baptist
Association along with influential friends encouraged the members to organize,
purchase, and build the church. It was in 1882 that the American Baptist Home
Mission Society provided the land and building. The church was then known as
Mt. Ellen Baptist Church, located on Church and Broad Streets. In 1928, Mt. Ellen
Baptist became an independent body as a result of a grant from the Baptist
Home Mission Society of the United States. It was incorporated under the name
of the First Colored Baptist Church. Due to the relocation of Route 50 in the
Spring of 1959, the church was moved from Church and Broad Streets and
relocated at the corner of Booth Street and Delaware Avenue. On this site, a new
church was built and dedicated on December 13, 1959. While the church was
being built, services were being held in the Clinton F. Stewart Funeral Home,
West Road, Salisbury, MD from March to December 1959.
The pastors of the church from the earliest records until 1988 have been as
follows: Reverends George E. Braxton, Edward J. Henry, Levin W. Purnell, Alfred
H. Mayo, James D. Brooks, Jr., William H. Griffin, Handy Moore, J. M. Gibson,
Crockett, Ethridge, Archie Franklin, A. B. Lee, James F. Walker, Charles A. Mason
and J. Chappelle Mills. Under the pastorate of Rev. Mills, many great ministries
were implemented and produced in the growth of the church. He led the
purchase of many parcels of land in the name of the church (namely, Gordon
Street property, Douglas Place properties, Booth Street properties, Lake Street
properties, respectively, where the site of the Joseph House Village is now
located) and the payoff of the mortgage on the old sanctuary in less then a year
after he was called as Pastor in 1962. In the 1970’s, the name of the church was
changed to the Church of the Holy Trinity. In 1981, the Lakeview Housing
Apartments, a 48-unit complex for Senior Citizens, was erected. In 1983, Rev.
Mills started the erection of the present sanctuary; however in 1985, the project
was halted.
After the demise of Rev. Mills in October of 1988, the church then called on
December 5, 1988, the present Pastor, Rev. Lewis N. Watson, and the church
reverted back to its original name, First Baptist Church. Under Rev. Watson’s
pastorate, the following projects and ministries have been implemented:
organization of four choirs, radio ministry, adult bible study, youth bible study,
weekly soup kitchen for the homeless, brown bag ministry for senior citizens and
the needy, SAGE Ministry (security), men’s ministry, women’s ministry, lost
sheep ministry, renovation of parsonage, renovation of the old sanctuary,
purchase of a 25 passenger mini bus, purchase of properties on Booth Street for
economic development, S.H.A.R.E Ministry (Singles Harvesting Abundant &
Rewarding Experiences), youth and young adult Liturgical Dance Ministries,
Manna Outreach Ministries, and a new worship service beginning at 7:45 AM. In
November 1994, the new sanctuary with a seating capacity of over 800 persons
and parking with over 200 spaces. In October 1996, the second mortgage for the
new sanctuary was paid off. In July 2002, Pastor Watson led FBC into the
mortgage burning of the new sanctuary. On July 29, 2005 he led First Baptist into
a 2.5 million dollar, 17, 000 square foot Family Life & Cultural Center. The new
center has administrative offices, a bookstore, a library, a computer room,
classrooms and an auditorium (recreation and banquets). Long-term goals for
the center includes: Charter School and Seminary courses, Culinary Catering
Ministry, Senior Citizen Activities and Summer Day Camp. Under his pastorate,
the church membership has increased from 50 to over 1,000.
1874. The church was first started in a small house on Lake Street near what is
now known as Tangier Street. It was then known as the Baptist Mission. A few
years later they moved to Walnut Street. Through providence guiding, the
kindness and sympathy of Mrs. Louis Davis and the New England Baptist
Association along with influential friends encouraged the members to organize,
purchase, and build the church. It was in 1882 that the American Baptist Home
Mission Society provided the land and building. The church was then known as
Mt. Ellen Baptist Church, located on Church and Broad Streets. In 1928, Mt. Ellen
Baptist became an independent body as a result of a grant from the Baptist
Home Mission Society of the United States. It was incorporated under the name
of the First Colored Baptist Church. Due to the relocation of Route 50 in the
Spring of 1959, the church was moved from Church and Broad Streets and
relocated at the corner of Booth Street and Delaware Avenue. On this site, a new
church was built and dedicated on December 13, 1959. While the church was
being built, services were being held in the Clinton F. Stewart Funeral Home,
West Road, Salisbury, MD from March to December 1959.
The pastors of the church from the earliest records until 1988 have been as
follows: Reverends George E. Braxton, Edward J. Henry, Levin W. Purnell, Alfred
H. Mayo, James D. Brooks, Jr., William H. Griffin, Handy Moore, J. M. Gibson,
Crockett, Ethridge, Archie Franklin, A. B. Lee, James F. Walker, Charles A. Mason
and J. Chappelle Mills. Under the pastorate of Rev. Mills, many great ministries
were implemented and produced in the growth of the church. He led the
purchase of many parcels of land in the name of the church (namely, Gordon
Street property, Douglas Place properties, Booth Street properties, Lake Street
properties, respectively, where the site of the Joseph House Village is now
located) and the payoff of the mortgage on the old sanctuary in less then a year
after he was called as Pastor in 1962. In the 1970’s, the name of the church was
changed to the Church of the Holy Trinity. In 1981, the Lakeview Housing
Apartments, a 48-unit complex for Senior Citizens, was erected. In 1983, Rev.
Mills started the erection of the present sanctuary; however in 1985, the project
was halted.
After the demise of Rev. Mills in October of 1988, the church then called on
December 5, 1988, the present Pastor, Rev. Lewis N. Watson, and the church
reverted back to its original name, First Baptist Church. Under Rev. Watson’s
pastorate, the following projects and ministries have been implemented:
organization of four choirs, radio ministry, adult bible study, youth bible study,
weekly soup kitchen for the homeless, brown bag ministry for senior citizens and
the needy, SAGE Ministry (security), men’s ministry, women’s ministry, lost
sheep ministry, renovation of parsonage, renovation of the old sanctuary,
purchase of a 25 passenger mini bus, purchase of properties on Booth Street for
economic development, S.H.A.R.E Ministry (Singles Harvesting Abundant &
Rewarding Experiences), youth and young adult Liturgical Dance Ministries,
Manna Outreach Ministries, and a new worship service beginning at 7:45 AM. In
November 1994, the new sanctuary with a seating capacity of over 800 persons
and parking with over 200 spaces. In October 1996, the second mortgage for the
new sanctuary was paid off. In July 2002, Pastor Watson led FBC into the
mortgage burning of the new sanctuary. On July 29, 2005 he led First Baptist into
a 2.5 million dollar, 17, 000 square foot Family Life & Cultural Center. The new
center has administrative offices, a bookstore, a library, a computer room,
classrooms and an auditorium (recreation and banquets). Long-term goals for
the center includes: Charter School and Seminary courses, Culinary Catering
Ministry, Senior Citizen Activities and Summer Day Camp. Under his pastorate,
the church membership has increased from 50 to over 1,000.
| History of The First Baptist Church of Salisbury, MD 1874 - Present |
| "If God before us, then who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 |
| Our pastor strongly emphasizes Discipleship, Christian Education, Missions, and Love. Each Sunday as we gather into this place with the Saints of God, there is a new awakening, a rejuvenated and an empowering spirit of the presence of God. So we welcome you to come and enjoy an empowering and inspirational experience with us as we continue to worship him in spirit and in truth. |
| "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our GOD." Psalms 92:13 |
| "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19 |
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| First Baptist Church of Salisbury, MD "The Church Located In The Heart of The Community Having The Community At Heart - Where Mission Is In Motion" |