| 1894 |
| The Rev. A.G. Wilcox became the first pastor of the church which met in a tobacco barn at the corner of Henry and Second Streets. There were about fifteen people to attend that day. | |
|
| 1896 |
| Lots were purhased on Hamilton and Fourth Streets and the first Baptist church of Roanoke Rapids was built. The church was named Roanoke Rapids Baptist Church. Mr. Wilcox mortgaged his home in 1896 to finance the building. Later that year, Noah Biggs of Scotland Neck reimbursed Mr. Wilcox and assumed financing of the building. Mr. Biggs allowed the 25 to 30 members to pay as much as they could and he credited the same amount as the payment on the debt. | |
|
| 1897 |
| Rev. W.A. Ferrell became pastor for a year. | |
|
| 1898 |
| Rev. R.G. Kendrick served as pastor until 1899. | |
|
| 1899 |
| Dr. Walter Johnson was pastor until 1901. | |
|
| 1901 |
| Dr. T.T. Lumpkin assumed duties as pastor. He was known to be a great organizer and builder. Under Dr. Lumpkin's leadership, a Sunday School was started in Rosemary. On October 7th, Dr. Lumpkin organized the Sunday School to become Rosemary Baptist Church. A letter was presented to the Tar River Association and Rosemary Baptist was accepted as a member. | |
|
| 1903 |
| Dr. Lumpkin left to attend the Baptist Seminary and Rev. H.C. Ruffin took over the duties as pastor. Rev. J.A. Gomett was pastor for a short period of time. | |
|
| 1904 |
| Rev. T.S. Crutchfield served for two years. During this time, a severe electrical storm practically destoyed the old church. The pulpit was damaged as well as the roof and windows. The repair was nearly a complete job of reconstruction. | |
|
| 1906 |
| Rev. J.K. Henderson was the first minister who did not have to also conduct services in Weldon. Rev. Henderson served as pastor for about a year. Upon his leaving, Fred F. Brown supplied as pastor for about a year. | |
|
| 1908 |
| Rev. G.G. O'Neil served for a short time. This same year, Rev. A.O. Moore stepped in as pastor and remained until 1913. | |
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| 1913 |
| Rev. Jesse Blalock became pastor and served for two years. | |
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| 1915 |
| Rev. C.H. Trueblood became pastor and served for three years. | |
|
| 1918 |
| Rev. T.S. Crutchfield returned as pastor. He remained at First Baptist longer than any other pastor until Rev. Gordon Price (1933). | |
|
| 1925 |
| Rev. A.P. Mustain became pastor and served until 1933. Plans for a new church building commenced this year. Wells D. Tillery was elected Chairman of the Building Committee. Mr. Tillery purchased lots at a section of Roanoke Avenue and Sixth Street. Church members decided they preferred a location at Roanoke Avenue and Fourth Street. The lots were traded for some owned by W.L. Long. Members funded the building costs along with volunteering labor and materials. The ladies Aid Society raised funds for the project. The Home Mission Board drew the plans for the church building. | |
|
| 1928 |
| By Christmas the building was a skeleton of walls and girders. The church building was completed and equipment and pews were purchased. | |
|
| 1933 |
| Rev. W.H. Baucomb, Jr. served as pastor for a short time after Rev Mustain left. The Church voted on November 19th to call Gordon Price as pastor. Rev. Price accepted the call on November 29th and agreed to his first Sunday to be December 19th. Rev. Price, at the time, was pastoring three churches in Courtland, VA. Rev. Price was ordained at Pine Street Baptist in Richmond, VA. | |
|
| 1940 |
| On October 6th of this year, the church note was burned. | |
|
| 1946 |
| Alvin Pitt was ordained in February of this year. | |
|
| 1947 |
| On April 8th, First Baptist received a check from the Baptist State Convention for Gaston Baptist Church. This was one of five missions started by First Baptist. | |
|
| 1950 |
| Oliver B. Greene held a yearly two-week revival in February for as long as his health allowed. Frank and Lucy Smith served as Home Missionaries in the church and lived at 410 Starke Drive. Calvary Baptist Church was one of the missions started by First Baptist. Charles Neal and Daniel Jolly were ordained. Worth and Kathryn Grant were commisioned as foreign missionaries to Japan, serving for twenty years from August 23, 1950 to August 26, 1970. | |
|
| 1951 |
| On March 28th, Robert Watson was given a letter of approval regarding his call to the work of the gospel ministry. | |
|
| 1953 |
| The Ruth Sunday School Class was started by Irma Price, wife of Pastor Gordon Price. | |
|
| 1955 |
| On February 13th, ground breaking ceremonies were held for the first phase of the proposed $250,000 building program. | |
|
| 1957 |
| Rev. Gordon Price and his family moved into the newly remodeled seven bedroom pastorium at 410 Starke Drive. This same year, Julian Mills, Francis (Frank) Crumpler and Earl Crumpler were licensed to preach the gospel. | |
|
| 1958 |
| In January, Rev. Gordon Price and his wife Irma spent ten days at a revival in Cuba. Pastor Price was also presented with a trip to the Holy Land from the Church. In February, Richard Elton Gray was ordained. | |
|
| 1966 |
| On March 8th, Rev. Gordon Price died at his home. Dr. Kelly White became interim pastor. September 18th was the first Sunday for Marvin Faile as pastor of First Baptist. | |
|
| 1969 |
| The first Kindergarten Graduation was held on May 27th with Beck O'Neal as teacher and Marcella Jackson as assistant. | |
|
| 1971 |
| In March, Pastor and Mrs. Marvin Faile, along with William "Spot" Hutchinson, left for a ten day tour of the Holy Land. Charles E. Wright was ordained on May 30th. This same year, Don Shue was named the first Director of Roanoke Christian School, serving kindergarten through third grade children. | |
|
| 1972 |
| First Baptist purchased 13.1 acres of land at the present-day location on Becker Drive. In December, WPGT-FM radio began operations with Jack Nichols as manager under a program test authority. | |
|
| 1973 |
| The license to operate WPGT-FM was received in January. Ann Draper served as acting director of Roanoke Christian School until Robert Kellner was hired for the position. | |
|
| 1974 |
| Richard Earl Draper was ordained in July. | |
|
| 1975 |
| In March, Pastor and Mrs. Faile had an open house at their new home on Beechwood Drive. The church pastorium was sold. In April, Irma Price resigned as Missionary Staff Member due to health problems. Bonds were sold to fund the new church building. | |
|
| 1976 |
| A ground breaking ceremony was held on March 21st for the present day church facility. Jack Nichols resigned his position in August.
Robert Kellner became the Music Director and manager of WPGT-FM. | |
|
| 1977 |
| January 30th marks the date of the first full Sunday Services in the new facilities. Wayne Turner became the Associate Pastor and Director of Roanoke Christian School. A dedication service was held on March 6th for the new Becker Drive facilities. The first kindergarten graduation in the new facilities was held on May 27th. The wedding of T.W. King and Debra Futrell became the first wedding held at the new location. Former pastor Rev. A.P. Mustain died on July 10th. | |
|
| 1978 |
| In February, Pastor and Mrs. Faile were honored with a reception for their 25th wedding anniversary. The first Roanoke Christian School graduation was held on May 5th. Graduates included Wanda Harlow and Cindy Storey. Earl Fowlkes was called as Associate Pastor and later filled the duty as Director of the Roanoke Christian School upon Wayne Turner's resignation. | |
|
| 1980 |
| Irma Price Appreciation Day was held on July 27th. In September, Pastor Appreciation Day was held for Pastor Marvin Faile in honor of his 14th anniversary with First Baptist, along with his 49th birthday. | |
|
| 1981 |
| Pastor Marvin Faile's resignation became effective as of November 20th. | |
|
| 1982 |
| Earl Fowlkes preached until Rev. Luther Matthews was called as Interim. Rev. Matthews remained as an Associate after Dr. Campbell was called. Earl Fowlkes resigned his position prior to Dr. Campbell's arrival. May 2nd was Dr. W.C. Campbell's first Sunday as Pastor. Don Phillips was called as full-time Associate. He had been serving a part-time position in the months prior.
Margaret Anderson was hired as Director of Roanoke Christian School after Earl Fowlkes resigned. | |
|
| 1985 |
| In honor of Mrs. Price (wife of former pastor, Rev. Gordon Price), the ladies class ages 40-49 was renamed the Irma Price Class. | |
|
| 1986 |
| Roanoke Christian School closed in June. The school produced nine graduating classes during its years of operation. | |
|
| 1990 |
| Dr. Campbell resigned, effective March 11th. Bruce Moore was called to Interim. Rev. Don Phillips resigned effective August 19th. Dr. Clyde Alderman became Pastor on August 19th. Larry Scott was hired as part-time Minister of Youth and Music in November. | |
|
| 1991 |
| In March, the time for Sunday School was changed to 9:30 AM and worship services to 10:45 AM to allow more time for music. In April, it was voted that non-members would no longer be allowed to use the church facilities. | |
|
| 1992 |
| In January, a Centennial Committee was established to plan the 100th anniversary of First Baptist Church. In May, former pastor, Dr. Marvin Faile, held the spring revival. Also in May, Larry Scott was ordained into the ministry on the 24th. In July, a new church constitution and by-laws was adopted. It was produced by Dr. Alderman and the current Deacons. The church ministries were divided into seven areas with two deacons overseeing each area. | |
|
| 1993 |
| In February, the church approved the plans for the Centennial Celebration as May, 1993 through May, 1994. The theme was "Remembering the Past - Reaching for the Future" 1894-1994. | |
|
| 1994 |
| Rev. G. Hilton Jeffreys was called as Associate Pastor on June 19, 1994 and served until August 24, 1997. In September, 1994, Hilton became the Interim Pastor after the resignation of Dr. Clyde Alderman. | |
|
| 1995 |
| In April, Rev. Richard W. Gaskins was called as Pastor. | |
|
| 2000 |
| Rev. Chris Headley served as Minister of Youth and Music from January, 2000 until September, 2003. | |
|
| 2004 |
| In January, Rev. Donald L. West became Minister of Music. | |
|
| 2005 |
| Web site is published on April 19 -- www.fbcrrnc.org. | |
|
| 2006 |
| In August, the church parking lot was paved at the Becker Drive location. | |
|
| 2009 |
| In June, Dr. Julian Mills was called as Interim Pastor after the resignation of Rev. Richard Gaskins. In December, a new roof was installed on the entire church building. | |
