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. Louise 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 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 held in the Clinton F. Stewart
Funeral Home, West Road, Salisbury, Maryland 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 that contributed to 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 Street
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 than 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.
On December 5, 1988, the church called our present Pastor, Rev. Lewis
Nathaniel Watson. The church name then reverted back to its original
name, First Baptist Church. Under Rev. Watson’s anointed and visionary
leadership, many projects and ministries have been expanded and/or
implemented, namely -- Music Ministry (five choirs, youth and young adult
liturgical dance ministry), Christian Education Ministry (Youth Bible Study,
Adult Bible Study, Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Sunday School),
Radio Ministry, Lost Sheep Ministry, Prayer Ministry, Missionary Ministry,
Soup Kitchen for the homeless, Brown Bag Ministry, S.A.G.E. (Security
Around God’s Edifice) Ministry, S.H.A.R.E. (Singles Harvesting Abundant
& Rewarding Experiences) Ministry, Health Ministry, Pastor’s Relations
Ministry, Ushers’ Ministry (adult and youth), Transportation Ministry, and
Culinary Ministry (catering services). Projects implemented include
renovation of the parsonage, renovation of the old sanctuary, purchase of a
25 passenger mini bus and the purchase of properties on Booth Street for
economic development.
In November 1994, we marched into the new sanctuary with a seating
capacity of over 700. The parking lot will accommodate over 200 vehicles
including designated handicap spaces. In October 1996, the second
mortgage for the new sanctuary was paid off. In July 2002, the first
mortgage was paid off and Pastor Watson led First Baptist into a 2.5 million
dollar, 18,000 square foot Family Life & Cultural Center. The Cultural
Center has the Pastor’s Office, administrative offices, the Bread of Heaven
Bookstore & Gift Shop, a conference room, a computer room, library,
seven classrooms, a game room, and an auditorium to accommodate
recreational and social events. On April 24, 2009, the Family Life and
Cultural Center auditorium was name “The Lewis N. Watson Auditorium.”
Long term goals for the center include: Charter School, Senior Citizens
Activities and Summer Day Camp. Under Rev. Watson’s pastorate, the
church membership has increased from 50 to over 1,000.
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. Louise 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 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 held in the Clinton F. Stewart
Funeral Home, West Road, Salisbury, Maryland 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 that contributed to 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 Street
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 than 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.
On December 5, 1988, the church called our present Pastor, Rev. Lewis
Nathaniel Watson. The church name then reverted back to its original
name, First Baptist Church. Under Rev. Watson’s anointed and visionary
leadership, many projects and ministries have been expanded and/or
implemented, namely -- Music Ministry (five choirs, youth and young adult
liturgical dance ministry), Christian Education Ministry (Youth Bible Study,
Adult Bible Study, Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Sunday School),
Radio Ministry, Lost Sheep Ministry, Prayer Ministry, Missionary Ministry,
Soup Kitchen for the homeless, Brown Bag Ministry, S.A.G.E. (Security
Around God’s Edifice) Ministry, S.H.A.R.E. (Singles Harvesting Abundant
& Rewarding Experiences) Ministry, Health Ministry, Pastor’s Relations
Ministry, Ushers’ Ministry (adult and youth), Transportation Ministry, and
Culinary Ministry (catering services). Projects implemented include
renovation of the parsonage, renovation of the old sanctuary, purchase of a
25 passenger mini bus and the purchase of properties on Booth Street for
economic development.
In November 1994, we marched into the new sanctuary with a seating
capacity of over 700. The parking lot will accommodate over 200 vehicles
including designated handicap spaces. In October 1996, the second
mortgage for the new sanctuary was paid off. In July 2002, the first
mortgage was paid off and Pastor Watson led First Baptist into a 2.5 million
dollar, 18,000 square foot Family Life & Cultural Center. The Cultural
Center has the Pastor’s Office, administrative offices, the Bread of Heaven
Bookstore & Gift Shop, a conference room, a computer room, library,
seven classrooms, a game room, and an auditorium to accommodate
recreational and social events. On April 24, 2009, the Family Life and
Cultural Center auditorium was name “The Lewis N. Watson Auditorium.”
Long term goals for the center include: Charter School, Senior Citizens
Activities and Summer Day Camp. Under Rev. Watson’s pastorate, the
church membership has increased from 50 to over 1,000.
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First Baptist Church of Salisbury, MD
| "Courageously Walking by Faith" ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7 |