Beech Tree News Network

First Baptist Church held a groundbreaking service on Sunday for the new Fellowship Hall.  Five years ago a building fund was started by the WMU and in March of this year the Church voted to proceed with the construction of the new Fellowship Hall.
According to Pastor Greg Wallace the Church had a need for a ground level, handicapped accessible fellowship hall and kitchen.  “We have members in our church who cannot attend fellowship gatherings because they cannot navigate the steps to the basement,” said Wallace.

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The last major building project for First Baptist was in 1982 when they remodeled the church.  

“For nearly 100 years our present Church building has been on this corner as a lighthouse to this community.  It was built and maintained by those who have gone before us with great sacrifice and hardship.  We praise God for those who preserved offering the opportunity for many to know Christ.  Our desire is to glorify God with this new addition to our Church,” said Wallace.
According to Gasper River Association minutes for 1840 a Missionary Baptist Church in Morgantown had a membership of 18.  That membership increased to 31 in 1842.  By 1873, a Union Church was built on Ohio Street where Methodist, Cumberland Presbyterians, and Baptists shared the services each meeting on a different Sunday. 

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On January 20, 1885 a charter group formed a Missionary Baptist Church led by Dr. R. B. Morehead and Elder John Casebrier.   Morehead was called as first pastor and the group started a building on Main Street in 1894 and finally completed it in December 1897.  Lightening struck the church on January 18, 1915 and it burned.  The Church was rebuilt at the current location, on the corner of Main and Hobson Street, and dedicated on July 14, 1918.  Brother A.B. Gardner was the pastor.