First Baptist Church of Williamson, WV

Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale of, and use of, intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

Our History

It all began on October 9, 1891, when two lots were purchased from the Williamson Mining and Manufacturing Company on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Harvey Street. The present church edifice stands on these two lots. The Williamson Baptist Church was organized on September 1, 1898, by Reverend J. H. Fitzgerald, a Baptist missionary. There were only four charter members. Their names were as follows: Mrs. E.F. Randolph, Mrs. H. K. Shumate, Mrs. James Damron, and Mrs. Mont Williamson.

An old mission church building occupied by the Baptist State Mission Board, located where the present educational building now stands, but facing the alley, was the first home of the new organization. This was the first Baptist work started in Mingo County. The Mission Society was officially organized in 1906 with thirteen members. On March 25, 1908; the American Baptist Home Mission Society, which apparently felt that the church was strong enough to branch out on its own, deeded its two lots to the trustees, with the reservation that the society would hold a trust deed against the property for money that it used in starting the church. This was done in order to protect the society in the event something should happen and the property would no longer be used as a site for a Missionary Baptist Church. A new church building was erected in 1908 at a cost of $7,000.00. The Reverend William E. Hatcher, of Richmond, Virginia, preached the dedication sermon.

Sometime during the year of 1917, the original parsonage was erected, where the present educational building now stands, at a cost of $4,500.00.

On September 1, 1923, a two story building adjoining the church property was purchased at a cost of $7,500.00. The following year, in 1924, the East Williamson Baptist Church was organized as a mission.

The church secured as pastor the services of Reverend W. W. Williams in 1925. His ministry was a fruitful one, and a building fund was started. During his ministry, a social hall was constructed by excavating under the church building in 1926. The church then owned $10,000.00, which was borrowed from the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company.

Rev. H. J. Francis was called to the church October 15, 1928. Attention was given to matters of organization, finance, and evangelism.

Rev. J. C. Jones was called to the pastorate September, 1932. During his pastorate, the Calvary Baptist Sunday School was organized in July, 1936. The Sunday School was later organized into a church by East Williamson Baptist Church.

In 1937, a building fund was started. The amount being $2,550.00. On January 30, 1938, the church building was damaged by fire, and the $2,102.85 collected in insurance was added to the building fund. In the 1939 budget of the church, $4,200.00 was designated for the building fund. During the first ten months of the year $4,745.00 was added to the fund of $10,052.85 which, with interest from the savings account, made a total of $14,946.87. On March 10, 1939, a contract was awarded to J. E. Miller, Huntington, W. Va., for the remodeling of the church auditorium and the erection of an educational building according to plans and specifications prepared by Frampton and Bowers, Architects, Huntington, W. Va. The general contract, which did not include the heating system, was for $40,850.00. On March 21, 1939, the contract for the heating plant was awarded to Noah Farley for the sum of $3,168.00. An addition of $368.48 for heating units was later attached to the heating contract. Due to unforeseen expense necessary for the remodeling of the auditorium, and a few other extras, $4,119.47 was added to the general contract. The architect’s fee was $1,052.41. The pews were installed at a cost of $1,393.85. The total cost was $50,952.21. Added equipment for educational building brought the total to $53,952.21. The amount received for the building fund before awarding the contract and during the process of building was $18,952.21. The church indebtedness when the new building was occupied was $35,000.00. The first service was held in the remodeled building on November 5, 1939, with Rev. J. C. Jones serving as pastor. The building committee for the erection of the new building were as follows: C.C. Lowe, E. F. Randolph, 0. E. Hogan, S. A. Reed, D. E. Mead, I. J. Napier, A. L. Hicks, R. D. Sparks, Henry Lacy W. S. Cox, T. D. Burgess, Gilmer Galyean, Earl Billups, W. R. Farrar, W. Scott Whitt, C. E. Naylor, M.C Dlngess Jr., J. H. White, L. E. Armontrout, Mrs. P. B. Maynard, J. S. Felton, Mrs. F. L. Thompson, Noah Farley, R. T. Price, C. M. Johnson, A. E. Greene, 0.W. Thomason, G. E. Whitmore, Bennie Hamilton, J. M. Stepp, C. A. Wolfe, and David Emmons. This committee selected a smaller committee of three to work out the details of construction; they were: E. F. Randolph, Chairman, R. T. Price, and J. S. Felton.

The Connolly Memorial Baptist Church Sunday School was organized September, 1939, and the church organized January 1940.

The church voted to call Miss Dorothy Ann Taylor as educational Director, February 8, 1944. Rev. J. C. Jones submitted his resignation March 12, 1944, effective April 30, 1944, and accepted a call to become Promotional Director of the Guyandotte Association May 1, 1944.

Rev. J. F. Horton accepted the call to the pastorate October, 1944. The church voted to take a special offering at the end of the service in which the Lord’s Supper was observed for special needs (this is known as our Fellowship Offering), December 6, 1944. On January 17, 1945, a committee was appointed to investigate the mission fields in our area; this committee was: C. C. Lowe, S. A. Reed, A. L. Hicks, and I. J. Napier. September 12, 1945, the church voted to organize a Board of Christian Education and December 5, 1945, a Men’s Council was organized. A Mission Sunday School was organized at Aflex, Kentucky on February 4, 1945, and the Mission Sunday School at Matewan, W. V. was started February, 1946. Miss Dorothy Ann Taylor, Educational Director, resigned September 30, 1946. Rev. Horton resigned, effective March 15, 1947, and accepted a call to the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Charleston, W. V.

Rev. Walter A. Mitchell accepted a call to the pastorate June 15, 1947. On July 16, 1947, the nursery was furnished by the Mission Society and the church purchased eighteen chairs and a rug for the nursery in September, 1947. The Matewan Mission was organized as a Baptist Church during May, 1948. A homecoming Revival was held June 21 — 27, 1948, at which time a “note burning” ceremony was held with Mrs. E. F. Randolph burning the note. Former pastors participating in the homecoming were Rev, J. H. Fitzgerald, Rev. W. Williams and Rev. J. F. Horton. At a business meeting February 8, 1950, Ira Napier and Walter Sparks were appointed as a committee to secure Information for a suitable parsonage lot. November 19, 1950, the church voted to build a parsonage at an approximate cost of $24,092.00 at 43 Sunset Addition. Serving as a committee for the building of the parsonage were R. T. Price, Howard Coleman, W. P. T. Varney, and George Fralin. The Kermit Mission was established in 1950. Rev. Mitchell resigned effective December, 13, 1950. At a special meeting December 13, 1950, Rev. E. W. Billings was called as Interim Pastor. Rev. Clarence E. Jones, Jr. was called to the pastorate June, 1951. At a business meeting July 4, 1951, it was unanimously approved by the church to designate $150.00 per month of our mission fund to the State for services of a pastor for Kermit Mission. A new heating plant was added to the church in August, 1951, at a cost of $640.00. The parsonage was completed in August, 1951, with a total cost of $25,660.87. In December, 1951, the organ was moved out of the choir loft to the floor level of the auditorium, opposite the piano, In order that more seats could be placed in the choir loft. At a special business meeting January 21, 1953, the Board of Christian Education recommended we adopt American Baptist Convention literature for the Sunday School. The church approved a recommendation that the building committee obtain approximate cost for a new Sunday School building on the site of the old parsonage, June 10, 1953. The church voted to withdraw from the Twelve pole Association and seek admission in the Logan—Mingo Association on October 7, 1953. The church voted to participate in the Frontier Mission program of the American Baptist Convention, beginning February 1, 1954. Chimes for the organ were purchased from the Kenny Music Company at a cost of $585.00, approved by the church April 7, 1954. On June 9, 1954, the church voted to remodel the old parsonage for Sunday school rooms at a cost of $13,886.24. The Y.B.A. program was adopted May 4, 1955. A Library Committee was formed and approved by the church July 9, 1958, the “book screening committee” were Rev. Clarence Jones, Jr., Noah Floyd, Mrs. Graham Smith. The church approved a fire escape on the alley side of the church annex at an approximate cost of $665.00, September 24, 1958. The church voted to employ a minister of music and church secretary May 6, 1959. Mrs. Eugene Murphy was employed effective August I, 1959. Rev. Clarence Jones resigned January I, 1960, to accept a pastorate at Kanawha City Baptist Church, Charleston, W. Va.

Rev. G. Durham lpock was called to the pastorate September, 1960. The church voted to concrete the parking space In front of the church. on Harvey Street at a business meeting July 5, 1961. On December 5, 1962, It was voted to concrete the parking space on Fifth Avenue side of the church. A committee, composed of H.S. Coleman, Robert Jackson, and Walter Sparks submitted a report to the church May 8, 1963, for repairs and renovations to the church building at an approximate cost of $10,000.00; it was approved March 4, 1964, the church approved purchase of property across the alley from Mrs. Starnes at a cost of $5,000.00. Rev. Ipock resigned August, 1964. Rev. J. C. Jones, a former pastor, was called by the church to serve as interim pastor, effective October I, 1964. April 7, 1965, the church voted to purchase five new pianos from Huntington Piano and Organ Company and have the grand piano renovated at a cost of $3,230.00.

The Rev. Warren 0. Shields was called to the pastorate August,1965. October 6, 1965, a committee was approved by the church for the purpose of drawing up a constitution; they were as follows: Mrs. Aubrey Booth, chairman, Charles Wayt, R. T. Price, Jr., Walter Sparks, David Runyon, Clarence Booth, Howard Coleman, Mrs. Russell Blackburn, Miss Ruth Smith, and Rev. Shields. The church approved the purchase of new choir robes for the Cappella (adult) choir at an approximate cost of $875.00, January 5, 1966. On April 5, 1967, the church voted to air condition the sanctuary of the church building at a cost of $10,232.25. The church voted to participate in the World Mission Campaign, November 8, 1967. At the end of the canvas, we had $21,427.00 pledged, which was to be paid over a period of three years. The nursery was remodeled at the cost of approximately $2,300.00 in 1968. “Operation Forward” committee, consisting of R. T. Price, Jr., Clarence Booth, Ogden Ward, Russell Blackburn, and Portia Doka was approved by the church.

Rev. Shields submitted his resignation January 7, 1973, effective February I, 1973, and accepted a call to become pastor of the newly formed New North HI! Is Baptist Church, near Sissonville, W. Va.

Rev. J. Cecil Jones was called to serve as interim pastor, effective March 4, 1973. The church voted to purchase the Marybelle Fields property on July 4, 1973, at the cost of $16,000.00. This property joins the church on Fifth Avenue. At the August 8, 1973, business meeting, the church voted to purchase the Tom Hankins property for $8,000.00 (across the alley, directly behind the Starnes property). The church also voted to observe the 75th anniversary of our church and a committee composed of C. W. Wayt, James Preston, Rev. Jones, Agnes Blankenship and Florence Murphy was approved to plan the event.

The Rev. David L. Kidd was called to the pastorate November 1, 1973. December 5, 1973, the church voted to call the Examining Council to meet with David Hess with view of proceeding with ordination. On Sunday, February 3, 1974, the Ordination service of David Hess to the Christian ministry was held. An amendment to the church constitution was voted and approved by the church June 29, 1975. On August 2, 1975, the church voted to have the parking lot paved at an approximate cost of $4,050.00 (work was completed June 3, 1976). October 1, 1975, the church voted to have the exterior walls sandblasted and cleaned, and the mortar replaced between bricks at an approximate cost of $12,000.00, (work completed January 10, 1976 at a cost of $12,402.67 by MidContinental Waterproofing Co.). The Rev. David L. Kidd left June 29, 1976.

June, 1976, the church approved the calling of the Rev. J. Cecil Jones as interim pastor, beginning August 1, 1976. The church experienced the worst winter of its history, beginning in November and culminating in January when the water pipes froze and the church was without heat for approximately six weeks. Services were held in the social hall (with electric heaters providing heat).

On February 16, 1977, in a special business meeting the church voted to extend a call to the Rev, Floyd Baker. On February 20, 1977, after 3 Sunday readings, the church voted on the proposition of Phase 1, Operation Forward, for the church to borrow $150,000.00 to remodel the church. Complete replacement of the sanctuary stained glass windows and steel frames with faceted stained glass was to be included. Renovation of sanctuary interior, including rebuilding of choir loft and pulpit platform, installation of acoustic materials, modification of baptistery, installation of new updated heating and cooling systems, appliances, enlargement of pastor’s office, installation of new choir chairs, pulpit chairs, pew cushions, baptistery drapes and the installation of new chandeliers was called for. Modifications of existing air conditioning system and complete repainting of sanctuary was planned. Installation of new carpeting throughout sanctuary and installation of complete sound system was projected.

On April 4, 1977, Williamson and its surrounding area were hit with a major flood in which 64 of our church family were flooded in their homes or businesses. The church building got water and mud in the basement After the residue was removed, the social hall was used as a clothing distribution point and storage for West Virginia Baptist Materials. The educational building was used as sleeping quarters for workers coming in to help with the cleanup.

On May 4, 1977, the church voted to set up a special flood relief fund for members who lost personal belongings in the flood, using $15,000.00 for the immediate use of the Forward Fund.

The Rev. J. Cecil Jones completed his interim pastorate on June 19, 1977. The Rev. Floyd Baker arrived on the Williamson scene in June 1977, in the wake of the community’s most disastrous flood in its history A $150,000.00 renovation of the church was completed during his years of service. A “noteburning” ceremony was held January, 1987. R. T. Price, Jr., chairman of the Forward Fund Committee, burned the Forward Fund Bank note. Mrs. Florence Murphy resigned as Secretary and choir director May, 1984. Rev. Baker submitted his resignation August 16, 1987, effective September 15, 1987, to accept the call to Ripley, W. Va to establish a new Baptist church as a part of the West Virginia Baptist Convention.

The Pastor Search Committee voted November 5, 1987 to call Rev. Jacob W. Boggs as interim pastor, effective November 24, 1987.

Since 1987 other people who have served either as interim or regular Pastor are interim Pastor, Bob Keaton who arrived April 30, 2000 interim Pastor, Wesley Jenkins who arrived April 15, 2001 called Pastor John Mazarella who arrived on June 1, 2001, interim Pastor Charles Rhodes who arrived in September 2003 and current called Pastor Roger Tinnel who arrived December 1, 2003. Roger Tinnel and his wife Joan recently celebrated his 40th year in the Ministry and he and his wife were both honored and each has received as a gift a trip to the holy land for two weeks touring Egypt and Israel.

The journey of First Baptist Church continues into the 21st Century with the desire to reach up, reach out and reach you and in that regard fulfill the great commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In addition to ongoing individual evangelism various new programs and ministries have been implemented including the computer lab. The computer lab was sponsored by Mission West Virginia and provides for ten fully equipped computers with Internet connections so that beginning classes in all areas of computer information can be held at the church. Joyce Roddy and Nancy Ramey teach the computer classes. The classes are held and what is known as the youth building next to the First Baptist Church which was recently purchased as part of an expansion program. It is anticipated that there will soon be a new social hall. In addition the church had purchased the property across the street from the church to use as a parking lot and it has been paved and renovated. The Church also maintains a web site where live Internet broadcast of the church services can be viewed by any one anywhere in the world who accesses the web site. In addition, on the main website video services are posted where numerous recently recorded services that were broadcast live on the Internet initially can also be seen at a later time on a recorded basis simply by clicking the link located on the web site. The most recent figures indicate approximately 1800 individual and different computers visit the web site monthly. Total hits for the site are in excess of 30,000. The church installed an overhead projector and screen and uses those for power point presentations with music and videos to which the congregation can sing praise music or view other presentations prepared by the sound apartment. In addition to being broadcast live on the Internet the church services are videotaped and played on Sunday evening on the local Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College channel also as an evangelistic endeavor. The journey to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ for all and a better relationship with Christ our Lord continues at First Baptist Church.

Church Covenant

Our History