First Baptist Church Worship Center

Was the First Baptist Church Worship Center always here? No, its journey began far from this spot, over a century and a half ago. In 1847, a small group of just seven Baptists, led by Reverend R.H. Taliaferro, founded the First Baptist Church of Austin. Imagine Austin then, a frontier village with scattered log cabins, the Texas Capitol a simple, one-story frame building. This fledgling church held its first services within those very capitol walls. They later moved to a house at 12th and Lavaca, then to the third floor of the Lamar-Moore Building on Congress Avenue. First Baptist Church Worship Center’s roots intertwine with the very growth of Austin itself. By 1855, the congregation had grown substantially, leading to the purchase of land at 10th and Colorado. Their first church building, a two-story stone structure, was completed around 1857. A gift from G.W. Glasscock Sr., a bell cast in Cincinnati in 1858, called the community to worship and served as a town crier, ringing out alarms for fires and town meetings. This same bell resides in the current church building. In the early days, Sunday services were a simple affair, hymns accompanied by a melodeon. The church was sparsely furnished, with plain glass windows, bare floors, and oil lamps. Men sat on the north side, women on the south, and enslaved members of the congregation were seated in the back. The original church building also served as a community hub, hosting a private school and even housing the Austin Public High School from 1885 to 1888. The Texas Baptist Herald was printed within its walls. Over the decades, the church evolved. The building underwent renovations, including stained-glass windows, a new roof and belfry, and eventually, a pipe organ. The congregation wrestled with complex issues, including race relations, ultimately affirming its commitment to inclusivity in 1963. By 1915, the church again found itself needing more space. A new location was chosen at 9th and Trinity, the site of the former Allen Junior High. The cornerstone of the old church was placed within the foundation of the new, a tangible link to its past. In 1969, as protests over the Kent State shootings marched past, the old bell rang out, a call for reconciliation. The First Baptist Church Worship Center stands as a testament to the enduring faith and evolving history of Austin’s Baptist community. From seven members in a frontier capitol to the thriving congregation of today, its story mirrors the city’s journey.