Primera Iglesia Bautista de la Ciudad de México

In 1882, a vision took root in the heart of Mexico City. The Primera Iglesia Bautista de la Ciudad de México began its journey. We stand now before its modern incarnation. But its story echoes back to a much humbler beginning. The first congregation gathered in the basement of a house on San Felipe Neri. Later, they moved to a small chapel on Arco de Agustin. The dream of a dedicated sanctuary, however, persisted. In 1886, Reverend Sloan embarked on a mission to New York. His goal was to secure funding for a proper church building for the Primera Iglesia Bautista de la Ciudad de México. The Society of Missions, along with notable figures like John D. Rockefeller’s son, answered the call. With the funds secured, the Primera Iglesia Bautista de la Ciudad de México found its home on land once belonging to the Franciscan Order. This very ground held the orchards of the Apostolic College of Propaganda Fide. It was here, where missionaries who shaped New Spain were trained. By 1887, construction began under the watchful eye of Dr. O.C. Pope. The first Primera Iglesia Bautista de la Ciudad de México building, located on what is now Heroes and Mina, opened its doors on November 27, 1887. Reverend Thomas Martin Westrup delivered the dedication sermon, and Dr. Guillermo D. Powell, the first American missionary to Mexico appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention, offered the consecration prayer. The original church featured a wrought-iron fence, a pastoral house facing Heroes street, and an entrance on Mina. A bell tower graced the roofline. Inside, three rows of pews faced a central, oval-shaped pulpit inscribed with a verse from Revelations. The Primera Iglesia Bautista de la Ciudad de México witnessed the tumultuous changes of Mexico’s history. Revolutionary troops even set up their headquarters across the street during the post-Porfirio Diaz era. By 1949, the old building had served its purpose. The congregation made way for a new era. Architect Alberto Barocio Barrios, who also served as president of the National Baptist Convention of Mexico, designed the current structure. The new sanctuary was consecrated in 1950 and dedicated in 1957. Services continued uninterrupted throughout the construction period. The Primera Iglesia Bautista de la Ciudad de México, as we know it today, stands as a testament to faith and perseverance. It’s a symbol of a community that has thrived amidst a nation’s evolving story.