First Baptist Church of Orange

Duane's take

The way I tell it, I'm drawing straight from the official marker for the First Baptist Church of Orange, so let me take you there. Now, a church doesn't just appear out of nowhere, and this one is no exception. Back in 1879, the Reverend Andrew Peddy helped organize a congregation with eighteen charter members.

Eighteen. Not a crowd by most measures, but enough to get something started. And where did they meet?

The frame Orange County courthouse. Not exactly a steeple-and-pew situation, but they made do, helped along for a time by missionary preachers passing through. That right there is a congregation running on faith and whatever floor space the county could spare.

Then in 1883, Sarah A. Finch and Anna and L. L.

Bettis deeded a lot in that very block to the congregation. The following year, a meetinghouse went up, forty feet by sixty feet, built and ready. That's real ground to stand on.

By 1898, during the ministry of the Reverend J. T. Stanton, the congregation had grown into a name: Green Avenue Baptist Church.

Then comes 1909, and Green Avenue merged with the Eighth Street Baptist Church, and out of that union rose The First Baptist Church of Orange. Under the Reverend J. Stuart Pearce, more land came in 1913, and a brick sanctuary was in use by 1915.

Brick, now. That's a statement. J.

G. McMullen gave additional property for a new education building in 1939. Under the pastorate of Dr.

Cooper Waters the congregation kept growing, more land was purchased, and a second education building went up in 1952. Then in 1958 the Viola McCorquodale Building and fellowship hall were erected. And through all of it, this fellowship helped establish five other Baptist churches: Cove, Little Cypress, Brownwood, Riverside, and Maplecrest.

Eighteen charter members in a county courthouse, and look what grew from it.

What the marker says

In 1879 the Rev. Andrew Peddy helped organize this congregation with 18 charter members. They met in the frame Orange County courthouse and were served for a time by missionary preachers. Sarah A. Finch and Anna and L. L. Bettis deeded a lot in this block to the congregation in 1883. The following year a 40' X 60' meetinghouse was erected. In 1898, during the ministry of the Rev. J. T. Stanton, the congregation adopted the name "Green Avenue Baptist Church". This membership merged in 1909 with the eighth street baptist church to become "The first Baptist Church of Orange". Under the leadership of the Rev. J. Stuart Pearce, more land was acquired in 1913 and this brick sanctuary was in use by 1915. J. G. McMullen gave additional property for a new education building in 1939. As the congregation grew under the pastorate of Dr. Cooper Waters, additional land was purchased, and a second education building was constructed in 1952. The Viola McCorquodale building and fellowship hall were erected in 1958. This fellowship has helped establish the following Baptist churches: Cove, Little Cypress, Brownwood, Riverside, and Maplecrest.