First Baptist Church of West Orange

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Somewhere in Orange County, right there in West Orange, a story began not with a building, not with a deed, not even with a congregation, but with a revival. The Reverend T.H.

Feagin held a series of successful revivals, and when the dust settled and the fervor found its footing, sixteen residents came together in 1902 to form what would become First Baptist Church of West Orange. Sixteen people. You could seat them at a couple of long tables.

But you've got to start somewhere. The Reverend W.G. Derrington stepped up as the first pastor, and that first year, the congregation didn't have a church at all.

They met in a small school building, borrowing space, making do, building something larger in spirit than in square footage. Then 1903 arrived, and the congregation put up a one-room church on Fourth Street, later known as Dayton Street. One room.

But it was theirs. From that single room, the story keeps growing. New facilities rose in 1922.

Then again in 1942. Then again in 1986. Each one a chapter, each one a testament to a congregation that kept outgrowing its walls.

And it wasn't just building for themselves. This church established mission churches that took root in the broader community: Winfree Baptist Church, McDonald Memorial Baptist Church, and Calvary Baptist Church. Sixteen people at a revival became a congregation, became a community institution, became the seed of multiple churches across the region.

That's the kind of return you don't put in a ledger. You put it on a marker.

What the marker says

After a series of successful revivals held by the Reverend T.H. Feagin, 16 residents formed what would become First Baptist Church of West Orange in 1902. The Reverend W.G. Derrington served as the first pastor. During the first year, the church met in a small school building. In 1903, the congregation built a one-room church on Fourth Street (later Dayton Street). New facilities were built in 1922, 1942 and 1986. The congregation established local mission churches: Winfree Baptist Church, McDonald Memorial Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. Through its work, the church has had a significant impact on the community and region. (2023)