Marion in McDowell County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

First Baptist Church

c. 1912

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 16, 2025

1. First Baptist Church Marker

Inscription.
First Baptist Church
c. 1912
Has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.

Location. 35° 41.115′ N, 82° 0.594′ W. Marker is in Marion, North Carolina, in McDowell County. It is at the intersection of North Main Street and West Fort Street, on the right when traveling south on North Main Street. The marker is to the left of the sanctuary entrance at ground level. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 99 N Main Street, Marion NC 28752, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Roy Williams (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Charters of Freedom (about 600 feet away); M/Sgt. Shufford Cline Rowe (about 600 feet away); McDowell County War Memorial (about 600 feet away); McDowell County Courthouse (about 600 feet away); First Presbyterian Church (about 700 feet away); Lone Beech (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sesquicentennial Testament (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marion.

More about this marker. First Baptist Church is a contributing building to the Main Street Historic District in Marion.

Regarding First Baptist Church. Excerpts from the Main Street Historic District:

First Baptist Church is an imposing eclectic example of the Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival styles. Some of the Gothic Revival elements include irregular roof massing, steeply pitched roofs

First Baptist Church Marker to the left of the sanctuary entrance near the bottom image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 16, 2025

2. First Baptist Church Marker to the left of the sanctuary entrance near the bottom

capped by finials, a large bell tower with several smaller towers at each corner, use of tracery in the stained glass windows, and corner buttresses. The entry doors are framed by segmental brick arches which terminate at brick pilasters capped by multiple rows of brick corbelling...

First Baptist Church of Marion was founded on July 21, 1862, with only 15 charter members. A wooden structure to house the congregation was built in 1878, on the same lot as the present church. It was torn down when plans were made in 1912 to build a new structure. It is thought that Chesley Buchanan, a native of McDowell County, served as construction supervisor for the new buiding. It is not known if he drew the plans, or if an architect designed the buiding. Other builders who worked with Mr. Buchanan were William and George Early, and Adz Smith. B. B. Price, a prominent Marion citizen and first vice president of First National Bank of Marion, was instrumental in the building of the church, and may possibly have helped design it...It took two years to complete the building, because the church refused to go into debt, and paid for the building as funds

Full view of First Baptist Church, Marion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 16, 2025

3. Full view of First Baptist Church, Marion

became available. First services were held in the present building December 20, 1914.

Also see . . .
1. History of First Baptist Church or Marion.

The First Baptist Church of Marion was constituted on July 21, 1862, by a Presbytery under the leadership of the Rev. R.H. Moody and the Rev. J.A. Stradley. Records indicate that the original membership consisted of 11 members; 5 men and 6 women. Articles of Faith and Covenant were adopted. Rev. J.A. Stradley conducted a service on August 16, 1862 and September 21, 1862. At its second meeting, the church decided to join the Green River Baptist Association.

Rev. C.B. Justice began his pastorate of the infant church in August, 1863. He held the first service at the residence of Isaac Reel, and then began holding services in the Duncan School House, a log building located in what is now East Marion. At this time the name of the church was changed from “Marion Baptist Church” to “Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.” Services continued to be conducted at irregular intervals during 1863 and 1864...On August 10, 1909, the church bought a lot on the corner of North Main and Fort Streets, adjoining
Photographed by Mark Parker, March 16, 2025

4. First Baptist Church Marion sign
its lot, preparatory to the erection of a new church edifice. Construction of a new building commenced in 1912, with the first brick being laid on October 9th of that year. The first service was held in the new building December 20, 1914. On May 14, 1916, the church voted to change the name from “Marion Baptist Church” to “The First Baptist Church of Marion.”

(Submitted on March 22, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

2. Main Street Historic District Nomination Form (pdf). Form prepared by Sybil Argintar Rowers,. Presentation Planning Consultant, Bowers Southeastern Preservation, Asheville, NC, 1990 (Submitted on March 22, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.