Decatur in Morgan County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
First Missionary Baptist Church
Photographed By Tim Carr, February 20, 2010
1. First Missionary Baptist Church Marker
Inscription.
First Missionary Baptist Church. . Led by first pastor Alfred Peters, 21 members organized this church on April 22, 1866, in the home of Sister Jane Young. Services were first held in a storefront building on the banks of the Tennessee River. In 1873 First Missionary purchased a church building from a Methodist congregation on the corner of Market and Canal Streets, NE and used the building as their place of worship until 1919. At this time Dr. Sterrs, S.S. Sykes, and G.F. Oliver secured a $1460 loan to purchase the present property where St. Ann’s Catholic Church was once located. The present church was designed by prominent African American architect W. A. Rayfield in 1921 and constructed for $1250. The building underwent renovations in 1984 and a $260,000 educational wing was added in 1989-90. First Missionary was built through the efforts of professionals, craftsmen, and donations of “nickels and dimes."
Led by first pastor Alfred Peters, 21 members organized this church on April 22, 1866, in the home of Sister Jane Young. Services were first held in a storefront building on the banks of the Tennessee River. In 1873 First Missionary purchased a church building from a Methodist congregation on the corner of Market and Canal Streets, NE and used the building as their place of worship until 1919. At this time Dr. Sterrs, S.S. Sykes, and G.F. Oliver secured a $1460 loan to purchase the present property where St. Ann’s Catholic Church was once located. The present church was designed by prominent African American architect W. A. Rayfield in 1921 and constructed for $1250. The building underwent renovations in 1984 and a $260,000 educational wing was added in 1989-90. First Missionary was built through the efforts of professionals, craftsmen, and donations of “nickels and dimes."
Location. 34° 36.87′ N, 86° 59.304′ W. Marker is in Decatur
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, Alabama, in Morgan County. Marker is at the intersection of Vine Street Northwest and Grove Street Northwest, on the left when traveling north on Vine Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Decatur AL 35601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,371 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on February 20, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 2, 3. submitted on February 21, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
