Marker Logo HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Wetumpka in Elmore County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
 

First Baptist Church of Wetumpka

 
 
First Baptist Church of Wetumpka Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 20, 2013
1. First Baptist Church of Wetumpka Marker
Inscription. (side 1)
Baptists settlers scattered along the Coosa River Valley established the church May 26, 1821. For the first twenty years, it was mostly known as the Coosa River Baptist Church. Migrating members sought several locations for the church, finally settling along the banks of Calloway Creek. In 1827, John Gray, church clerk and deacon, temporarily relocated the meeting house near a spring on his property. The frontier church grew successfully, but a few members moved to Wetumpka in 1836 due to some doctrinal differences. In 1837, the congregation united with a small church in town and became the Coosa River Baptist Church of Wetumpka.

Both the church and the town suffered loss in the 1840s. In 1843, when a fire ravaged the west side of town, the church building burned to the ground. The congregation secured another meeting place in a vacant store on the east side of the river. It, too, burned when a fire swept through downtown Wetumpka in 1845.
(Continued on other side)
(side 2)
(Continued from other side)
In 1846, the congregation acquired the present site from S.P. Storrs and began construction on this building on a pay-as-you-go plan. That year, the congregation met there after the ground floor rooms were completed. In 1847, they changed the name to First
Paid Advertisement
Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
Click or scan to see
this page online
Baptist Church of Wetumpka. The congregation held its first service in the completed sanctuary on July 11, 1852.

The building changed very little until 1909, when they added decorative features to the sanctuary, new pulpit furniture, stained glass windows, electric lights and new pews.

In 1928, they added a three-story Sunday school addition to the rear of the building. In 1932, the congregation remodeled the sanctuary to install a new pipe organ. They expanded the educational facilities in 1959 and constructed a new sanctuary in 1967. In 1992, they added more educational space and a fellowship hall.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2008

 
Erected by Alabama Historical Association.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 26, 1864.
 
Location. 32° 32.343′ N, 86° 12.595′ W. Marker is in Wetumpka, Alabama, in Elmore County. Marker is at the intersection of West Bridge Street (Alabama Route 212) and Dozier Street, on the right when traveling east on West Bridge Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 205 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka AL 36092, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are
First Baptist Church of Wetumpka Marker (Obverse) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 21, 2013
2. First Baptist Church of Wetumpka Marker (Obverse)
within walking distance of this marker. Lock 31 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Wetumpka Light Guard (about 600 feet away); Wetumpka Methodist Church (about 700 feet away); Wetumpka L&N Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wetumpka's Bridges (approx. ¼ mile away); High Water Mark (approx. ¼ mile away); Old Calaboose (approx. ¼ mile away); Wetumpka Impact Crater (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wetumpka.
 
First Baptist Church of Wetumpka image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 20, 2013
3. First Baptist Church of Wetumpka
Roof and cupola of original sanctuary was torn off by an EF-2 tornado. image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, February 2, 2019
4. Roof and cupola of original sanctuary was torn off by an EF-2 tornado.
On January 19th, 2019, a tornado severely damaged parts of the First Baptist Church including total loss of the multi-purpose building, removing the roof of the old sanctuary and damaging the new sanctuary. Marker can still be seen just to left of tree, and right of old sanctuary doors.
The multi-purpose building of the church now a complete loss. image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, February 2, 2019
5. The multi-purpose building of the church now a complete loss.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,183 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on May 25, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.   4, 5. submitted on February 2, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Share this page.  
Share on Tumblr
m=83723

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisements
Mar. 28, 2024