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First Baptist Church
of Albemarle, NC |
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Twenty-five years ago we compiled the history of the first seventy-five years' progress of this church. We now present the report of the first 100 years of this church - The First Baptist Church of Albemarle, North Carolina. REMINISCENCES! Yes. There are many. We all have them. It's all real. For over one hundred years the same message has been brought, delivered, and received - "COME TO JESUS!" For the very young these brief remarks will, perhaps, hold very little interest. We hope, however, that they will have parents or other loved ones who will lay this report aside to be pulled out later - pulled out at a time when they will find a new and greater interest in this church and its history - a history that they, even today, are beginning to make. It isn't easy to chronicle the life of one's own church. Among friends there must be reciprocity - give and take - but the reader and writer present a different relationship. No mediator is present. The reader likes or dislikes, accepts or disapproves. The very vastitude of the work itself leaves the writer(s) no recourse but to accept this. A novelist creates the situation that he desires and exploits it, the autobiographer or chronicler takes the past as recorded. He cannot change it. However, time does allow him to interpret it. He may evince a propensity for oversimplifying the moralizing spirit found within the hearts of all of us. Someone has said that "History alone, of all modes of thought, places the reader above the author." It is true that, as one writes, he leaves openings for the brief departure of the reader's imagination. We all read, and as we do we vector off in a direction all our own and spend a brief time with our own very personal memories and reminiscences. Then, an old sweet memory satisfied, we return to our reading. So it is with this church history. Many will read it and then think of an almost forgotten sweet and personal incident, depart for a while, savor it, and then return. There have been sad and sweet times for all of us. Two great world wars, followed by the Korean and Vietnam conflicts saw the youth of our church leave home to serve this great country of ours. It was at the termination of World War I that there occurred several incidents, not directly related to the war that prompt their insertion here. During World War I the church building we now occupy was built. Begun before America entered the war, it was completed, furnished, and readied for use in January, 1919. The preceding fall, with the attendant influenza epidemic, created many hardships for its members. Hence, the inclusion here of an obituary in this 100th anniversary report. It was taken from a January, 1919 issue of the Albemarle Press. It is here for two reasons: (1) It is a report of the style of newspaper writing of the period, compassionate and forceful, humane and saturated with dignity. (2) It is a report of the first funeral held in this church building. Furthermore, it tells without intending to do so the powerful and compelling influence of the textile industry in the life of our community - not only in this church, but in all churches. This industry has brought great and good people to us. These men and women have enriched the lives of the people of this community and of this church, and, to this day, they still do. We have all been the heirs of this beneficence.
See Addendum for Obituary (Coming Later)
The members of First Baptist Church are especially proud of the magnificent stained glass windows in our sanctuary. The sun still shines through these windows, seemingly made more beautiful with time. Each congregation, each pastor, each decade overlapping the last, and on and on - these windows continue their great contribution to the beauty and religious magnificence of each morning service, and, we hope, will continue to do so for many years to come. Throughout these 100 years we have turned to our pastors for guidance and consolation in times of personal stress and religious needs. They have baptized and married our children, buried our loved ones, counseled us in times of despair, boosted our Christian faith when we were down, laughed and played joyfully with us in happy times, rejoiced in our successes, and remained ever available to just talk - or to just listen, if needed. As we face the second century of progress in this great church, we look back with pride but turn forward with hope. Hope is the fuel that feeds Christians. Hope is the inspiration that fills our souls, that makes us willing and eager to face all adversity, overcome all obstacles, and to fight any battle to keep this great church staunch and steadfast and ever eager to carry on for Christ in this great community. In the archives of our memory we feel vibrations. Shaken loose are the memories of those who have gone before us, memories of those whom we have known and loved. Their lives still touch us as others before them touched their lives. It is an overwhelming experience. It is something that gives every human an inner feeling that life is more than just wonderful - it is ETHEREAL!
Dr. T.L. Cashwell, Jr. 1957 - 1964
Under Dr. Cashwell's ministry the indebtedness of the church was fully paid. Spiritual advances so nobly made under previous pastors continued unabated. The entire church plant was air-conditioned and the financial support of the denominational program advanced rapidly. Visitation of the sick and elderly became an outstanding aspect of the ministry of this caring pastor. Our ministry through church music surged upward as it had never done before. Mr. Evans Gremillion, Minister of Music, was mainly responsible for this. The pastor's wife, Mrs. Helen Cashwell, contributed much through the sharing of her lyric soprano voice and her strong support of the church choir. Dr. Cashwell presented a quiet, dignified, compassionate ministry. Powerful from the pulpit and dynamic in group leadership, he led us through nearly six years of sustained growth. He was pastor during the celebration of the church's 75th anniversary. This beloved pastor resigned on January 12, 1964 to accept the pastorate of the Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh.
Dr. Elroy Lamb 1964 - 1973
In July, 1964, a new pastor was called, Dr. Elroy Lamb of the Parkway Baptist Church of Miami, Florida. Dr. Lamb was well-known and highly respected in the Southern Baptist ministry. He was a native of Kentucky and was reared in Frankfort, Kentucky. A soft-spoken, good and kindly man, Dr. Lamb presented a concerned, compassionate and pious ministry. Somewhat subdued in demeanor, he was stalwart and strong in Christian faith. He possessed an amplitude of that constant flow of love and innate goodness. Dr. Lamb was instrumental in establishing the Youth Breakfast and our highly successful Youth Ministry programs. He was chairman of the Concerned Citizens Organization which led to the defeat of ABC stores in Albemarle. He enlarged and expanded the educational program, youth ministries program, acquired the Biddix property next door to the church, acquired the residence on N. 9th Street (since sold) as a staff residence and improved the old Copple residence on N. 3rd Street. Dr. Lamb also served as a trustee of Meredith College. In August, 1973, Dr. Lamb resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church.
Justin W. Hill 1968 - 1986
It is altogether fitting that we give some recognition to the services of Justin W. Hill, who served our church during the pastorate of Dr. Elroy Lamb and then under the leadership of our present pastor, Rev. Harold McDonald. Mr. Hill did more than fill the pulpit during our pastors' absences and direct our church educational programs. There were so many intangibles attached to his service here. Through his expertise at the piano he enhanced the depth of our church musical presentations, and gave added joy to our morning services. His prowess in the use of hand tools and his general knowledge of building techniques added immeasurably to the upkeep and general maintenance of our church plant itself. Through the church's Sunday School program, he gave splendid leadership and was always ready to assist with any problem. His willingness and desire to visit the sick and alleviate sorrow and sadness wherever he found it will long be remembered. His wife, Mildred, made a very beneficial contribution to our church for eighteen years. She worked in the church library and assisted our Christian work in many other areas.
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