The town of Albemarle was formed with a map and boundaries in 1842, a year after the County of Stanly was established by act of the General Assembly. At that time, there were very few Baptists in Albemarle, or in the entire county.

The first reference we have to a Baptist in Albemarle relates to Elder Samuel P. Morton, the first Register of Deeds for Stanly County. He probably resided in the town from 1841 to 1848. Samuel S. Stone, school teacher, farmer and also a Baptist, succeeded Mr. Morton as Register of Deeds in 1848. In 1889, he sold his shop to his son-in-law, Sidney Austin.

Although the dates are not known, Elder W.W. Russell, a member and former pastor of Kendalls Church, operated a grocery store near his home on the corner of North and North Second Streets, adjoining the Methodist Church and the S.S. Stone property. Others listed as early Baptists were Claude A. Shankle, a merchant, and Elder James R. Little, a member of and former pastor of Ebenezer, who lived here with his son, Dr. Little, in a small house near the City Hall lot in Albemarle.

In February, 1888, 31 years after the Town of Albemarle was officially chartered by the legislature, there was no Baptist church in the town.

In fact, it was not popular in those days to be a Baptist. Members of that denomination were called by some others "narrow" and "different." Nevertheless, the denomination was growing slowly and soon a church would be organized.

Mrs. Sidney Austin was an early Baptist to move to Albemarle. Other Baptists were Mr. and Mrs. N.J. Pennington.

What is now First Baptist Church of Albemarle was organized in April, 1888, under the leadership of Rev. J.M. Bennett of Palmerville. Meeting with Mr. Bennett in the old log courthouse on the Square in downtown Albemarle were Mrs. Austin, Mr. and Mrs. Pennington, and Mr. and Mrs. David Seago. These were the charter members.

Mr. Bennett served as pastor the first two years, leading faithfully, and giving spiritual strength to the little flock, which continually faced opposition from critics of the denomination.

Rev. J.C. Denny was the second pastor, also serving about two years. A lot was purchased on the southwest corner of North and Third Streets and plans were begun for the building of a church. Tradition has it that before he left, Rev. Denny handed Mrs. Austin a quarter, saying, "Take this and build a church."

Four years and two pastors had come and gone before new members joined the charter group which had remained faithful throughout. Rev. G.O. Wilhoit became pastor in 1892, and soon afterward the first Baptist church building in Albemarle was erected. The first additional members were Mrs. L.A. Moody and Mr. Tom Sibley, both joining by baptism. A church history compiled in 1915 by then pastor, Rev. Robert P. Walker, says that the two joined the church during a series of meetings being preached by Rev. W.S. Jones of Salisbury in an old building near Lillian Mills, now Knitster. They were baptized by Rev. Wilhoit in Long Creek on a beautiful Sunday in the fall, Mr. Walker noted.

After Mr. Wilhoit came as pastor, the little congregation was still worshipping in the log courthouse, but efforts were redoubled to build a church. Dollars were very valuable in those days and a dollar bought a great deal, much more than today. Some of the larger contributions toward building the first church were: Messrs. T.S. Parker and J.C. Parker, $25 each; W.A. Callaway, $10; and Sam J. Pemberton, $50. Many others gave in support of the little church's building program, so that it was soon erected and paid for.

The church grew and prospered during Mr. Wilhoit's ministry, 1892-95. Of his pastorate, Mr. Walker said, "He did a work that only eternity will reveal."

Soon after the building had been completed, a Woman's Missionary Society was organized and the church experienced more rapid growth. However, the W.M.S. existed only a few years, but was reorganized in 1912 and has been active continuously since that time.

Rev. John W. Suttle followed Mr. Wilhoit as pastor, becoming the first resident pastor of the church. The church grew under his leadership and a baptistry was added at the rear of the wooden church.

Mr. Suttle, who became known as "The Little Preacher," died in 1963 at the age of 91, having served an active ministry of 65 years, having retired in 1954. He was the subject of a book, Canaan in Carolina, written by Wyan Washburn.

In 1895, land was purchased in East Albemarle for a parsonage. The property, now known as the McCain home place, was bought for $30. Mr. Suttle, his wife, and young child moved into the parsonage before it was completed.

Mr. Suttle resigned in 1898 to accept other work, and according to reports left the Albemarle church in good shape spiritually and with increased membership. One church historian noted that it was under the leadership of his successor, Rev. J.A. McKaughan, that the church first became self-supporting. Previously, it had received assistance from county and state Baptists.

In 1901, Mr. McKaughan was followed by Rev. Ralph H. Herring for four years. Mr. Herring left to attend the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville. Rev. J.M. Arnette followed Mr. Herring in 1905-06. At the end of 1906, membership was slightly over 200, a small Sunday school met regularly, and the usual other church activities were functioning.

It was at a church conference December 2, 1906, that the congregation approved the naming of "seven younger men" to be added to the Deacons, the full board to be known as the Board of Deacons and Finance. At this conference, also, the following delegates were named to attend the Baptist State Convention: B.W.H. Sims, pastor; L.A. Moody, W.A. Marks, J.M. Calloway, and M.J. Hatcher. The committee recommending the addition of seven younger men was composed of Lindsay Lowder, S.T. Gulledge, J.M. Calloway, and W.A. Calloway.

There followed pastorates by Rev. B.W.H. Sims, 1906-08; Rev. A.H. Wynkoop, 1910-11; and Rev. Alexander Miller, 1912-14.

The Woman's Missionary Society was reorganized in 1912, which seems to have been a very active year in the church's history.

Plans were beginning by the leaders of the congregation for a new and larger church building. On Sunday, May 12, 1912, A.P. Harris, committee chairman, reported favorably on the choice of a lot then occupied by the Presbyterian manse, which could be bought for $3,000. Approval was given and the following named as additional trustees: B.A. Foreman and R.L. Sibley. C.W. Gaddy was church clerk at this time.

On June 8, 1912, a motion was made by C.M. Palmer and approved by the church that a new church be built. The following committee was named on securing funds for the new church: R.L. Sibley, W.C. Russell, and E.C. King. The committee on plans for the new church was O.J. Sikes, A.P. Harris, and B.A. Foreman. The lot on which the sanctuary now stands was purchased and plans begun for the new church. Events moved slowly, however, over the next four years, due to lack of finances.

Rev. Robert P. Walker, pastor from October 1, 1915 to May, 1918, inherited the embryo plans for the new church and under his leadership more efforts took place. In March, 1916, the building fund had reached $11,000 cash and pledges, and on April 22, 1916 the church gave the trustees permission to borrow money for construction of the new church.

Mrs. Sidney Austin, a charter member, laid the first brick in July, 1916. D.A. Holbrook, an Albemarle contractor, was employed to build the new church.

The building was completed and occupied in January, 1919. In a conference on February 10, 1918, the congregation gave its committee the power to purchase furniture for the new building.

Meanwhile, Mr. Walker resigned as pastor, and on August 1, 1918, Rev. Q.C. Davis came as pastor. Mr. Davis was long and fondly remembered as an outstanding and beloved spiritual leader. The present Davis Bible Class carries his name.

It should be noted, also, that his son, Dr. William Hershey Davis, was a professor at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He was author of Beginner's Grammar of the Greek New Testament, a grammar which was widely used and in it he referred to Albemarle where his father was pastor. That was in the day of Dr. A.T. Robertson, called the greatest Greek scholar of his day.

On December 29, 1918, the trustees of the church exchanged, for a difference of $4,000, the old two-story parsonage on North Third Street for the new brick home of Mr. and Mrs. Snuggs on the west side of North Third.

Mr. Davis resigned August 1, 1925, accepting a call to work in Florida, partly because his health was failing. Mr. Davis was remembered as a scholarly minister whose sermons were very inspirational.

Rev. Fred A. Bower of Morganton was called and began his ministry here in December, 1925, serving until December, 1936.

Mr. Bower was pastor during the Great Depression. However, the church paid off most of its indebtedness on the church, contributed to the Seventy-Five Million Campaign, and other denominational programs.

The Sunday School conducted an organizational and training program aimed at meeting the requirements of the Standard of Excellence, and at becoming a church doing all possible to advance the Kingdom of God. Mr. Bower's pastorate is remembered as a time of financial hardship, sacrificial giving, spiritual growth, and the expansion of Christian living.

It was during this period that the Davis Bible Class achieved a unique distinction, that of having a canine member on the class roll. The Birch Morris family owned a dog named Bozo, a mutt of uncertain ancestry but a good family pet. When Mr. Morris was in Sunday school, Bozo was there, also. Prevo Harwood, class secretary, duly called Bozo's name each Sunday.

The story is told that one July 4, Mr. Morris put on his "Sunday clothes" to attend an

Independence Day observance. Seeing his master in his Sunday best, Bozo headed for the church. Some time later, Mrs. Bower happened by the church to pick up some music and saw Bozo there. She called the family to come and get him.

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