Our Church Over the Years
On January 27, 1879, 26 people met at the home of Mrs. T.W. Swift on Roberts Street to organize the First Baptist Church. By summer, they were meeting at Chapin's Hall on NP Avenue. The Church was meeting there when their first supply pastor, Rev. George Vosburgh, came from the East to Fargo on business and supplied the pulpit during his stay of several months. The following summer (1880), the first Sunday School classes were held. The church was incorporated on July 20, 1881.
A new building was started in the summer of 1881 and was complete and occupied before winter set in. In 1904, construction was started on a new building at the same location. It was dedicated on May 14, 1905. The old church was moved to the east end of the lot to form the rear part of the sanctuary. In 1925, the Church embarked on building an Educational Wing. On January 30, 1927, the Educational wing was dedicated. Sunday School enrollment was over 300.
In January 1929, the church celebrated its 50 th Anniversary. On March 20, 1949, the 70 th Anniversary was celebrated. In the spring of 1952, the mortgage on the educational wing was paid. Another mortgage burning ceremony was held on May 7, 1952.
In 1956, the sanctuary building, which had been weakened by a heavy snow, was condemned by the city engineer. It was subsequently torn down. A new sanctuary was built and dedicated on May 17, 1959. On March 13, 1971, the congregation had another mortgage burning ceremony.
Because of reductions in membership, we purchased the present building from the Mormon Congregation in September of 1978. In 1979, we celebrated our 100 th Anniversary. Remodeling was begun in November of 1982 and was dedicated May 1, 1983.
In 1999, the baptistry was installed in the sanctuary and dedicated on March 19, 2000.
The previous sanctuary on Eighth Street burned January 25, 1981. The educational building was torn down and the corner cleared, leaving only a lovely weeping birch tree to remind us of our long heritage. The tree is now gone leaving only a parking lot.
Our best link to our long history is an old pulpit made by James Campbell, a charter member. We still use the pulpit in Fellowship Hall and it is an inspiration to those who know its history. The antique bench in the foyer was also an integral part of former sanctuaries.
In 1984, we were privileged to host the 100 th Annual Meeting of the North Dakota Baptist Convention. The church hosted the State Youth Convention in 1991 and 1996.
Some of our youth participated in the National Youth Convention in Estes Park, Colorado, in 1990 and 1994. They have also attended Fully Alive at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota.
The youth at our church have been active in a number of ministries. In the past few years, under the direction of several youth leaders, they have participated in choir, played musical instruments as special music, been in hand bell choir, and sung solos. They have always willingly served in the nursery and as helpers during Vacation Bible School. Our youth have been active in Camp Bentley , both as campers and as counselors. In the past, our church has designated fifth Sundays as "Youth Sundays" and they have participated in ways such as serving as ushers, doing special music and sometimes taking over the entire worship service. Many of our youth have been missionaries to their friends by inviting them to church, praying for them, and leading them to Christ.
First Baptist Church of Fargo has been served by 26 ministers in its 122-year history. Several ministers served for only a year and the longest served for 13 years.