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CHURCH
STAFF
CHURCH
HISTORY
On November 7, 1840, nine members who had asked to be withdrawn from
Bethel Baptist Church for the purpose of establishing a Church in Clinton,
met and constituted the Clinton United Baptist Church of Christ. On Sunday,
November 8, these two men and seven women called J.S. Corum as their first
pastor and ordained John Jarnigan as the first deacon.
A small, single-room building with a bell and belfry, and crude, rough benches
for 250 people was erected near the old Baptist Cemetery on Edgewood Avenue.
In 1893, First Baptist Church occupied a new, more centrally located building
on Main Street. The First Baptist Church of today, is still at that location
on Main Street in the heart of Clinton.
In 1956, Clinton,
Tennessee was the first city to desegregate a state-supported
high school in the south. The following information about this
time in the history of the City of Clinton and First Baptist Church
is from the Green McAdoo Cultural Center website -
www.greenmcadoo.com. "Rev.
Paul Turner, a white minister of First Baptist Church in Clinton, made
his contribution when he escorted 10 of the 12 black students to school
on December 4, 1956. When Turner returned from his walk, he was assaulted
by a mob and badly beaten. The following Sunday he preached to his congregation, “there
are no color lines at the cross.” News of the assault spread
throughout the town. Reverend Alan Jones, current pastor of Asbury
United Methodist Church says “Segregation may have won a victory
against integration had Rev. Paul Turner not taken the initiative
to walk with the African-American students to Clinton High School
that particular day.”
The
Church facilities have undergone several major renovations and building
programs - adding Sunday School rooms and a new Sanctuary. The present
Sanctuary was completed in 1939 and the Education Building in 1960. The
FBC
Family Life Center opened in March
2005 and provides a facility for worship, concerts, gatherings, and
many other events. The Family Life Center features a walk track, weight
room, and gym. The Upward Basketball program
takes place in the Gym and offers an opportunity for the boys and girls
of Clinton to participate in sports where sportsmanship and competitiveness
are kept in proper perspective.
The
leadership of First Baptist has committed to meet the needs of growing,
changing Church families. As with their predecessors, the Church leadership
has continued to have the vision to provide facilities in which the Church
can effectively minister and carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the
twenty-first century.
The old bell in the tower was carried from building to building to
its present lofty place in the Main Street belfry. From this steeple
you look down on a much different Clinton than that seen by our ancestors,
but the vision is the same. As was the desire of early settlers who
constituted First Baptist Church, this bell rings out calling Clinton
families to Bible Study and Worship.
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SCHEDULING
EVENTS AT FIRST BAPTIST
First Baptist Church endeavors to meet the needs of its expanding ministry
programs and to accommodate the facility needs of its Church Family. Special
events, Weddings, Showers, Teas, Receptions and Funerals are an integral part
of our facilities use and are scheduled through the Church Administrator. Our
Family Life Center opened in March 2005 and offers additional space for event
accommodations.
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WEDDINGS
Weddings and the accompanying building use for rehearsal and reception should
be scheduled as soon as possible after a wedding date is determined. The
date will be tentatively scheduled when the initial contact is made and
become a confirmed date when the completed Wedding Application is turned
in to the Church Administrator. At this time, an appointment should also
be made with the appropriate Minister to confirm his schedule. An appointment
should also be made with the Music Minister at least two months prior the
wedding to discuss all or your music selections.
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SHOWERS,
TEAS, AND RECEPTIONS
These events should be scheduled as soon as the dates are set so that
you will know what areas of the building are available for your use. Because
we have several areas that can accommodate these activities, there are
rarely conflicts.
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FUNERALS
We find that many individuals who have been deeply involved in the ministry
of First Baptist Church want their Funeral Service here. Our facilities
are always available for those families as we seek to meet their needs
at this critical time.
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For
more information on the following please click the link:
Family Life Center
Friendly Guide - Church Newsletter
For
a Current Church Schedule
and information on Upcoming Activities
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