History of First Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church of Albion, Michigan, had its beginning on February 21, 1837, when a group of local believers met in a school house on South Superior Street to consider the advisability of organizing a Baptist church.

Eleven days later, on March 4, the church was officially formed when the Articles of Faith and Practice were adopted.  Eleven people were received into membership on that day.  Rev. T.Z.R. Jones, then of Detroit, and also the founder of First Baptist Church in Marshall, Michigan, was called to serve as pastor on a part-time basis.  Services in these early days were held in the schoolhouse.

Building programs have always played an important part in the history and growth of our church, and this point in our history was no exception.  The first building program at First Baptist was consummated in January of 1851 when a new frame structure was dedicated on North Superior Street to mark the beginning of a one hundred and twenty-year stay at that location.  As the Lord blessed in the years to follow, that original meeting place could no longer meet the needs of a growing ministry and a growing congregation.  Thus, as the Lord led, a second building program was undertaken.  During this program the main portion of our former house of worship was built, with the cornerstone being installed in 1882, and dedication of the structure taking place in 1884.

The first parsonage to be owned by the church, located on Austin Avenue, was purchased in mid-1915.  Three years later, a missions building was completed.  This was to become the Russian Baptist Mission, which served as a mission outreach of First Baptist for some twenty-three years.

A growing Sunday school during the early twenties pointed, once again, to the need for expanded facilities on North Superior Street.  The addition of a three-story educational wing met this need as it was completed in 1925.

A significant point in our history occurred in 1947, when First Baptist became a charter member of the Conservative Baptist Association of America and its affiliated state and local organizations.  This step followed the severing of relationships with the American Baptist Convention.

Our former house of worship was further enhanced and expanded between 1958 and 1960 as a basement was placed under the main portion of the structure and the sanctuary was completely renovated and refurnished.

A beautiful ten-acre tract of land at the intersection of Twenty-Nine Mile Road and Concord Roads was made available to the church, and this acreage was purchased in May 1964 with the intent that it serve as a future church site should the Lord so lead.  Our present parsonage, located opposite this site on Twenty-Nine Mile Road was also bought in May 1964.

Following the organizing of a building committee and after extensive study by that group, the church directed the committee to devote its efforts toward the construction of a church facility on this site.

As ministry began to blossom in the early 1990’s, the congregation once again felt God leading them into a building project to meet ministry needs. On June 21, 1992, the family at FIRST celebrated a Commitment Day, and began the building of a Family Life Center, -- an almost 16,000 square-foot structure housing a gymnasium, large kitchen, and seven new Sunday school classrooms. The $750,000 structure was dedicated in June of 1995, and God’s faithfulness was seen once again in fact that this beautiful building was constructed completely debt-free. 

In the summer of 2018 the church auditorium finished a thorough renovation. A new sound system, stage design, energy efficient lighting, new flooring, and individual seating were all artistically and architecturally planned to add a fresh and modern atmosphere to the existing beauty of the current worship sanctuary. We are thankful for God’s supply and empowering as we continue to follow God’s plan and fulfill our purpose to proclaim the gospel and give God all the glory!