Darlington First Baptist ChurchFirst Baptist Church, Darlington, will celebrate its 175th anniversary April 23.
Nine charter members founded the church in 1831 as the Darlington Baptist Church of Christ, after W.Q. Beattie of Mechanicsville began conducting services two Sundays each month at the courthouse.
The following year, the church joined Welsh Neck Association, and it was renamed as First Baptist in 1912, when the current sanctuary, the church’s third building, was dedicated. The first sanctuary was built in 1830, just prior to the church’s constitution, and its second building was finished in 1859. Through the years, two educational buildings, a youth activities facility and a fellowship hall have been added.
Twenty-one pastors have served the missions-oriented congregation that has licensed or ordained 21 members to the ministry and has sent more than 20 individuals or groups to the mission field.
In 1959, First Baptist recognized the need for a mission to serve the Mont Clare community, and the new church was started with approximately 96 members.
Last year, First Baptist sponsored a newly established church at Bethea Baptist Retirement Community.
For more information about anniversary events, contact the church, P.O. Box 297, Darlington, S.C. 29560, or call (843) 393-2874.