Newspaper documentation shows that a Primitive Baptist Church was built on the Decatur-Philadelphia Road in the early days of Union; that area would be 204 N. Decatur Street today. Then at some point, another church called Union Church that was used by several denominations was built next to it at today’s 206 N. Decatur Street. Around 1880, the old Primitive Baptist Church was used as a school that was later named Greenwood Institute. However, after a new school was built for the Greenwood Institute in 1884, the old Primitive Baptist building was left vacant.
Baptist church records show that on July 5, 1885, a group of 15 people gathered to organize a Baptist church in Union. Those 15 charter members selected the name of the church as the Union Regular Baptist Church and called Rev. J.M. Moore as the first pastor.
During Rev. Moore’s pastorate, the members purchased the vacant Primitive Baptist Church building at 204 N. Decatur Street. They removed it in August 1887 and erected their first new church building on this site at a cost of $110. The first Sunday School was organized in March 1888. This era of the church can be remembered for the strict discipline that was exercised upon the membership.
During the progression of time, church membership grew steadily. As townspeople began to move from Old Town toward the new railroad tracks, the church membership decided to move also. On January 8, 1910, the deacons of the Regular Baptist Church bought land from W.N. McLemore. They started a building program and erected a new seventeen room church at 104 Peachtree Street. The cost was approximately $3,750.00, which was financed by subscriptions and notes. The first services were conducted April 17, 1910. All congregations of Union participated in that service.
Under the next pastorate, the church purchased a home to be used as a parsonage from H.M. Snowden. It was recorded as sold to the Deacons of Union Regular Baptist Church on January 26, 1912. To obtain money to pay for this home, they sold the old property and gave a note to the Bank of Union for $575.00. They also constructed a baptistry in the church with the first baptismal service held in September 1912. Next in 1914, the parsonage was sold for $850.00 with the proceeds used to retire the balance on the church building.
During World War I, the church experienced a loss of members as men were called into armed services. In the middle 1920s, the church erected a new pastor’s home at 105 Peachtree Street across from the church at a cost of $3000.00. Then on April 8, 1928, the church building was partially destroyed by fire. After considering reconstruction costs, the membership decided to erect a new church at an estimated cost of $20,000.00.
It was decided to perfect an exchange of property with Bro. I.L. Cleveland. The exchange was recorded July 30, 1928. He took the parsonage on Peachtree Street, and the new church would be located on the present property at 400 Main Street with a new pastor’s home to be placed east of it at 402 Main Street. The cost of both would be approximately $40,000.00. When completed, the new church contained a spacious sanctuary, a basement-fellowship hall with a small kitchen off it, classrooms, a choir room, a nursery, and a third-floor junior department. The first services were held on February 3, 1929. The debt was retired October 15, 1944.
In December of 1951, plans were begun to build an Educational Building, which was completed on July 8, 1956. The 9,000 square feet of space in the new building provided for the following departments: young people, intermediate, primary, beginners, and nursery. The building was made of fire-resistant material and modern conveniences with the exception of air-conditioning. This building was originally designed to have a third floor to be added at a later time; therefore, two stairways were built leading up from the second floor. It was later discovered that the foundation would not support a third floor, so the two stairways leading upward actually end at the ceiling. Today, they are referred to as the “stairs that go nowhere.”
The conclusion of the First Baptist Church article will be in next week’s issue. If you have additions or memories, contact me at teresablount26@yahoo.com or 601-774-5564.
