By Mrs. Verde Richey

The First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Texas began in a very small way. In the fall of the year 1874, Mr. Aquilla Miles, who had moved from Jefferson, organized a union Sunday School of ten pupils in the one-room school house that also served as the village meeting place. Mr. Miles was Superintendent and taught the older children. Mrs. John A. Odell, a Methodist, taught the younger ones.

Until his death in October, 1927 Mr. Miles was Superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School. In his later years, as he became feeble, he was given an assistant and finally was made Honorary Superintendent.

In February 1875, Mr. Miles was instrumental in calling together a group of nine people of the Baptist faith and organized the First Baptist Church. The group called the Rev. M. Lambright to be their Pastor. He met with them every fourth Sunday.

In 1883, the congregation had grown to 64 in number and had built their own small meeting place on land, which Mr. R. P. Scott had deeded them on March 22, 1881. This lot, a part of the Jane Richey Survey, was 100 feet by 140 feet on the corner of Hiram Street and the road, which ran north to the sawmill (later called Mill Street). It was bounded on the west by Muddy Branch.

At first the pastors lived in rented parsonages, but the Ladies Aid Society raised enough money to make a down payment on a lot. In 1905, the church made a payment of $50.00 to W. A. Howe and note for $175.00 for the lot just east of the Presbyterian Church.

A handsome sanctuary with stained glass windows and a tall steeple over the belfry was erected in 1896. The building contained a large vestibule and two Sunday School rooms. The interior was of natural oil-finished beaded ceiling, beautifully fitted together in geometric patterns.

In 1907, a two-story parsonage was built. At that time the pastor's salary was $1,000 a year, somewhat better salary than the $50 monthly salary received by the first full time pastor.

The Salem Association was divided in 1873, with fourteen of the churches withdrawing and forming the Enon Association. The Atlanta church has been an active part of the Enon Association, sending messengers regularly to the yearly meetings.

The church continued to grow. Additional property was bought from J. M. Pepper in 1914, and again in 1926, to enlarge the church lot. In 1925-1926 the church building was remodeled. A brick Sunday School annex was added to the north side of the church and the original building was brick-veneered. In 1934, a modern brick home was built to replace the old parsonage.

By 1939, 70 officers and teachers were needed for the Sunday School. Other organizations had been added: the W. M. S., Sunbeams, G. A.'s and five unions in the Training Union. There were 672 members and the church was free of debt.

Growth continued. Another annex was added to the Sunday School building. During the years of World War II it became apparent that the First Baptist Church of Atlanta needed an entirely new church plant. Pledges were made and plans were begun during the pastorate of Rev. Dean Elkins. The plans were perfected under the leadership of Rev. Irby D. Bates. Actual construction was launched in 1953 by Rev. Wilson Wood. The Educational Building was completed in February 1954, with the liquidation of the indebtedness in May.

Ground was broken for the building of the new sanctuary in November 1954. The present structure was ready for occupancy on July 31, 1955.

In 1961, under the leadership of James R. Edwards, Pastor, another educational building was erected at a cost of $182,000.00. The church became to utilize these facilities in December of the same year.

Edward S. Shirley, was called and began his ministry with the church on the first Sunday of January 1963.

The church, as of 1965 has a total membership of 1,362—930 being resident members and 432 being non-resident members. Total evaluation of all church property is approximately $700,000.00.

The church's present pastor, Bro. Joe W. Srygley, came in 1976. The present membership is 1,192. The church is now looking to the future to build a new 1,200 seat sanctuary and has purchased adjacent properties to the church. The total evaluation of all the church property is approximately $6,014,585.00.

Churches are made up of individuals and families of a community. Histories like these are never complete, because there is not space to name those men and women who served through the years. We have today in our active membership descendants of those illustrious members.