Our Roots

First Baptist Church - Lafayette

Our Roots

First Baptist Church was organized in 1835 with a total of nine members. The first minister, Rev. Simon G. Miner, began serving as pastor in 1838. Since then, the church has had thirty-two full-time pastors and eleven directors of Christian education and has grown to a total membership of about 400 with about 300 resident members.

The sanctuary building, dedicated in 1872, is an elegant tribute to 19th century architecture and craftsmanship. Extensive ceiling ornamentation and beautiful walnut woodwork combine to provide a cathedral effect. The original organ is a historic Hook and Hastings true pipe organ, rebuilt in 1971. Brilliantly colored, stained glass windows adorn the sanctuary walls, including a massive window above the balcony, opposite the pulpit, symbolizing love, hope, purity, and light. The coal-fired furnaces were replaced in 1967 by gas-fired, forced-air units, the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall were relighted and rewired in 1976 and the sanctuary air conditioned in 1981. Extensive renovation of the sanctuary building was completed in 1998, including masonry repairs, window and door restoration, new storm windows, repainting, new carpeting and new baptistry. Seating capacity of the sanctuary is about 600.

Fellowship Hall was built as a chapel in 1884 with a seating capacity of about 250. It is used for social events and as a large meeting room. It adjoins the three-story educational wing which was dedicated in 1961. This wing includes eleven classrooms, several offices, a lounge, a nursery and a fully equipped kitchen. The church has no parsonage.

For even more information, visit the Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, 1888.

First Baptist Church
411 N 7th St.
Lafayette, IN 47901
765.742.5223
Pastor@firstbaptistlafayette.org
Admin@firstbaptistlafayette.org