The first sermon preached by a Baptist minister in Fort Smith was in the year 1847 by Rev. Wallace to a crowd of 8 persons. Among those was Siley M. Ellis, the first deacon of the church.

The first building was built on a 50 foot wide by 140 deep on Green Street This is now on 4th and D Street. The lot was bought Jan 14, 1848 for the sum of $50. Joseph Smedley, William A. Jackson and Dr. J.H.T. Main were trustees. John and Mary Rogers signed the deed which was witnessed by John Stryker and Sam Edmondson. Along with the Union Church for the Protestants and Saint Patrick’s Church for the Catholics it became Fort Smith’s third church building.

The church was built by Peter Harrison and William Wiley both slaves. (Harrison was owned by Capt. DuVal and Wiley’s owner is unknown.) It was a log building used by the white congregation with days assigned to be used by their slaves and a few free Negroes. Circuit riding preachers filled the pulpit. For reasons now unknown, the log church was closed.

On Tuesday Dec 1, 1857 what we know as First Baptist Church came into being with Elder D. Buckley. The minutes of that meeting read:
“The following brothers and sisters namely: Wm. H. Byers, Mrs. C. A. Byers, Mrs. M. A. Singleton, Siley M. Ellis, Mrs. M. H. Wheeler, and Mrs M. E. McKinney, met at the residence of Wm H. Byers in Fort Sigh, Arkansas (No 2nd & B St), and after reading a portion of the scriptures, singing, and prayer by Elder D. Buckley, proceeded to organize themselves into a Baptist Church. D. Buckley presiding as Moderator. signed: Wm. H. Byers, Clerk”
Elder Buckley held the position of preacher for at least two years.

On March 25, 1860, Bro. E. L. Compere became pastor and a movement was begun for building a house of worship. A lot was bought on No 4th and B Streets and a house erected.

In 1866 another movement was started for a new house of worship and on Apr 4, 1868, it was decidedto organize a Sunday School.

The Building Committee, composed of M.S. Buckley, J.J. Frost, W.N. Ayers, A. W. Mathes and John W. Cunningham were appointed to secure funds for the purchase of a church building. In 1869 two lots were purchased at the corner of Thirteenth Street and Grand Ave. Dr. James Madison Barry donated the funds for this purchase. The building built in 1869 was replaced in 1884, then again after being destroyed by the tornado in 1898. In Feb 1882, services were held at Boone’s School House for the purpose of calling Dr. Worrell to the pastorate.

Upon Dr. Worrell’s arrival the church rented a hall over the Wirsing building on Garrison Ave, which was used for services until the new building was completed and occupied in October or November 1884.

In 1898 the tornado that destroyed much of Fort Smith completely destroyed the First Baptist Church building. After that storm a new building was built at No 13th and D Streets in 1899. Sunday, Oct 18, 1903 marked the completion and occupation of the new auditorium. This was almost the fourth anniversary of the first occupation of the building Sunday Oct 22, 1899.