Visitors to Capitol Square might wonder about the First Baptist Church on one corner of the square and another First Baptist Church on the opposite corner. The two churches actually began as one congregation, and both are marking their bicentennial this year.
In 1962, Jane Hall wrote about each of the churches and their development.
It all began on a winter night early in 1812 when Raleigh had approximately 1,000 inhabitants and not a single church building. On that night both white and Negro citizens met in the State House where they heard a powerful and eloquent sermon by the Rev. Robert T. Daniel. The result was the organization of Raleigh's First Baptist Church, with both white and Negro members.
Six years later the congregation constructed its first church building at a cost of $600 on South Person Street in the block between Hargett and Martin streets. In 1822, the city granted the congregation permission to move the church to Moore Square where it was located in a grove of magnificent oaks. Ever since, the square, which faces the present city market, has been called "Baptist Grove" by local citizens.
By 1826, when the Rev. Mr. Daniel resigned, the congregation numbered 224 and of these 157 were Negroes. Shortly after, during the pastorate of the Rev. Amos J. Battle (1839-44), the congregation purchased from Willie Jones the present lot on the corner of Morgan and Wilmington streets and a church was built there. ...
Finally, in 1858, during the first pastorate of the Rev. Thomas E. Skinner, a site was purchased on the corner of Edenton and Salisbury streets and a church erected there.
At the same time, the Negro members of the congregation -- led by Henry Jett -- started a movement for the establishment of a separate church and on a motion by P. F. Pescud the request was granted.
The First Baptist Church Colored retained the Morgan and Wilmington streets site but on Sept. 17, 1859, the congregation sold it to the Rt. Rev. P. N. Lynch, Roman Catholic Bishop of Charleston, S. C., and the Catholics used the property until 1879 when they bought from Palaski Cowper the site where Sacred Heart Cathedral now stands.
Meanwhile, in the years between 1859 and 1896, the congregation purchased and disposed of two other sites. One site was on Salisbury Street, between North and Johnson streets, which was subsequently sold on Jan. 17, 1907 to B. F. Montague for $2,500. The other site was on the northwest corner of Blount and Hargett streets which was sold in 1907 to the City of Raleigh for a fire station.
On April 18, 1896, the First Baptist congregation bought back from the Catholics the present lot on the corner of Morgan and Wilmington streets for $2,000. ...
The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1904 during the pastorate of the Rev. W. T. Coleman. The earlier building on the site had become physically unsafe and had been demolished. -- The News & Observer 2/18/1962
Church discipline in [the] early days was strict and to the point. Until 1827, members were required to attend the communion service. They were excluded from membership if the charge of intoxication was proved against them. A woman member ... was expelled for "heresy."
In another instance, Major W. W. Vass was brought before the church conference charged with having attended a circus. His description of what he saw and heard at the circus so moved his hearers with interest and muted hilarity, the charge was quietly dropped.
The church also reprimanded a non-member -- J. J. James, editor of the Biblical Recorder -- for his criticism of their pastor. James said he would give $100 on a new building if the church would get an interesting preacher.
The most significant expulsion ... was that of I. G. M. Buffaloe in 1849. Buffaloe was charged with "being guilty of conduct unbecoming to a Christian in having formed a co-partnership for the purpose of speculation in Negroes."
He was ordered to cease from such traffic and make a suitable apology to the church. Buffaloe refused and the congregation unanimously expelled him for "conduct unbecoming to a Christian."
This action [according to the church's historian] showed clearly the attitude toward the slave traffic of Christians in North Carolina generally and the membership of the Raleigh Baptist Church in particular 12 years before the beginning of the War Between the States and at a time when many church members owned slaves. -- The News & Observer 2/25/1962
Both congregations celebrate their 200th anniversary this year. One event marking this milestone will be Two Buildings/One Heart: 200 Years of the First Baptist Churches of Raleigh, a performance by Burning Coal Theatre Company that will begin in one church and end in the other.
