HISTORICAL VIGNETTE: Our oldest church

Pigeon Creek Baptist Church near Callahan, north of Jacksonville, was probably the first Baptist church organized in what we now know as the State of Florida. Pigeon Creek was organized in 1821 and later became a Primitive Baptist Church.

First Baptist Church, Campbellton

First Baptist Church Campbellton, is the oldest Southern Baptist Church in the state. The town of Campbellton is located on Highway 231 in Jackson County, near the Alabama-Georgia state lines.

First Baptist Campbellton was begun as the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church March 12, 1825. There were nineteen charter members. The church records show a very strong concern for Biblical theology and practice. Church discipline was practiced and members often were brought to account for public misconduct and waywardness.

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In that Campbellton is only about four miles from the Alabama state line it was not unusual in the early years for the church to fellowship with churches and associations in Alabama. In November 1847, the Campbellton Church hosted other local churches in organizing the West Florida Baptist Association.

In the early days of the church slaves were part of the church fellowship and the congregation was segregated by gender. Men sat on one side of the church and women on the other. They even entered separate doors.

Slaves were received as members of the church as early as 1832. The church met regularly for business meetings and worship services. In 1825 the church showed an interest in missions with the stated desire to establish another church on the “bluff of the Appalachicola River”.

A Female Missionary Society was formed Oct. 15, 1848, and a Sunday School was organized Jan. 8, 1858. Membership requirements in the early years required faithful attendance to services and any absence required explanation at the next church conference. Church minutes of Jan. 27, 1849, state that, even in the absence of ministers, worship was to be conducted with “singing, praying, and exhortations as they may feel at liberty.”

The Campbellton Baptist Church has been a very strong and steady influence in the Florida Panhandle for Baptist work. Faithful lay people have been the key to this wonderful record but the church also had some very gifted pastors in its illustrious history. Joshua Mercer (1788-1869) served as pastor from 1844-1853. Mercer was born in Wilkes County, Ga. and served numerous churches as pastor. He also served as moderator of the West Florida Baptist Association from 1850-1859. He was the brother of Hermon Mercer (1784-1854) who served as a captain in the War of 1812, and later served as a Baptist preacher. Another brother was Jesse Mercer (1769-1841) who was very influential in the founding of Mercer University.

The Campbellton Baptist Church has lived out 179 years of faithful service and influence. Luther Pumphrey has served as pastor since 1999.

This is seventeenth in a series.