• Church

First Baptist Church of Atlanta

The earliest move toward organizing a Baptist Church in Atlanta was in January of 1847 when Rev. D. G. Daniel, a missionary of the Georgia Baptist Convention, began his labors in Atlanta. In January of 1848 a presbytery composed of Rev. B. M. Sanders, Rev. John L. Dagg and Rev. Parker M. Rice, constituted the first church. A list of the first seventeen members: Rev. D. G. Daniel, Benjamin F. Bomar, John L. Jones, W. C. Hughes, John N. Jones, Mary J. Daniel, E. C. Daniel, Mary Bozeman, Mary S. Rhodes, Martha J. Davis, Malinda Rape, Elizabeth Moody, Martha Jones, Elizabeth Shurburne, Susanna White, Mary Hughes and Lydia C. Clarke.

The house of worship was a plain wooden structure dedicated on 5 Jul 1848. Rev. Daniel was succeeded by Rev. A. M. Spalding who remained for about a year and half, succeeded by Rev. W. H. Robert who continued as pastor until October of 1854.

List of Pastors: Rev. D. G. Daniel Jan 1848 to Apr 1850; Rev. D. G. Daniel and Rev. A. M. Spalding Apr 1850 to Apr 1851; Rev. A. M. Spalding Apr 1851 to Oct 1851; Rev. W. A. Robert Oct 1851 to Oct 1854; Rev. T. U. Wilkes Oct 1854 to Dec 1856; Rev. H. Williams Dec 1856 to Mar 1858; Rev. A. T. Holmes Mar 1858 to Aug 1859; Rev. T. U. Wilkes Oct 1859 to Mar 1861; Rev. H. C. Hornady Mar 1861 to Mar 1867; Rev. R. W. Fuller Feb 1868 to Dec 1870; Rev. E. W. Warren Apr 1871 to Feb 1876; Rev. D. W. Gwin Jun 1876 to Jun 1884; Rev. J. B. Hawthorne Jul 1884 to Feb 1889; Rev. Reuben Jeffreys Apr 1889 to Sept 1889; Rev> J. B. Hawthorne Oct 1889 to May 1896; Rev. W. W. Landrum Sept 1896 to Jun 1909; Rev. Charles W. Daniel Jul 1909 to Dec 1927; Rev. Edwin M. Potcat Jan 1928 to Aug 1928; and Rev. Ellis A. Fuller Sept 1 1928 to 1934.

Source: Oficial History of Fulton County by Walter G. Cooper