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The History of Cowan First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church of Cowan, Tennessee has no accurate written record of its founding, but one of the members recalls that the church started soon after a state evangelist had conducted a revival in Cowan, late in 1906. A more recent book of minutes indicates that the church started its first records on May 16, 1906. According to a state missions report, a state missionary and church builder directed the construction of the first frame building in 1907. The Church entered the association on August 22, 1907. Late in 1926 the frame building burned, and the members built the a brick auditorium and its classroom space in 1927. The twenty year old church had 125 members at this time. In 1942 the church built a pastorium on the lot just behind the auditorium. In 1954-1955 the church built a two-story educational building which was dedicated on June 1955. In August 1956 the church sponsored a tent revival in the Midway Community at Sewanee. Immediately following the revival, a mission was established. The church bought a lot that helped the members at Midway construct a building for their services. In the summer of 1960 the church purchased the property adjoining the church on Montgomery Street and had the house on the lot razed. The lot became a parking area and the materials from the house were used to enlarge the facilities at Midway Chapel. On the 12th day of January 1968, a remodeling and redecorating program began which included an addition to the pastorium and remodeling of the sanctuary. This work was completed the first part of April 1968. During a remodeling effort in 1978, the inside of the sanctuary was destroyed by fire and subsequently rebuilt. April 4, 2004 ushered in a new era in the life of Cowan First Baptist as it was relocated to 316 W. Cumberland St. There a 17,000+ square foot facility was erected and completed through the selfless dedication of countless church members, deacons, the pastor, and community members. The beautiful new facility, with its stone work and stained glass windows and situated with the Cumberland Mountains as a backdrop, is only a building. The real church is the people, called together as a body of believers to worship and serve the true and living God.
Cowan First Baptist - constructed in 2004
Bell from the old First Baptist Church stands in front of the new building.
1927 Baptist building is now the Cowan Center for the Arts
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