Four years later, in 1888, a building was constructed on Broad Street.  In 1927, another, larger church was dedicated at the corner of Broad and Church Street. Then, in 1960, we made our home here at 23 Starling Avenue. The educational wing was built first and the fellowship hall was used for worship on Sunday mornings. It took two services to hold all the people.  Some of us were baptized in what was once part of the fellowship hall, and is now the library.  That area was originally the stage, complete with pulpit, baptistery, organ and choir loft.  A chapel located at the front of the facility accommodated small weddings and other events.  Seven years later, in 1967, the present sanctuary was completed. 

That’s the “nutshell” version of the basics, and how we arrived here today.  But in our 140 years of existence, in what ways have we been a holy people – that is, different and distinct from other Baptist congregations in the area?  What factors have set First Baptist Church apart in Martinsville and Henry County?

Dr. McCabe assumed the pastorate in 1907, when the church was 23 years old. He retired in 1947. A well-educated man, Dr. McCabe was a graduate of the University of Chicago and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. At Chicago, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Divinity. Today the Divinity School of the University of Chicago is one of the finest in the country. He also earned a Th.D., or Doctorate in Theology, at Southern Seminary. Few pastors today hold Th.D. degrees, much less Ph.D.’s. But think about it: how many small southern towns had a Baptist pastor with those credentials in 1907?

In addition to education, the music ministry continued to flourish under Dr. McCabe’s leadership. The church was blessed with two outstanding musicians who gave their time and talent to First Baptist: Miss Annette Fuller, whose father had been pastor of the church in the late 1800’s, and Miss Elizabeth Davis, a graduate of Converse College and The Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. Miss Annette became choir director in 1904, before Dr. McCabe’s arrival. She and her sister operated a school for girls in Martinsville. College-level courses were offered in Music, Greek, Latin, Philosophy, Mathematics, and the Natural Sciences there. Miss Elizabeth was organist for 30 years, and taught private piano, organ and violin lessons. Under their leadership, the music ministry here became a vital asset to the church and the community. First Baptist Church grew rapidly during the ministry of Dr. McCabe.

Upon his retirement, Chevis Horne became senior pastor. Chevis was educated at Wake Forest University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, and completed postgraduate study at Yale University and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Dr. Horne had a number of consuming interests, among them a lifelong passion for education and scholarship. He was a published author, and brought outstanding speakers and theologians to Martinsville. Dr. George A. Buttrick, Harvard professor and one of the finest preachers of the 20th century, and Dr. Elton Trueblood, Quaker theologian, philosopher, and author, were just two of the gifted men who preached from our pulpit. In the past, Martinsville has hosted everyone from theologian Reinhold Niebuhr to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

When the time came for a new church facility, the church hired architect Harold Wagoner of Philadelphia. Wagoner had designed the chapel at the US Air Force Academy, the Chapel at the United Nations, and a portion of the National Cathedral. Willet Studios, also of Philadelphia, was contracted to design the faceted glass. The architecture was dramatic and controversial, but a Georgian or colonial style church large enough to accommodate our congregation would have been beyond our means. The architecture also made a theological statement; Chevis believed the gospel message, not the pulpit, should be the focus of the room. Thus the pulpit was to the side, and the Lord’s Table, cross and resurrection window were in the center of the chancel. Under his direction, whatever we did, we did well. Without question, Chevis Horne insisted on excellence in every endeavor this church undertook.  

Chevis also believed in tolerance, and encouraged religious people of various persuasions to come together and attempt to understand one another.  Everyone from the local Rabbi to the Catholic Priest spoke from our pulpit. For the 1960’s, that was a daring undertaking and a remarkable achievement. Chevis was clearly a man ahead of his time. During Lent, we Baptists even had what were really “Confirmation classes” for older children. After taking a series of weekly lessons with Chevis covering the basics of Christianity, most of us made professions of faith and were baptized.

Chevis also hired a female Minister of Education for our church – Alpha Manson – in 1955. Largely, because of her presence, most of us were comfortable with the idea of women in ministry for many decades. Later, the transition to including female deacons was a smooth one, and the church called another woman to be Minister of Education in 1980, Nancy Stanton (McDaniel). Later, Nancy Stanton would become the Associate Pastor preaching many times from our pulpit.

In 1979, after 40 years of ministry, Dr. Chevis Horne retired. Following him, Dr. James E. Baucom became pastor, and it was during his pastorate that Rev. Nancy Stanton McDaniel was hired and served for 20 years in Associate Pastor positions. Dr. Baucom resigned in 1990 and was followed by Dr. Thomas R. McCann in 1991. Dr. McCann resigned in 2003, and the church then spent two years in an intentional interim period before calling Dr. Dennis Knight as pastor in 2006. Dr. Knight, still an active member of First Baptist today, retired in 2012, and Rev. John Fulcher, a long-time (and still current) member of the church, served as pastor from 2013 until 2017 when he retired.

Looking back, then, it’s easy to see that we have not been a typical Baptist church; our journey has been quite different from the norm. Our history has been rich and colorful, and full of surprises, and those who went before us laid a solid foundation. The road has certainly had its twists and turns. During the first three quarters of the 20th century, Martinsville was booming and life here was good, and full of opportunity. Today things are quite different. Our community is struggling and times have changed, so we honor our past and live into our present and future together with innovation and prayerful steps forward with the Holy Spirit. 

As First Baptist continues to move forward, we are excited to rediscover our calling and mission together – both in our community and throughout the world. Trusting in God’s faithfulness, we hope to continue to journey asking, what will it mean to be a holy people in Martinsville, Virginia, in the 21st century? How is God calling us to continue to be different, distinct, and set apart? May the Holy Spirit guide us as we prayerfully continue to seek the answers.

by Pam Burgess

History of the Faceted Windows

The Parlor Windows

Dr. Henry Lee Willett, the artist who is responsible for the beautiful windows of our church, designed the parlor windows to express the life of the church through four of its basic functions: worship, preaching, teaching and service.

The Chancel Window

The cross and the resurrection window in the chancel express the heart of the Christian gospel. The cross is the basic symbol of the Christian faith. However, in the time of Jesus, it was an instrument of death. The cross serves as a reminder that Christ died for our sins.

Transcending the cross is a beautiful resurrection window, which keeps before us the victorious fact that Jesus Christ rose again the third day. In this depiction, Jesus is emerging from the tomb. His right hand is raised in blessing while in the left He holds the banner of triumph over the death. In the extreme left portion is a bursting pomegranate, symbolizing the bursting forth of Jesus from the tomb, emerging into life. At the extreme right is a butterfly, representing the resurrection of the body of the Christian. Thus, the dead in Christ will be lifted into the new dimensions of eternal life and will be given bodies fitted for their new existence.

The Facade Window

Leaving the worship service, one will face the beautiful façade window.  This is an interpretation of the Great Commission of Jesus to his disciples.  At the center of the window is an oblong world.  A cross is upon an open Bible, which is superimposed upon the globe, symbolizing that the Church is to go into all the world with the Word of God. 

The basic symbol of the cross tells of the redemptive love of God expressed through the death of Jesus Christ. Representing the power to perform such a task is the descending dove of the Holy Spirit at the top of the window.  The people who have trusted Jesus Christ and have been baptized will take upon themselves the spirit and character of the Lord.  Thus, at the bottom of the window is a fish immersed in waves representing the baptism of Christians into the life of Jesus Christ.  (Given as a special gift by Mr. Frank G. LaPrade and Mr. Garland T.  LaPrade)

The Window in the Entrance Hall to Sanctuary

This window which depicts the Good Shepherd with children was given by the church as the Chevis Ferber Horne Honorariam Window.