The church was organized in the year of 1880, with fourteen charter members. The members were: A.R. Kirkpatrick and wife, Viola; A.P. Couch and wife, Marth; William J. Livingston and wife, Eliza Jane; John Wingo; Pauline Sanders, her father and mother; Susie Huddleston, M.G. Norman; J.F. Norman and one there whose name is not known. The church was first known as the Alton Missionary Baptist Church and after becoming affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention became known as the First Baptist Church.

     The first pastor was R.O. Tribble. He was succeeded by H.C. Kirkpatrick. These two men alternated as pastors until 1884. Then Rev. W. D. Williams was called and served the church, as did the following: J.F. Glass, W.J. Beardon, T.W. Wright, A.D. Bohannon, J.H. Summers, A.H. Cunningham, F.C. Neeley, S.L. Humphrey, H.M. Bunyard, J.H. Pennoch, J.W. Bays, T. R. Stroupe, L.H. Drumright, L.A. Strafford, W.J. Mathis, Kenneth Couch, Harry Hunt, J. B. Rose, Roy L. Bunch, Sam Sherman, Rex Henderson, James Busby, G.W. Logan, Herschel Thornell, Alphus Capps, E.L. Hovis, Kenneth M. Hull, Bill Nichols, Bob Adams, Ralph Moyer, Wayne Guffey, Preston T. Bailey, Jr., David Langston, Gary Warren, Lindell Vawter, Gary Warren, Dr. Jeph Holloway (interim pastor), Kenneth E. Poague, Barry Pfister, Dr. Todd Ewing (interim pastor), and Tim Burdin (3/2009).

     During the pastorate of Bro. W.D. Williams, a building committee consisting of the pastor, J.B. Johnson, H.L. Johnson and L.G. Rikard was appointed to make plans for a church building. Through the courtesy of the Methodist Church, this congregation met in their building and other buildings in town. The land for this building was purchased from J.A. Rice and his wife, Lou C. Rice. 

     The building committee employed R.A. Perkins to construct the auditorium which was completed in the year 1890. The building was built and seats made at a cost of $400.00. The building has since been remodeled and an additional room built and a basement constructed.

     Some years after finishing the church building, the church decided to build a home for the pastor. A lot was secured just west of the former school building on Vine street. Ben gum, father of the late Will Gum, furnished the lumber for this building. The carpenter on the building was Please Peake.

     On December 30, 1943, the of Mr. H.M. Williams was destroyed by fire. All the church records were lost in that fire so most of the history of the church was compiled by memory. 

     In 1949 the pastor's home west of the school building was sold for $2,700.00. A lot was purchased from Albert Haigwood who was a deacon of the church at that time. A modern flagstone building was erected for the pastor. Rev. James Busby and family were the first ones to occupy the new parsonage. The contract for this building was $7,797.84. On July 19, 1953, Pastor Gordon W. Logan conducted the service to dedicate the parsonage to God. 

     Under the ministry of Bro. E.L. Hovis another building committee was appointed to study and make plans for the erection of an educational unit to the church. This committee was made up of Albert Haigwood, chairman; Bob Braswell; Milton Mcfry; J. Robert Barton; Robert Key; Mrs. Helen Sipe; and Eunice Robinett. Prospective plans were discussed and finally on February 4, 1959, under the pastorate of Bro. Kenneth Hull, plans were adopted and the church voted to employ Mr. Please Hyatt of Kennett, Missouri, as architect. On August 5th of the same year, the church gave the building committee the power to employ an attorney-at-law to draw up bonds for financing the construction and to handle all legal matters involved in becoming incorporated. 

     The building is forty-four by sixty feet. It is a two-story block and brick structure with a floor space of 2,436 square feet and will accommodate two hundred people in the Sunday School. It was completed at a cost of $25,000.00.

     In the early stages of the building plans and by the requirements of the incorporation, the building committee was replaced by an eleven member force of deacons known as the Board of Directors. They were as follows: J. Robert Barton, Chairman; Ray Robinett, Vice-Chairman; Milton McFry, Secretary and Treasurer; Herbert McCullough; Walter England; Gene Boze; Chester Harpole; Robert Key; W.A. Haigwood; and Scott Smart. Later, Chester Harpole moved to Thayer, Missouri and was replaced by Bro. C.A. Wynn, Sr. 

     On December 15, 1974, a note shredding was held freeing the church of any indebtedness. Bro. Kenneth Hall brought the message after the history of the church was given and the note shredding. He was the pastor of the church in 1959 when the educational building was started. The note shredding was performed by Bob Braswell. He had been Church Treasurer through the indebtedness for the educational building. Other treasures since that time have been Kenneth Hull, Bob Chronister, Wendell Johnson, Kathy Minich. 

     The following members have served as Church Clerks: John Wingo, A.R. Kirkpatrick, L.G. Rikard, Susie Huddleston, J.F. Norman, Margaret Wilkerson, Janie Wilderson, and W.M. Williams. Brother Williams was elected clerk in 1907 and served for 25 years. Grover Thompson was then elected to Church Clerk and served for one year. After which Bro. Williams was re-elected and served until 1948. Others are J. Robert Barton, Nolan (Bill) Johnson, Milton McFry, Willie Stogsdill, Mrs. Ora Barton, Sue Roberts, Poe Crigler, Roger Williams, Margaret Johnson, Kent Palmer, Dixie Williams, Betty Minich. 

     The church has licensed three young men and ordained one of the to the Gospel Ministry. Brother William D. Wyatt was licensed on September 28,1922. Brother James Harpole was licensed in 1960. Brother Phillip Hall was ordained on July 29, 1972, at 8:00 p.m. 

     In 1991-92, a new parsonage located on Shipp Circle was purchased and the one built in 1949 was sold. The price of the house on Shipp Circle was $41,500.00. A new furnace, carpet and other repairs were made. The first pastor and family to occupy was Bro. Kenneth and Nancy Poague. 

     Sometime in the early 1970's the church voted to establish a building fund and each month began setting a certain amount from the general offering. The first significant contribution that gave the fund momentum was made by Bob and Pat Braswell. As the years passed, other members also felt moved to contribute generously in anticipation of eventually updating the sanctuary or even building in a more spacious location. 

     In early 1993 the church body agreed to purchase land from the directors of Tucker Creek Club, located slightly south of the city limits of Alton with frontage on Highway 19 south. This would be convenient, visible location for a future church building. The cost of the lots were $25,000.00. 

     In June, 1994, a committee was formed to investigate the cost of constructing a new church home on the recently acquired land. The committee members were: Hosea Cates, Chairman; Sheila Campbell; Beckie Combs; Wendell Johnson and Betty Minich. In January, 1999, the committee was authorized to proceed with the intention to build, These members faithfully guided the building project from inception to completion. 

     The church submitted a request to the Missouri Baptist Convention for volunteer labor in January, 2000. The very next month, in February, the church was notified that a framing crew would be arriving in June. The timing certainly added expediency to the planning and preparatory work. 

     A groundbreaking event was held at the building site, Sunday, February 13, 2000. Work began! Trees were removed, stumps cleared, the construction site was prepared and the basement floor was poured by April. 

     The first volunteer mission building crew, a combined group from Kansas City/Macon Baptist Association arrived June 2, 2000. By the end of six days, the basement portion was framed, about one-third of the sub-floor was down and steps had been built from the first floor to the lower level. 

     The Etowah Association Baptist Builders from Alabama was the next group in and they completed the sub-floor and put up some of the trusses. When the delivery of needed trusses was delayed, men began framing in a room in the basement while others began electrical wiring. 

     The third volunteer mission building crew was from First Baptist Church, Greenville, Alabama, and they arrived July 23rd. They worked on putting up sheetrock. Throughout the building process so many members, young and old, pitched in to help from doing physical labor on the building, by providing meals, snacks and drinks for the workers, or opening up their homes for the visitors. 

     All new church furniture was ordered from Covenant Manufacturing Co. in Ozark, Missouri. The steeple and baptistery were also ordered through Covenant, however, they were to be shipped from Texas. Brick was ordered from Wheeler Brick Co. in Springfield, Missouri. The cabinets for the kitchen and restrooms were built by Cabinets Plus in West Plains, Missouri. The carpet was purchased and installed by Thayer Decorating Center, and West Plains Music did the sound system. 

     In August, 2000, trenches were dug for the geothermal heating and cooling system purchased from Hydro-Temp Co., Pocahontas, Arkansas. At this time the ground was dry and hard to a depth of six to eight feet. 

     Work continued over the next several months with Terry Cline as the building foreman. Hosea Cates, building committee chairman, was always making sure supplies were ordered and received on time. Our pastor, Barry Pfister, was a willing helper, and Bob Wiggs, Charles Trantham and Chad Campbell did most of the interior work.

     The last service in the building most of us had known all our lives as the First Baptist Church were Sunday, February 25, 2001. the original sanctuary had been in use since 1890. The building and education building which had been constructed in 1960 was sold for $50,000.00. The first Sunday service in the new church was held March 4, 2001.

     The value of the church structure and furnishings is approximately $500,000.00. As of 2005, the only indebtedness was for paving the parking lot. This was soon paid off leaving the church debt free.

     Each generation builds on the foundation laid by the previous generations. Presently, our church body is not as large as at times past; however, we pray that as a church body, we have contributed to the spiritual growth of each person who has attended Alton First Baptist Church over the years and that the ministry in the name of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, will continue to reach our community.

First Church History prepared by:

Pauline Crigler, Nettlyte Pingree, Nettie Simpson

2009 Church update prepared by Doris Johnson

2023 Website designed with love by the Crum Family