Church History 1872 - 1928

The First Baptist Church of Pea Ridge, Arkansas was organized by a small group of loyal church leaders in 1872, in a building at Buttrams Chapel. Later the church moved to the same location as the present church building in the south part of Pea Ridge. At that time it was called Missionary Baptist but later affiliated with Southern Baptist and name changed to First Baptist Church of Pea Ridge, Arkansas.

When the older church was first organized in 1872, the first pastor was Jasper Dunagin. Others who served as pastors were Andrew Jack Maxwell in 1885, Milton Harris, J.M. Bandy, Jack Maxwell again, and I.M. Phillips. W.F. Green preached in 1904, John Hall was pastor in 1909, W.F. Green 1910, T.F. Jones 1911, W.F. Green in 1913, also T.B. Pruitt preached in 1913. John A. Hall 1914 thru 1916. T.B. Pruitt again in 1917. Floyd Marchall preached in 1918 and J.V. Bilbery also in 1918.

January 12, 1919 plans were made for a new and larger church building and pledges were canvased.

February 16, 1919 the church elected W.T. Patterson, Finis Wood, and Ewell Lee as a building committee to select plans and cost of construction of a new church building.

J.H. Patterson was given authority to sell the old church building at the highest price possible. It was sold to Emmet Caldwell, torn down and rebuilt into a home two miles south of Pea Ridge.

September 17, 1921 a building committee consisted of Bros. W.T. Patterson, Ewell Lee, J.A. Hall, and H.J. Patterson as committee foreman.

September 21, 1921 work was started on digging the basement for the new church. A.R. Hall was church clerk at this time. A concrete basement was partially completed and plans for the new church were abandoned because of lack of finances untill 1928 when the present structure was built. It was built of tan brick and the architect was A.O. Clark. W.T. Patterson gave the largest financial donation. The land was purchased from G.R. and Elizabeth Foster for the sum of five dollars.