History

The Arlington Baptist Church was founded July 6, 1879. The Bethel Baptist Association accepted the church into its fold at the annual fall meeting of that same year. The first services were held under a brush arbor. For the first few years the Methodists allowed the Baptist to have services in their building. In 1880 the church purchased a lot on the east side of North Highland Ave. (which was formally Depot St.). The first edifice, a frame structure, was dedicated on July 3, 1882.

 

 

The white block church was completed in the fall of 1911. In 1963 a fire destroyed part of the sanctuary. At this time a decision was made to erect a new church building.

 

 

 

 

The present sanctuary was dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 4, 1964, and a new educational building was dedicated on July 23, 1967.

 

In 2000, the church voted to renovate the sanctuary by replacing the carpet, repairing and padding the pews, extending the choir area, along with other maintenance items. Renovation was completed on July 15, 2001.

In 2004, the church started a new aggressive renovation project which consisted of; providing a Family Life Center to serve as a meeting area for the Youth and other family activities, providing new office area for the administrative staff, Practice area for the Choir, new and safer stair/fire escape for the Family Life Center, and updating the sound system in the sanctuary. This project was completed in February 2005.

Growth of a facility is only one indication of the growth of a Church. God blesses his workers with the tools they need to carry out his commandments. ABC has been well blessed.