History

FBC has a long history in the Clemson community. Explore this page to learn more about important moments in our past!

• 1907: Clemson College Baptist Church is organized. 

• 1909: Rev. Thomas V. McCaul becomes the first pastor. Services are held in the College Chapel. 

• 1910: The first Women’s Missionary Unit [WMU] is organized.

• 1913: The first church building, seating 500 people, is dedicated. 

• 1913: The first Sunday School is organized.

• 1932: The first Baptist Student Union [BSU] Council begins to function.

• 1940: The first building expansion is completed. 

• 1944: Harold Cole comes as the first Baptist Campus Minister. 

• 1951: The church name is changed to Clemson Baptist Church. 

• 1964: A 1,000 seat sanctuary with additional educational space is completed and dedicated. 

• 1965: Ron Whitlock comes as the first Minister of Music and Youth. 

• 1971: The church changes the requirement for deacon eligibility to include all adults 21 years and older who have been members for at least one year. 

• 1973: Sarah Cooper becomes the first ordained female Deacon. 

• 1974: A constitution is adopted, establishing a committee style of governance. The deacon eligibility age becomes 18. 

• 1974: The name of the church is changed to First Baptist Church of Clemson. 

• 1975: The church votes to accept members from other denominations who have previous baptism experiences. 

• 1978: A Baptist Student Center is built near campus and BSU activities are moved out of our church. 

• 1980: Sanford Beckett comes as the first Minister of Education and Singles. 

• 1987: English as a Secondary Language classes begin to be freely offered to the community. 

• 1991: The church becomes a member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Amy Jacks Dean becomes the first ordained female minister and the first Minister of Students and Singles. 

• 1994: The first mission trip to build houses in Honduras is taken. 

• 1999: Mary Smith comes as the first Children’s Coordinator. 

• 1999: The original church building is razed. 

• 2001: The Child Enrichment Center begins operating. 

• 2004: The Cooperative Student Fellowship (CSF) is organized and recognized by the University as an official campus organization. 

• 2005: Construction on the newest addition begins in September. 

• 2006: Construction and renovation is completed in November, with a community Open House Celebration on December 10.

• 2007: Our centennial year is celebrated with many special events. Rusty Brock is installed as the 16th pastor. A Strategic Plan for Mission is developed and implemented. 

• 2011: A Community-wide Basketball Camp for children is offered in the Family Life Center.

• 2012: A Church-wide Visioning Process is undertaken.  

• 2013: A new governance structure is adopted and implemented.