Baptists from New York and New England living in Detroit organized the First Baptist congregation with the Reverend Henry Davis as their minister on October 20, 1827. This congregation was among the first Protestant churches organized in Detroit. First Presbyterian had been established in either 1821 or 1825. The original First Baptist church was a frame structure at the corner of Fort and Griswold erected in 1831. Four years later the congregation had a brick meeting house. Larger churches were built for First Baptist in 1863 and in 1875.The congregation decided to move away from increasingly congested downtown Detroit and became the first Baptist congregation to establish a church on the city’s piety row. In 1908, they commissioned architect Guy Vinton to design the Gothic revival structure that you see pictured above. This is a rock faced limestone church that resembles other Gothic church erected at this time. You see, facing Woodward, a Gothic arched traceried window. There is also a tower to the left with a belfry, a tower that contains the entryway. Adjacent to the church is an educational building, also in rock faced limestone. In many ways, this church is distinctive for its simplicity or clarity. Quite a few Gothic churches have a great deal of ornamentation at the front or elaborated stone work. This church is appealing for its direct and unambiguous Gothic style.
By 1957, Baptists were moving away from this area of Detroit so membership was dwindling. The church was sold, that year, to Peoples Community Church. First Baptist then relocated to Southfield and constructed a beautiful modern church that was dedicated in 1965.
First Baptist Church of Detroit is well-known but sometimes it received less attention than Second Baptist which was found in the late 1830s and became the first black congregation in the city. It is well known for the role its members played in Michigan’s abolitionist movement and for the help they provided to travelers on the Underground Railroad who emancipated themselves by crossing the Detroit River.
Peoples Community Church was founded in Detroit in May, 1954 and began holding services in a Baptist church on Joy Road near Clairmount. Membership grew rapidly and by October of that year they were renting a building at Fourteenth and Marquette. The congregation prospered by raised $85,000 as a down payment for the First Baptist Church that you see pictured here. On April 7, 1957, Peoples Community Church established their home there.
Architect: Guy Vinton
Style: Late Gothic Revival
Date of Dedication: May 8, 1910
Use in 2009: Church
Website for First Baptist Church of Detroit: http://www.fbc-detroit.org/
Website for Peoples Community Church: http://www.peoplescommunitychurch.org/
State of Michigan Registry of Historic Sites: P25,096
State of Michigan Historic Marker: None apparent
National Register of Historic Places: Listed August 3, 1982. This church is included in the National Historrical Register's Woodward Avenue
Religious Structure's Thematic Resources.
Photograph: March 11, 2009
Description prepared: March 18, 2009