About

On April 9, 1890, the Festus Baptist Church was organized with 28 charter members. J.P. McKay, a circuit riding missionary, was elected as its first pastor. Once a month preaching services were held. The church was admitted in the Jefferson Baptist Association in September 1890. They began looking for a suitable location for its first building. The Methodists and Presbyterians allowed the Baptists to use their buildings for six years. In the spring of 1893 the lot on the corner of Gray and Moore Streets in Festus was purchased for $325. In the spring of 1896 the church building was completed for a cost of $1,360.