History :

The First Baptist Church of Crosbyton was organized on February 14, 1909. This organizational meeting was held in City Hall, which was above the Mercantile Store of the C. B. Livestock Company. The church was organized by the Rev. J. A. Land of Floydada who served as the Associational Missionary of the Staked Plains Association.

Rev. Joe A. Land was called as the first pastor to supply services one time a month until a permanent pastor could be secured. The first ordination service held by the church was. that of Cap Ellison to the diaconate. This service was conducted on August 7, 1909, with the Presbytery consisting of Rev. W. H. Powell, Rev. Robertson, Rev. J. A. Land, and J. W. Branch, a visiting deacon from Seymour. The church's first cooperation with other Baptist Churches came when messengers were sent to and were seated at the annual meeting of the Staked Plains Association. This meeting was held at Lockney. The first messengers were Mr. & Mrs. John McDermett, Mr. & Mrs. Cap Ellison, Dora Collier, and Ottice Lomax. They invited the association to hold their fifth Sunday meeting in Crosbyton; this invitation was accepted.

The first regular pastor came in September, 1911, when Rev. Jim Richards accepted the call to be pastor. The calling of a pastor was quite different then than what is the present practice. The early pioneer churches would often propose several possible candidates to be voted on, and the one with the highest vote would be extended a call. Another practice sometimes followed was the use of an annual call to be renewed at the start of each new year.
The church had met in the Presbyterian Church building, as it was the only church building in town to begin with. Finally in 1911 a drive was begun to raise funds for the First Baptist Church building.
Pledges of over $1,200 were secured. The building cost $2,500 and was completed in 1913 under the pastorate of J. M. Rankin. The first service in the new 300-seat auditorium was on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1913. Rev. I. E. Gates of Wayland Baptist College in Plainview brought the dedication address. This first permanent building was built on land deeded for church purposes by Julian Bassett, the founder of Crosbyton. Rev. Rankin led in the organization of the first Sunday School with J. B. Martin as the first superintendent (director). The first piano was bought for the church by the WMU in 1913. In 1916 a Sunbeam Band (Mission Friends) was organized. The first parsonage was a five-room frame house constructed in 1916. In 1917 the church transferred membership to the new Floyd County Association. Also, the first BYPU (Church Training) program was begun. On April 26, 1922, the first ministerial ordination service was conducted in the church, with Fred Cole being the candidate for ordination. The church also adopted the budget plan of church finance in 1922. The second auditorium and building was constructed in 1929 with dedication not being held until 1938 when the building became debt free. The first Vacation Bible School was conducted in 1936 and 1939 saw a remodeling of the parsonage. In 1941 a Pastor's Cabinet (Church Council) was appointed. As the church was behind on finances, a unique fund drive took place in which each church member was urged to give a gift of his age multiplied by five cents. The budget by 1942 had reached $3,127.48. In 1943 in a patriotic gesture, the church began using one-half of all fifth Sunday offerings to purchase war bonds. By 1945 Sunday School average attendance had reached 218, and fhe need for more space was recognized. In 1945 a building fund was started, and building plans were drawn up which culminated in the construction of the present auditorium in 1952. The loan on the new building was secured at 5% interest. In 1957 this building was remodeled with new furniture and carpet. In 1974 an extensive $36,000 renovation took place and brought the sanctuary to basically its current condition. The current parsonage was constructed in 1955. This home is located across the street to the west of the church and has recently (summer 1984) been refurbished for the coming of our new pastor. The church was officially incorporated in 1960 with the Articles of Incorporation being approved in April of 1960. With Sunday School average attendance reaching 424 in 1965, there was a pressing need for additional educational space. In 1966 the current Educational Building, with a chapel and offices, was constructed. This building was paid for in 1980. With a financial drive finishing payments on the Educational Building and also paying for demolition of the old building (1929), space was provided for the new beautiful Fellowship Center and court yard. This building was dedicated in 1981.