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The History of First Baptist Church of
Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi The First 100 Years 1896?1996
On April 19, 1896, the First Baptist Church of Bay Saint Louis was formally constituted as a church. As a century of time has come to a close, this history will show that we have much to be grateful for in our memories of God?s workings through our congregation.
From the historical sketch of the work of the Baptists of the Mississippi Gulf Coast published by the Reverend O. D. Bowen in 1882, it appears that the Reverend Benjamin Whitfield preached the first Baptist sermon in Bay St. Louis, in February 1846. Shortly thereafter, in 1858, a church known as Elim was constituted with fourteen members, equally divided between whites and blacks, with Elder W. H. Vamado of Hancock County as the first pastor. It was located a short distance from Bay St. Louis.
After the Civil War the races were separated. At the suggestion of Reverend J. B. Hamberlin, a missionary pastor appointed by the State Mission Board, the Elim Baptist Church was dissolved and a new church organized by him with thirteen members on May 20, 1877. This was the first Baptist church located within the township of Bay St. Louis. Records state that Alston J. Whitfield was the first person to be baptized here. The pastor was Rev. O. D. Bowen. The Church met on the third Sunday of each month. It contributed $55.00 to missions. This church was still in existence as late as 1894, with preaching by missionaries sent out by the State Mission Board. In 1891, the church had nine members and J. J. W. Mathis as the pastor. Services were held on a weekday. In 1894, Mathis was succeeded by J. L Tull, with a membership of seven. The Methodist Church?s facilities were used for their services.
From the booklet Gulf Coast Baptist Association Incorporated, 1877-1967 by Jesse L. Boyd, Sr., we learn that Reverend J. B. Hamberlin came to Ocean