Brief History of First Baptist Church of Raeford
First Baptist Church Raeford began in 1899 as Moore’s Chapel before the City of Raeford was formed in 1903, and before Hoke County in 1911. It was about two miles down Hwy 211 South, towards Red Springs at the intersection of Hwy 211 and Old Maxton Rd. in what was then Robeson County and Red Springs. According to the church history book published in 1999, in the late 1800’s the Robeson Baptist Association became concerned that Baptists to the immediate northwest had no church.
Rev. R.A. Moore, together with J.D. Moore, I.P. Hedgepeth, and G.J. Dowell formed a committee with the express purpose of beginning such a church. A Baptist church was organized November 22, 1899, consisting of twenty-eight members.
Raeford was formed in 1903, due partly to a college preparatory school, The Raeford Institute. This school was built directly east of what is today, Raeford Presbyterian Church. There was not a high school at the time, and families mainly farmers were moving closer to this area for the educational opportunities it offered. Education and religion were driving factors in the growth of Raeford and soon the Raeford Institute would be surrounded by churches: the Presbyterians to the west, the Methodist to the east and in 1904, the Baptist moved to the corner of Main and Donaldson.
In 1947, a new brick building was put in its place to replace the old wooden structure. In 1955, the Lennon Building was added behind the new building. In 1982, the present sanctuary was built, and in 1993, Gatlin Fellowship Hall was erected where Wednesday Night suppers and prayer meetings are held today.