On August 24, 1902, a group of dedicated Christians under the leadership of 
Reverend W. H. Laughinghouse and his wife, Pamela Ann, met together in the 
home of J. T. (Tom) Abrams to form a new church in the town of Greenville, 
North Carolina. This meeting was on a Sunday night and the group of 26 
members appointed the third Sunday of the month as their preaching day. Oral 
history says that this group met several years in the homes of members. 
During the time before the construction of the first church building, oral 
history states that the group of believers met in a two-room schoolhouse on 
the corner of Eleventh Street and what is now Forbes Street. 

The small church was admitted to the Central Conference of Free Will Baptists 
on November 5, 1903, with a membership of 32.  In 1903, Reverend E. T. 
Phillips was called to the pastorate of the Greenville Free Will Baptist 
Church.  Under his leadership, the church purchased land on the corner of 
Eleventh and Cotanche Streets (which was eventually changed to Forbes Street).
This land was bought from L. C. and Nellie Arthur on June 29, 1904.  On 
September 4, 1909 the mortgage for the purchased parcel of land was paid off 
and in 1915 the construction of the building was begun.  The pastor at the 
time was Reverend C. B. Jones.  The church building was completed in 1916.

In 1927, an annex was added to the original church building.  This annex was 
located on the Forbes Street side of the church and increased the sanctuary 
seating capacity to five hundred.  In 1948 the congregation purchased a lot 
from W. G. and Margaret M. Ward and added Sunday school rooms to the rear of 
the sanctuary.  Another building program was started after the church 
purchased adjoining property on Eleventh Street from Dorothy Taylor in 1954.  
An additional annex was added which included fourteen Sunday school rooms and 
enlarged the sanctuary.  The groundbreaking for this third annex was held on 
December 12, 1956, and the project was completed in 1957.

On December 30, 1964, the name of the congregation was changed to Greenville 
First Original Free Will Baptist Church.  After years of continual use, the 
building on the corner of Eleventh and Forbes Streets was deemed to be in 
very bad repair.  As there was no room for expansion for parking and because 
of the need of many expensive repairs, the church members voted to purchase 
a five-to-seven acre tract of land on Highway 43 from Ralph and Ramona Tucker.
The cost of the property was $22,000 with an interest rate of 6% and was to 
be the site of a new church building.  The groundbreaking for the building 
was held early in 1973.  The last service in the old building was held on 
March 10, 1974, and on March 17, the first service was held in the new 
facility.  A dedication of the new and present church was held on May 19, 
1974.  On July 5, 1977, the name again changed.  The present name of the 
church is First Free Will Baptist Church of Greenville.   

The First Church has improved the building on Charles Boulevard since moving 
into the new structure.  On April 7, 1976, the church in conference gave 
permission for a picnic shelter to be built beyond the parking lot.  This was 
enjoyed for several years but was later turned into a garage to be used to 
house a church van and for extra outside storage.  On April 8, 1987 the 
church voted to add a fellowship hall to the structure.  When completed, it 
afforded the church a new kitchen, extra Sunday school rooms, two bathrooms, 
a Ladies’ Parlor and extra storage.  A brick fireplace was included in the 
fellowship hall for members to enjoy on cold winter evenings.

In the late nineties, the church continued such renovations as enlarging the 
pulpit area, placing a stained glass window behind the baptistery, raising 
the piano and organ to be level with the pulpit platform, new pews, new usher 
chairs, and new choir robes.  Also included was the installation of a portico 
with white columns at the back entrance of the building and a small portico 
at the front entrance.  The vestibule was to be enlarged and redesigned by 
doing away with the folding doors at the rear of the sanctuary.  Wall 
treatments and fresh paint were to be added at several locations.  The 
church in conference also voted to replace the side windows with 
stained-glass windows to be donated by church members in honor or in memory 
of their loved ones.  These changes were completed and dedicated in 1996.  
Soon thereafter, new playground equipment was installed to expand the youth 
program.

Music has always been an integral part of worship at the church.  In 1925, a 
church choir was organized under the direction of E. D. Griffin.  The first 
church organ was presented to the church by The Memorial Baptist Church.  On 
October 21, 1948, Mrs. S. B. Hardee (“Miss Sophie” as she was affectionately 
known) presented a Hammond Electric Organ to the church.  The organ was 
dedicated on March 20, 1949.  Throughout the years, First Free Will Baptist 
has been the home of many wonderful musical groups to include male quartets, 
female trios and quartets, as well as mixed quartets.  

The church continues its tradition of good music.  Along with the adult choir,
in recent years there has been a youth choir, a handbell choir, a Praise Team,
and a Concert Band that has taken part in regular church services.  In 
addition to its contribution to the regular worship services, the music 
program also produces musical dramas and cantatas, and has recently joined 
other churches in the community for joint presentations.  The church is 
currently favored with several regular soloists and family groups.  The 
music program is ever-changing and adding dimension to the services of the 
church.

There are many opportunities for service available here at the First Church.  
The deacons participate in the Shepherding Ministry.  This ministry assists 
the pastor in leading the congregation in the work of the Lord.  Each deacon 
is responsible for a group of church families.  The deacon visits the 
families and is with them in times of celebration and sadness and shows the 
love and concern for the people that a shepherd shows for his sheep.  

First Free Will Baptist Church offers many opportunities to study and learn 
about God’s Word and its daily application to the lives of believers.  In 
addition to the 11 a.m. morning worship service, the pastor also teaches many 
Bible studies which are offered on Sunday nights, Wednesday mornings and/or 
Wednesday nights.  

The associate pastor leads the Christian Education and youth programs, to 
include Sunday School for all ages, Vacation Bible School, occasional small 
group Bible studies, and weekly youth fellowships.  The youth of the church 
are recognized as the future of the church.  The congregation strives to 
provide the young people a place where they feel free to enjoy learning about 
and worshipping God in an atmosphere of support and love. 

There are also many other organizations available for the adults of the 
church to serve in, such as the Woman’s Auxiliary, who support multiple 
denominational ministries and the men’s Laymen’s League, who are active in 
doing projects for the church, the shut-ins, and any others who may need 
help.  The Primetimers is a group organized for senior adults who meet 
monthly to study and grow in God’s work and who enjoy fellowshipping and 
travelling on many day-trips.  In addition, the Threads of the Heart is a 
group who meets monthly and shares an interest in knitting and crocheting.  
They collectively make prayer shawls, quilts, and throws and share them with 
shut-ins, hospital patients, newborns, and families during other special 
occasions or needs.

The motto of the First Free Will Baptist Church of Greenville is “Finding 
Faith with Family and Friends.”  In keeping with this motto, the church 
family endeavors to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom 
throughout the area, striving to win the lost to Christ.  We have long been 
proud of the talented and dedicated Christians that have been a part of the 
church.  Our prayer is for God’s blessings upon this congregation of 
believers, as we continue to look to Him for His leadership, guidance, and 
care.  We pledge that the actions of this church be for the Glory of our Lord 
and Savior, Jesus Christ, and will honor Him in all we say or do.





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