Church History
With the end of World War II, and the coming of the Rev. James Basden as pastor in 1946, the movement to secure a new building gained renewed emphasis. During the interim between pastors, the lot on which the present building stands was purchased. Plans for the building were under consideration. When they might have materialized, we cannot know; at least no final decision had been reached. But the Lord apparently had plans of his own, for on Sunday afternoon, March 14, 1947, the entire church plant was destroyed by fire.
The shock of the fire and the loss of the old building provided the stimulus necessary for the erection of the new one. Services were held that same evening in the Presbyterian church, generously offered for the occasion. Thereafter the congregation met in the college auditorium, using the classrooms for Sunday School purposes; and for a little while, when the college itself was temporarily closed because of fire, in the Tyler School. Meanwhile new plans were made; there was generous response to the appeal for funds; and the new building was assured. The program for the ground breaking was held in Tyler School auditorium on Sunday afternoon, November 23, with Dr. J. P. Boone as the principal speaker. Then, moving across the street, the congregation watched the first spadeful of dirt handled jointly by J. R. Fellrath, chairman of the board of deacons, and John Bassel, former deacon and the first to give a thousand dollars for the building fund.
It was a little over a year later that the new structure, erected at a total cost of $211,496.59, was formally occupied, the first service being held on December 12, 1948. The month of January 1949 was devoted to a series of special programs. Sunday, January 2, was observed as Homecoming Day; two former pastors, J. D. Thorn and A. C. Miller, filled the pulpit for the morning and evening services; while in the afternoon the cornerstone was laid, with each member of the board of deacons participating, followed by a general reception. Other special services of the month included a Belton all-church night, with other denominations taking part; a Christian Emphasis Week, Chester Swor being the visiting speaker; Bell County Baptist Association Day; and the dedication of the new organ. The culminating service, scheduled for January 30, was postponed because of bad weather but was held on March 6. Following the sermon by Dr. W. R. White, the congregation recited in unison the solemn vows of dedication.
With the new building and the continuing leadership of Pastor James Basden, First Baptist thrived. In 1947, the local membership had risen to 859, the total membership to 1256. Total funds raised were $44,463.64. By 1953, the church employed three full-time workers besides the pastor. During these years three men successively held the position of seminary-trained minister of music and education: W. W. Cason, Harold Cartee, and Dennis Lyle. Likewise, three women were full-time church secretary, Eva May White, succeeded by Della Tanner and then Margaret Wilson. The custodian, N. O. Hagler, was the other full-time employee in 1953.