churches within the town and attend the Sunday Worship Services.  In fact, First Baptist Church of Dandridge until March 1949 shared a pastor with the First Baptist Church of White Pine.

Elder James Kennon conducted the first service preached in the second location of the church on February 22, 1845.  At the dedication service, Rev. Kennon used as his text the 84th Psalm and as the Sermon topic, “How Amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts”.

     On April 8, 1845, Samuel Carson bought at public auction for the small sum of $30.00 the first church property land and house.

A minute entry of July 26, 1845, reflected the political conditions that existed in the United States and in particular our section of the country.  The Notation showed that political speeches were barred from our church.  It reflected a time in the United States and especially in our section of the United States where the question of slavery had become a hotly debated issue, many times raising tempers to the point when level headed men would challenge each other to a match of fisticuffs or at times, if the tempers were raised high enough, to an unlawful duel.  Our own church was located in a section of Tennessee, which maintained its loyalties to the Union, still the State of Tennessee in 1861 would withdraw from the Union. 

To assist the Tennessee Baptist Association, the church voted on March 18, 1846, to have a subscription to raise funds to aid the home missions cause within the boundaries of the association in the State of Tennessee and on March 20, 1847, the Church voted with the officials of the Town of Dandridge to call a public meeting to assist the people of Ireland who were starving because of the potato plague.  Further collection was taken on May 16, 1847 for the purpose of aiding the Southern Bible Foreign Mission Society. 

During the year 1848, three events happened not only to the spiritual education but the regular education of the slaves of certain members of the community.  On April 22, 1848, the Church voted to organize a Sunday School and an afternoon Sunday School was organized for the blacks of the Church.  On September 23, 1848, they voted to have a Church library.  On October 27, 1848, committee was appointed to investigate the possibility of organizing a Sabbath School within the Church for the purpose of religiously instructing the blacks of the community who would be willing to come and learn about the Word of God.  However, the owner’s permission must first be obtained, which was an unusual move among the Church especially in light of the feeling of the South that the blacks were to be kept uneducated and therefore not be a menace to the society by causing an uprising if they became fully educated. 

An event of which First Baptist Church is particularly proud occurred on March 5, 1849,  on that date a gathering took place at the church to discuss the organization of a Baptist Institution of higher learning.  From this meeting on March 24, 1849, the Church voted to set Friday, April 13th as a convention meeting of the Baptists to be held at First Baptist Church, Dandridge for the purpose of consulting the expediency and practicability of building an institution of learning in or near Dandridge under the patronage and control of the Baptist denomination and it was from this meeting that Carson-Newman College had its beginning.  In fact, many of the names that are inscrolled upon the stained glass windows in the new sanctuary today contain many of the organizers of what is now Carson-Newman College and it is from these individuals that the name Carson-Newman College was given.  It was from First Baptist Church of Dandridge that the first President of Carson-Newman College came.  He was Rev. William Rogers and it was under his leadership that the church was able to progress forward in instituting Sunday School, a Church Library, a school for the blacks and a new college.  Rev. Rogers left the church to become the first President of Carson College, but died in November 1851, after Carson College opened its doors for its first class. 

In 1852, the church held regular church services in the Oakland School house which was located some 4 miles North of Dandridge. 

The years of 1853 and 1854 show the benevolence of the church once again when in 1853, delegates to the Tennessee Baptist Association subscribed on behalf of the church $25.00 for the purpose of establishing a Baptist Book Agency in Knoxville for the circulation of Bibles and Baptist Books.  On January 29, 1854, a collection was taken to aid Missionary Louis Shuck in his ministry to the Chinese who were then immigrating to the State of California to work on the building of the Railroads.  In 1855 a collection was taken to aid the Southern Baptist Board in furnishing Chinese New Testaments to the Chinese in China and California. 

During the year 1858, the Church voted to build a saddle house adjacent to the Church, which was occupied in 1845.  This building was used at a later time to furnish carbide lights for the church.               

During the Civil War it appeared to be an uncertainty as to whether the Church would survive.  The pastor had resigned and William Carson was called as pastor on June 14, 1862, but declined the invitation.  At the December 1862 meeting of the Church, only the church treasurer was present.  For a period of 8 months (up to June 6, 1864), no one except the Clerk of the Church, James H. Carson, attended services because of the War Between the States.  From June 1864 to December 1864, Michael Cate preached regularly, but beginning in January 1865, only 2 persons, William Eckel and James Harvey Carson, were the only members present.  Only one person was present for the February meeting, and again on April 1st only brothers Eckel and Carson were present. 

On May 5, 1866 Sunday School was started once again. 

In 1869, since the pastor could not be with the Church except one Saturday and Sunday each month, an extra evangelistic minister was asked to preach once a month. 

On October 16, 1869, the Church voted to ask the Tennessee Legislature to grant a Charter of Incorporation to the Board of Trustees to make the Church a legal entity.  Prior to October 1869, the Church had approved on August 21, 1869, that the Board of Trustees be appointed from the male members of the Church. 

A great revival took place on December 9, 1870, when at the close of the revival on that date fifty-three new members had been added to the Church.  Forty-five members by baptism, 9 by letter, and 2 members were restored. 

On May 23, 1874, another event happened in the church concerning the church building when the evening services of the church were lit by lamplight rather than the heretofore candle light. 

An interesting sidelight happened on January 27, 1877, when a business meeting was called following a somewhat wild party by the 19th century church standards at the home of A.R. Swann.  A party was conducted where the rugs were rolled back and the crowd danced.  Col. Swann was the father of Alfred Swann, which the community of Swannsylvania and Swann’s Bridge are named after.  He was the owner of a very large farm, which comprised a large part of Jefferson County, which would take in the area starting approximately at the Swann’s Chapel Baptist Church and going across the present day Douglas Lake, taking the area around Swannsylvania Baptist Church and Swannsylvania School back to Interstate 40.  Most of the young men and women who danced that night came voluntarily and asked forgiveness and promised that they would never dance again.  Col. Swann also asked for forgiveness.  Each and every one of those who came voluntarily was forgiven, but those who did not come forward voluntarily were excommunicated from the Church.   

On May 25, 1878, Rev. William A. Montgomery, former pastor of the Church made an appeal for State Missions and a collection of $26.50 was taken up, which was the largest collection ever received at that time by the Church.

Normally the collections were taken twice a year on the Sabbath, as this was the date the Lord’s Supper was normally observed.  These collections went to defray the cost of the wine for the Lord’s Supper, candles and later instead of for candles, for lamp oil and for the janitor’s services and for different associations, with the general association of Tennessee Baptist receiving the largest amount.  The pastor’s salary was secured by subscription by members within the Church itself. 

On May 25, 1880, Brother James H. Carson passed away.  Brother Carson had joined the Church on October 24, 1842, and he had been elected the Church Clerk and Treasurer in March 1844, a post that he held for a period of 36 years.  His memorial is found on one of the Church windows in the present day sanctuary.  He would be one of the people credited with the organization of the present day Carson-Newman College.  To show the importance of James H. Carson, the minutes reflect on August 24, 1880, that in his place was elected Alexander Hynds, who was elected Clerk and who would likewise serve in that capacity for a period of 36 years.  Also elected to take James H. Carson’s place was Robert Rankin, Treasurer, and J.C. Henderson, who was appointed Trustee.  Alexander Hynds owned what is known as the Hynds House which is still today located in the middle of downtown Dandridge.  His daughter was Ellen Vincent, who married Bert Vincent, the beloved writer of the Knoxville News Sentinel “Strolling” and became a legend to the people of East Tennessee through his “Strolling” column and who was later given a special honor at Lincoln Memorial University and at Silver Dollar City, now known as Dollywood. 

On Christmas Day, 1880, the Church adopted a plan to take a collection each month for the purpose of missions. 

On February 26, 1887, twenty-two members were granted letters of dismiss ion to organize French Broad Church, which is the present day French Broad Baptist Church.  It was during the building of Douglas Lake that Mrs. A.R. Swann made a special trip to Washington, D.C. to appeal to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that a dike be erected around French Broad Baptist Church so that it would not be taken by Douglas Lake, and that is why today you see the wall built around that beautiful church as it sits in a rustic setting overlooking Douglas Lake. 

On June 23, 1888, the Church voted to do certain necessary repairs, but it was not until the fall of 1892 that the extensive remodeling could be carried out.  During the time of the remodeling the Church did not conduct church services (November 1892).

On May 23, 1896, a new baptistery built inside the church behind the pulpit was used for the first time instead of baptizing people in the French Broad River, and there were 18 people baptized at that service. 

To show some of the church’s finances, the minutes of April 1897 reflect that the pastor’s salary for quarter time was set for $150.00.  The Church voted on Christmas Day, 1898 to call a half time pastor at a salary of $300.00. 

A disaster struck the church on March 17, 1913.  During the Sunday School hour it was discovered that the Church was on fire from an overheated furnace that had been installed during the fall of 1912.  On the following Wednesday the Church was extended permission to use the M.E. Church South which was located out in the middle of the present day Douglas Lake right near the dike in downtown Dandridge, which brick church building was used by the congregation until the new church was built. 

The Trustees met and agreed on the collection of $2500.00 insurance, and further that the church would be rebuilt.  The church voted that the Trustees would act as the building committee and the church clerk, Alexander Hynds made a motion that Hal S. Harris, who was the President of the Jefferson County Bank and a member of Hopewell Presbyterian Church would be a part of the building committee.  Mr. Harris accepted and was made Chairman of the Building Committee and it was because of his dedication that the old sanctuary now stands.  This building was furnished and dedicated free of debt on the first Sunday in June 1914.  Dr. J.M. Anderson preached the dedication sermon.  All the excess funds left after the fund raising of the old building was turned over to the Home, Foreign and State Mission Board. 

Certain improvements were made by the Church beginning on March 13, 1918, when a committee of three was appointed to have the church wired and electric lights installed.  On July 5, 1919, upon the suggestion of the pastor, the motion was made to buy a church bell. The same bell that now sets in the belfry of the present day church building.  On December 5, 1926, a new furnace was used for the very first time. 

Just like the present day church, the church in 1928 raised $900.00 to send the then pastor, Dr. J.M. Anderson, on a three months tour of the Holy Land in which he sailed from the United States on June 15, 1928, and arrived back in the United States on September 15, 1928. 

On March 6, 1932, Dr. J.R. Johnson was called as pastor.  The church at this time put a bus on the up river route to enable several members of the church to attend Sunday School and the morning Church Service. 

On November 1933, a plan was approved to add an addition to the old sanctuary that comprised the Sunday School classrooms until approximately 1957.  These blueprints were approved on March 10, 1935, and the improvements committee was ordered to proceed with the new addition to the church with the Church Treasurer to handle all the money.  Nine hundred dollars was borrowed from the church fund to help with the addition.  On January 5, 1936, the addition was finished at a total cost of $1617.59, with 106 hours donated in addition to $6.00 haul bill and the donation of a truck for 11 days.

Dr. Johnson resigned as pastor on May 7, 1939, and on November 5, 1939, Dr. E.C. Masden was called as pastor and served in that capacity until October 31, 1944, to accept a teaching position at Carson-Newman College.  Dr. Masden would later on become Dean of Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky.  Dr. Masden served as an interim pastor from November 1944 until May 1945. 

On June 3, 1945, Rev. T.C. Christmas of Louisville, Kentucky was called as pastor.  He served in this capacity until October 17, 1948, at which time he resigned to accept a call to the Calvary Baptist Church in Alcoa, Tennessee.  Rev. Christmas would once again appear in the history of First Baptist Church Dandridge at a later time.  During the ministry of Rev. Christmas, the church approved the observance of the Lord’s Supper quarterly, a tradition that has carried forward to the present day church.   

On March 6, 1949, the first full time pastor was called to the ministry of the First Baptist Church Dandridge.  He was Rev. Frank Waters.  During the time of Rev. Waters, on one Sunday in particular, several members of the church left following Sunday School through the rear door of the church through the Sunday School room and Rev. Waters severely criticized many of the members for not staying for the church services.  (The members were not in the habit of staying for the services since previously the worship services were rotated among the community service.)  It was at this same time that the church’s first pastorium was purchased.  It is the small house on Lakeshore Drive presently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Fine.  Rev. Waters would serve as pastor until June 11, 1950, when he accepted the call to the Churchwell Avenue Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

On October 22, 1950, Rev. Jack Lowndes was called as pastor from a Baptist Church in Grays, Kentucky.  Brother Lowndes served with distinction until January 10, 1954, when he resigned to accept a pastorate with Erlanger Baptist Church in Erlanger, Kentucky.  Rev. Lowndes would later become the Executive Secretary of the Baptist Convention of New York and would distinguish himself in such capacity and presently serves the Georgia Baptist Convention in his native state.  It was during the pastorate of Rev. Lowndes that two members of the Church would accept the call to the ministry.  One was Brother Earl Northern, who was then serving Jefferson County in the capacity of the County Court Clerk.  A veteran of the Navy of World War II, he would return to Carson-Newman College to complete his college education and then would go to the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky to further his ministerial education and would serve as pastor in several Baptist Churches here in the State of Tennessee and at present day is retired and living in Crossville, Tennessee.  Rev. Northern was very active in the Masonic movement in the State of Tennessee, holding a high office in the organization as State Chaplain.  Rev. Northern accepted the call to the ministry on January 24, 1951, and would be ordained by the church on March 29, 1952.  Another member of the Church, the son of Roy and Beulah Corbett, long time and faithful members of the First Baptist Church of Dandridge, Jimmy Corbett, accepted the call to the ministry on October 11, 1951, and was licensed by the Church to preach on December 5, 1951.  Also Rev. Corbett was a classmate at Carson-Newman College and the Southern Baptist Seminary with our present day minister, Dr. Robert McCray. 

In December 1953, an organ was purchased to go into the Sanctuary. 

On April 18, 1954, The Rev. T.C. Christmas of Charlotte, North Carolina, a former Army chaplain, was recalled as pastor and served until March 27, 1955, when he resigned to become pastor of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, Maryville, Tennessee. 

Rev. John Lucas of Louisville, Kentucky was called as pastor effective June 15, 1955.  Being single at the time he was called, Rev. Lucas married in June 1956, Miss Nancy Broome, the granddaughter of Dr. J.H. Broome, who had been a supply pastor of the church.  This is the first and only time that the church has had a single pastor. 

The Church in 1955 was feeling growing pains and over a period of years there had been discussions of adding space to the church in the form of an educational building for furthering the youth ministry of the Church.  On September 7, 1955, the Board of Deacons recommended the following committee chairmen to begin plans for the educational building: General Chairman, Ernest Frye; Plans Committee Chairman, Jack Rimmer; Finance Chairman, Dave Swann; and Equipment Committee Chairman, A.B. Strand, Sr. The plans for the new education building began to materialize on March 11, 1956, when the Church voted to buy a lot to the rear of the church then owned by Mrs. Nina Swann, who lived adjacent to the church and the lot was to be used to build the new educational building and for additional parking spaces for members of the church.  On December 9, 1956, the Church as a part of the Educational Building program voted to build the educational building for the sum of $30,000.00.  Although the Church had on hand some $8,000.00 in the building fund program, it was believed by the members of the church that another $7,000.00 could be raised by the time construction would begin in the summer of 1957 and therefore only $15,000.00 would have to be financed.  From September 29, 1957 to October 13, 1957, the church incorporated and became Dandridge Baptist Church, Inc., a non-profit Tennessee Corporation for the purpose of selling $15,000.00 worth of bonds to be paid off in a period of 15 years.  These bonds were sold through the American Bonding Company and practically all bonds were sold to the members of the church within one day after the sale began. 

In April 1958, the Church voted to change the name of the church from Dandridge Baptist Church to its present name of First Baptist Church of Dandridge, designating this name on the basis that the church was the oldest Baptist church in the vicinity and the only Baptist church within the town of Dandridge.   

In October 1958, the church adopted the Forward Program of Church Finance, a program that has been carried out by the church successfully for the last 28 years. 

On January 18, 1959, Rev. John Lucas resigned as pastor to accept a call to the Cliffside Baptist Church, Cliffside, North Carolina. 

On March 22, 1959 Dr. Robert D. McCray, was called from a Baptist Church in Rockwood, Tennessee effective April 19, 1959. He served the church loyally and faithfully until January 1, 2006. Many changes and victories were seen during his long tenure. 

On March 26, 1961, the Church observed its 175th anniversary with a large crowd attending the morning and afternoon services with lunch being served in the fellowship hall. 

On October 7, 1962, the Church voted to purchase a larger home for the pastor located on Oakwood Drive, which is the present pastorium of the pastor and the home was purchased from Tom Eslinger, the present day Sheriff of Jefferson County, Tennessee. 

In October 1967, the Church liquidated the indebtedness both on the Educational Building and Pastorium several years in advance of the due date of the indebtedness.  On March 31, 1968, a new building fund was started realizing that the Church would grow and there would be need of a larger facility or a new facility at a new location. 

On the 182nd anniversary Sunday it was designated as dedication day for the Educational Building and the Pastorium to be both debt free and the traditional burning of the notes was performed at the morning service.  

On March 15, 1970, the Church voted to air-condition the educational building and therefore improving not only the comfort of the people of the church, but also adding to the value of the church. 

On August 5, 1970, the new method of electing the deacons ws voted upon by the church.  Instead of electing a deacon to serve for life, it was voted to elect deacons of our church by secret ballot of the congregation of the church (instead of by the deacons) on a designated Sunday morning in the fall of each year.  These elected deacons would be placed on a rotating list, rotating every three years. 

The church voted to air condition the sanctuary on June 4, 1975. 

On January 30, 1972, the Church conducted a unique service for the first time.  This service is called the “Baby Dedication Service”.  At this service the parents offer their children to God and dedicate themselves to the rearing of their children to the glory of God.  This service is in recognition that the life of a child is a gift of God and an acknowledgement on the part of the parents that it is a life that rightfully belongs to God.  At this service there were 6 children dedicated by the parents.  For the past several years this service has been conducted annually on Mother’s Day. 

The older organ was traded in on a Rodgers 110 Organ by vote of the church on May 21, 1972, which is the organ in the present day church. 

In August 1972, the pastor at the regular monthly business meeting appointed a long range building survey and planning committee.  This was another step taken which would eventually materialize in the construction of the present day church facility that First Baptist Church Dandridge now occupies. 

On February 24, 1974, the family of Dr. Roger E. White placed The Baldwin Baby Grand Piano used in the present day sanctuary in the church sanctuary.  Dr. White was a medical doctor with a specialty in the field of Psychiatry.  In his memory the family placed the Baby Grand piano in the Church.  Mrs. White served the First Baptist Church of Dandridge as Choir leader for several years.   

On October 15, 1975, the Church voted to buy a Church bus.  The church bus ministry was carried on for a few years but because of the lack of response of the people to ride the bus to church services, the church voted to sell the bus and the proceeds from the same was placed in the church building fund. 

The church celebrated its 190th anniversary on Sunday, March 28, 1976, with Dr. Jack Lowndes and Rev. Earl Nothern, two former pastors of the Church, delivering the message to the large crowd. 

Another milestone was reached in the Church on July 19, 1977, when at a special called business meeting following the morning service, the church voted to build a new sanctuary and education building at a new location.  A further recommendation was that the long range building committee was to seek a suitable location and bring the recommendation back to the church for approval. 

One year later on May 31, 1978, the long range planning committee recommended to the church to purchase the present location consisting of 14.25 acres located along the relocated State Highway No. 92 near the intersection of U.S. 25W and 70.  The purchase price of the lot was $45,000.00.  This recommendation was June 4, 1978. 

On April 22, 1979, the Church honored Rev. Robert McCray and his wife, Rebekah and daughter, Angela, for serving the church for a period of 20 years and presented the pastor with a check for $800.00 to be used for an extra week of vacation. 

On January 9, 1980, the Church at a regular business meeting brought before it by the building committee a motion that our church participate in the program of the Southern Baptist Stewardship Commission called “Together We Build”.  This method of raising funds was used instead of the traditional church bonds, which had been used in the past.  Rev. Charles High from the Southern Baptist Convention Stewardship Commission led the church in its Together We Build program to a very successful campaign.  The Building Committee further made the recommendation in February 1980, that the Church employ Barber & McMurray as architects for the new church building, after interviewing several architects. 

June 8, 1980, was designated Victory Day in the Together We Build Program.  The church had originally set a goal of $200,000.00 to be raised through the Together We Build Program, however, the church exceeded the goal and pledged $208,407.00 to be given by the congregation over a three-year period. 

On February 8, 1981, the Church asked Barber and McMurray to proceed with the construction plans and specifications, and to let bids to construct the church at an estimated cost of $613,000.00 to $813,000.00. 

On March 22, 1981, the First Baptist Church celebrated its 195th anniversary.  Rev. Glen Toomey, Director of Missions for the Nolachucky Baptist Association, and famed historian of local Baptist history, preached a sermon entitled “First Baptist Church of Dandridge, a Harvest Church for 195 years”.  This theme was used by the Communication Arts Department at Carson Newman College in making a video film shown in conjunction with the 200th anniversary of the Church.  The title of the film was taken from this sermon and will be entitled “The Harvest Church”.  

On September 6, 1981, at a special called business meeting the church voted to alter the plan of the new church building leaving a tower that was to be located approximately where the pastor’s study is presently located and voted to remodel the church plans and to place the present church steeple where it is presently located.  The new cost of the church was set at $850,000.00 with the construction to begin soon and to be completed within 300 days.  Catron Construction Company of Morristown, Tennessee was the successful bidder and after the construction was completed many of the congregation marveled at the craftsmanship that went into the construction performed by Catron Construction Company. 

On September 13, 1981, following the morning worship service, the church adjourned to the present location for a ground breaking service which was conducted by our pastor Rev. Robert D. McCray. 

On May 2, 1982, Ernest Frye announced to the congregation that Rev. Robert D. McCray would be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from his alma mater, Carson-Newman College on May 7, 1982.  Dr. McCray has served with distinction for many years on the Board of Trustees at Carson-Newman College and Board of Trustees at East Tennessee Baptist Hospital and has served on the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and therefore he has had a long history of service not only to the founding church of Carson-Newman College but also to the college itself and the Tennessee Baptist Convention. 

On September 8, 1982, at a regular monthly business meeting deacons of the the church presented a recommendation that the congregation be given an opportunity to purchase furnishings for the new sanctuary including pews, choir chairs, and other furniture for the church.  A very short time after the announcement was made, all the pews, choir chairs and church furniture had been purchased by the members of the congregation. 

On January 5, 1983, the pastor reported on behalf of the building committee that all the stained glass windows from the old sanctuary had been removed and installed in

the new sanctuary building.  Besides the stained glass windows coming from the old church building, the lights that hang from the ceiling in the present sanctuary came from an old church in Knoxville, Tennessee that the architects Barber & McMurray had access to.

         On March 27, 1983, the last Sunday service was held in the former church building.  There was a Sunday School attendance of 230 and the sanctuary was filled to capacity with chairs having to be moved in to seat all the people on that momentous day.  Monday, March 28, 1983, was designated as church moving day with several members of the congregation coming in pick up trucks and other trucks and moving all of the necessary equipment out of the old educational building and church and into the new building. 

         On March 30, 1983, the last prayer meeting and the last church service was held in the old sanctuary.  Many members of the congregation were given the opportunity to stand up and reminisce about the past events that had happened in the church.  Many members took this opportunity to give both serious and humorous events that happened in the church, which was especially delightful for some of the members who had been attending for several years to reminisce about certain events that had happened in the long history of the church.

         On Easter Sunday, April 3, 1983, the first services were held in the new church building located on Highway 92.  There were 470 people present for the first morning worship service, making if necessary for chairs to be placed in the vestibule and in the aisles to accommodate the crowd.  There had been 280 people present for the Sunday School service.  At this first service the church building committee was recognized.  Floyd Gray, Chairman; Helen Bowers, Secretary; Ernest Frye, Vice Chairman; Gerry Hardy, Jack Hasty, Jerry Hodge, and Ben Strand and Dr. Robert McCray (Ex-Officio Member).  Also recognized at this service were individuals who had donated pews, choir chairs, pulpit furniture, new hymnals and new Bibles and also the furniture in the pastor’s study, which was also donated.

         On April 6, 1983, at a regular business meeting the church voted once again to enter into Phase 2 of Together We Build.

         On June 5, 1983, the new building was dedicated and the church opened its doors for the community and past members to come and bask in the glory of the beautiful new building.  Two former pastors participated in the service, Dr. E.C. Masden, Dean Emeritus of Cumberland College, Williamsburg, Kentucky and Dr. Jack B. Lowndes of Savannah, Georgia.  In September 1983, the Together We Build Victory Sunday was held again.  The church this time only fell $5,000.00 short of reaching their designated goal of $250,000.00.  During the Together We Build Program it was revealed that the new building cost was $969,670.98 and that the outstanding church debt including interest was $426,567.61. The church was financed through a note a Jefferson County Bank, Dandridge, Tennessee, later to become First Tennessee Bank, Dandridge. 

Also in December 1984, another donation of $10,000.00 was made for the purchase of a sound system, which now has presently been installed into our church. 

The church actually can be looked at in three phases; the old church built in the Koontz community was dedicated to the work of God to be a missionary church.  It was not until it moved to its second location on the Washington Post Road that it began to expand its ministries and once again kept in mind its missionary purpose.  Finally, the modern day church began in 1949, with the calling of a full-time minister.  Since the calling of the first full-time minister the church has expanded its many ministries including the youth ministry, music ministry, missionary educational organizations and its missions giving not only through the Cooperative Program but to the various special offerings for the State, Home and Foreign Missions. 

The church has been blessed with several people being called to the church vocational ministry including pastors, missionaries, college presidents and college professors.  One of the former pastors’ descendants was elected President of the Baptist World Alliance.  The church certainly has not forgotten Jesus’ commission that you shall go into all the world which is done not only by sending members but also by sending our   gifts so that other people will be able to hear the Word of God. 

The congregation of First Baptist Church of Dandridge would ask that we join hands with the original twelve to carry on the tradition that they established then and that has been refined throughout the years and that Fist Baptist Church of Dandridge be known as the Harvest Church. 

Dr. Robert F. Brown was called as our pastor in December of 2007 from the Broadway Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Dr. Brown has served in churches throughout Tennessee and Connecticut. He has been extensively involved in missions throughout the world. He is a graduate of Southwestern Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Seminary. The present membership is over 1000 members and the Lord continues to bless the church with new members.