First Baptist Church, Wichita, KS

216 East Second
Wichita, KS 67202
(316) 263-5285

Church History

In 1872,  Ulysses S. Grant was elected to a second term as President of the United States. The Jesse James gang robbed its first passenger train, and in the small frontier town of Wichita, Kansas, the following notice appeared in May 24th edition of the town's new newspaper, the Wichita Weekly Eagle :

“There will be Baptist preaching next Sabbath at the school building at 11 o’clock, and at the Presbyterian church in the evening at 8 o’clock. All Baptists and all in sympathy with that denomination are requested to be present at the morning service, as it is proposed to organize a Baptist church at 12 o’clock or immediately after preaching.”

 The following week the Eagle reports that, “On last Sabbath at the close of the morning service there was a Baptist church organized with 26 members and we learn that measures will be taken soon to erect a house of worship and have regular services.”

 And so begins the legacy of the FIRST Baptist Church of Wichita.

 Showing remarkable commitment and sacrifice this small group of Baptists purchases land in the very heart of Wichita, and begins building the first brick church building in the city, one block from our current location. With the arrival of a branch of the Santa Fe railroad that same year, Wichita enters a boom period as a cattle-shipping point. The small trading village grows into a headquarters for cowboys and other rough elements. Large signs are posted at the four entrances to town proclaiming: “Everything goes in Wichita: Leave your revolvers at police headquarters and get a check. Carrying concealed weapons strictly forbidden.”

 First Baptist shines Christ’s light into the heart of the city, in stark contrast to the saloons and gambling houses which also share the neighborhood. The church’s nearest neighbor is a variety nightly theater, which local historical accounts confirm as “more of a free and easy than a theater.”

 Throughout 128 years, through periods of both great prosperity and great adversity, First Baptist has remained at the heart of the city and faithful to the heart of Christ. Early in its history the church began planting new congregations to better reach the city with the gospel. Among those churches that continue today are West Side, First Mexican, Sunnyside, Woodlawn, Immanuel, and Wellington Place. In 1980 the church held its first service for Internationals, comprised of people mostly from Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Taiwan, Singapore and China. The service is in Laotian. A Chinese service (in Mandarin) was added in 1990.