Church History

In the mid 1700’s many Scotch-Irish, English, and German families traveled down what was called the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania and Virginia to an area of western North Carolina in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many settled along rivers and creeks eager to begin a new life free from English rule. In the northeastern area of Rutherford County, along the First Broad River, settlers had moved into the area that would become known as Golden Valley in the mid 1800’s.

The eldership of the New Hope Church met on December 11, 1819 at a spot which was on or near where the Golden Valley Church of the Brethren now stands. They met for the purpose of constituting a church there, and chose Elder John Padgette as moderator. Brother Abraham Crow enrolled the names of thirteen brethren and sisters to compose an arm of their church at the head of the river. They were: Henry Pettit, Littleton Sims, James Lookadoo, Samuel Sparks, Hannah Lookadoo, Hannah Sims, Rebecca Hogue, Rebecca Jones, Anna Pettit, Jane Price, Susannah Osborn, Hannah Pettit, and Sarah Toney.

The church was first called “The Head of the First Broad River Church”, because it was located near the head of that river. It is still located near the river, but several miles farther down from the head, and is often simply called “First Broad Church”.

During those early years of the church the membership met on Saturday for preaching services and to attend to any business they might have. Then on the following day, Sunday, they met for preaching and to baptize, if necessary. In the beginning they met on the third Saturday and Sunday of the month, and usually on those days they would have two or three sermons by different preachers with a short intermission between sermons. Sacramental meetings were held in May, August, November, and February.

In January 1833, after discussing the difficulties they were having at their place of worship, the congregation unanimously agreed to move the church to a more private and suitable place for worship. The church remained on that newly acquired lot until it was moved again in 1850 to a spot on or near where the present day Fairview Baptist Church stands. During 1850 the church again decided to change locations. This time they moved several miles to the lands where the present church stands. A log building was constructed on the grounds now being used as the church cemetery.

On February 6, 1949, the plans for a new church building were presented by the building committee. The one-storied structure of brick veneer would have an auditorium with Sunday school rooms in the back and a basement underneath them. In 1974 plans for a new church wing were presented. It was to be a two-storied brick veneer structure consisting of seven rooms, a complete kitchen and fellowship hall in the basement. With that wing completed, we have the church building as it exist today.

In 2015 the deacon board began discussing the need to incorporate the church in order to make it a legal entity. Incorporation would make the church a limited liability nonprofit corporation and limit the personal liability of individual members in the event of any litigation against the church. Mr. Robert Redding from the North Carolina Baptist State Convention spoke to the church on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 about the need and benefits of incorporation and on February 21, 2016, the church voted to incorporate. On November 3, 2016 the final business meeting of the unincorporated church was held with Mr. Redding present to guide the church in this matter. First Broad Baptist Church was dissolved and the church, having received Articles of Incorporation from the state of North Carolina on August 2, 2016, was officially activated as First Broad Baptist Church of Bostic, NC, Incorporated.