It was the eighth day of October, 1844. Not many people were living in the little village of Hendersonville, perhaps fewer than 400. There was a deep and recognized need for a church, since there was none of any description within the village. To the northwest was French Broad Baptist, established in 1792. To the northeast was Ebenezer Baptist, organized in 1813. To the south was Mud Creek Baptist, organized in 1804. Saint John in the Wilderness, an Episcopal church was organized in 1836. But within the hearts of a few people was the desire for a Baptist church nearer to the center of the village. Therefore, on October 8, 1844, a little band of very earnest men and women met and organized the Hendersonville Baptist Church. An abstract from the minutes of the first meeting follows: “Believing as we do, that the Lord having impressed on the minds of some of his humble followers the necessity of establishing a church in the village of Hendersonville and hoping that it will redound to His glory and our everlasting good met on the eighth day of October, A.D. 1844.” Thus was laid with it’s humble beginning, eight women and six men, the foundation of what is now the First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, NC. The charter members were: Mary Hart, Benjamin Hart, Mary Ann King, Joseph King, Rebecca King, Elisha King, Mary King, Daniel Pace, Sara Pace, Mariah Pace, G.W. Shackleford, J.B. Thomas, Lucy Thomas, and Elizabeth Witzel.

 -An excerpt from the Centennial celebration booklet, 1944