Sharing, Loving,
Growing, Serving,
and Giving
Timothy Howe, Senior Pastor
Getting to Know
First Baptist Church, Gilroy
Founded in 1944, First Baptist Church Gilroy has been ministering to the South Valley area for over 60 years. As a Southern Baptist Church, we believe in the basic beliefs listed below. We are a member of the California Southern Baptist Convention, and the Central Coast Baptist Association.
Our Church History
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FBC Gilroy began in 1944 as a Mission Church of the First Southern Baptist Church of Salinas. In September 1946, members voted to join the San Jose Southern Baptist Association. Services were held in a small building on 6th Street, behind Halls Western Clothing Store. In 1947 the Christian Church was rented and services continued there until 1948. In the early years, numerous pastors helped the church get established.
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The church voted to purchase a lot located at the comer of Sixth and Hanna Streets. The first building was started in March of 1950 and was dedicated on November 12, with 134 present in Sunday School. A parsonage was constructed in 1958 and Pastor Danny Whaley was called to serve as pastor until June of 1966. A 2,800 square foot education building was built in 1961. In May of 1961, property was purchased on Wren Avenue.
Joe Mitchell served as pastor from 1967 to 1968. Rev. Ken Daugherty was called to serve as pastor from 1969 to1979.
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The City of Gilroy bought the Sixth Street property in 1972. Ground breaking ceremonies were held in July of 1974 for the Wren Avenue property. Worship services were held for the first time on March 2, 1975. The construction of an education building to the rear of the new church, was completed later in 1975.
In May, 1980, Dr. J. Thurmond George became the Pastor. In 1981, funds were raised and construction began on a new Fellowship Hall with classrooms on the second floor. This building was dedicated on January 31, 1982.
Upon Dr. George's resignation, the church voted to call Dr. Joe Caldwell to serve as pastor in June of 1984 until January of 1994.
Dr. Calvin C. Turpin served as acting pastor and then Rev. Max Hively was our Interim Pastor until Rev. Robert Langley was called to be our pastor in March 1995. The church celebrated it's 50th Anniversary during Pastor Langley's pastorate. He resigned in March of 1998.
Dr. Michael Stewart served as interim pastor until the church called Rev. Mark S. Milwee as its pastor in January 1999. The church celebrated its 60th Anniversary in June of 2005. Dr. Milwee resigned in September 2005. Max Hively, Jim Morrison and George Yates served as interim pastors until January 2007, when Timothy Howe was called to be senior pastor.