Granted, Washington, N.C., is much smaller than Washington, D.C., but the down-east Tar Heel town is older than the nation's capital.

The city near the coast is "The Original Washington."

Baptists weren't there from the beginning, but they arrived shortly afterwards.

The pattern of worship and ministry for Christian believers in Washington was similar to that found in other communities in the early years.

In Washington, Col. James Bonner set aside a church plot in 1776 and the building constructed on it was used by all denominations in town for more than 100 years.

That church building was simply known as the "Free Church," and that may be a subtle statement about its contrast with the established church in the North Carolina colony at the time -- the Church of England.

First Church was founded by Jeremiah Mastin, a former Methodist minister who was immersed in the Pamlico River and later ordained to the Baptist ministry.

The Washington congregation was admitted to Kehukee Association on Oct. 5, 1822, but the relationship would not last long because Kehukee Association became anti- missionary. The Baptist church in Washington was later excluded from the association.

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) was formed in 1830, just eight years after the Washington congregation was founded. From the Convention's beginning, First Church has been affiliated with and a supporter of world mission, education and benevolences.

Nearly a year was spent in celebrating the 175th anniversary. The celebration began Jan. 12 of this year with a special ceremony in which the cornerstone laid in 1956 for the educational building was opened by Evelyn Inabinett, chair of the anniversary committee.

The celebration concluded Oct. 5, the exact 175th anniversary of the church's admission into Kehukee Association, with a homecoming which featured BSC Executive Director-treasurer Roy J. Smith as speaker. A time capsule was buried Oct. 5 which will be opened on the church's 200th anniversary in 2022.

The preceding Sunday, Biblical Recorder Editor R.G. Puckett was guest speaker with a focus on the church's future witness and ministry.

During the Sept. 28 service, Mike and Debbie Hall were commissioned as missionaries by the church. The Halls were headed to Ukraine where they will be volunteer, short-term missionaries.

In the commissioning service, American and Ukrainian flags were presented and attention was given to the fact that "The Bible declares that God has commissioned every Christian to 'make disciples of all nations.' The call to evangelize begins at home but does not end here. It must include all the world." Pastor James Moore presided in the services. First Presbyterian Church, Washington, provided flowers for the sanctuary as an expression of Christian fellowship and camaraderie in the city.

Special music was arranged for all the services and a focus was given to the children¼s place and importance in the life of the church.

The theme for the celebration was "Jesus Christ -- the same Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, and Forever," based on Hebrews 13:8.

The theme was illustrated with five large banners on the sanctuary wall ã one with the name of Christ and the others with the four key words.

Often congregations use three words: Yesterday, Today and Forever ã during a celebration, but the church bulletin stated: "We have added 'tomorrow' to the theme in recognition of the fact that this has been a year of decisions and commitments regarding our facilities and ministries. To provide a visual reminder of the theme and in order to enhance our worship this anniversary year, a series of five banners has been created and fashioned by our own church members. The choices of fabric, colors, and symbols all combine to serve as a reminder of the omnipresence of our God."

In 1824, the Baptist congregation moved to a new site on Market Street, between Second and Third Streets. Although the Civil War created a decline in church activities, the building was one of the few not destroyed by the shelling and burning of the town during the war.

The present sanctuary was started at the corner of Harvey and Main Streets in 1916 and completed in 1917 when the congregation had 150 members. An educational building was completed in 1956, the sanctuary was renovated in 1966 and the Family Life Center was dedicated in 1987.

Continuing its heritage of missions, the church currently sponsors a flourishing Hispanic mission and has started a new mission in Belhaven. Volunteer missions teams go out from the church to different places around the world.

Pastor Moore commented that the people of First Church are actively involved in Bible study, worship, missions and that they are excited about the Lord's leading into the future.

Jim Hudson (third from left) and Paul Bright (center) display the contents of a time capsule buried this month and to be opened for the church's 200th anniversary in 2022. Executive Director-treasurer Roy J. Smith (second from left) and Pastor James Moore (right) watch the proceedings.