First Baptist Church - 1963

From July 12, 1963 Bi-State Weekly

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES SUNDAY FOR NEW FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ON BI-STATE BOULEVARD
Groundbreaking services for a new church plant of the First Baptist Church of Delmar will be held Sunday, July 14, at 3:30 p.m. on the four-acre site on Route as-A just south of Delmar.

Plans for the new church building include an auditorium that will seat approximately 300 with an educational building caring for about 400 for Sunday School and various other church organizations.

George D. Savage, of Narberth Pa., is the architect. Plans had previously been approved by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention at Nashville, Tenn. Savage will continue to supervise the work until the building has been completed.

Sealed bids were received on July 2 and the low bidder was John L. Briggs and Company of Georgetown, Del., with a low bid of $76,235 for the general construction. The architect fee, sewerage and water will bring the total cost to an estimated $82,707 for the project.

The building will include 7,354 square feet of floor space and is designed as the first unit in a long-range building program. The structure will be of contemporary design of brick with a blend of pink and rose shale colonial brick. the interior will have an all-tile floor, hot air forced heat and the educational department will include a kitchen, with a kitchenette for the nursery.

Taking part in the groundbreaking ceremonies will be the following: Dr. Roy Gresham, executive secretary, Baptist Convention of Maryland; Elmer F. Ruark, president State Mission Board, Baptist Convention of Maryland; the Rev. L. P. Bernette, associational missionary, Eastern Baptist association; the Rev. Archie Prevatte, moderator, Eastern Baptist association; the Rev. Joseph E. Edmonds, president, Ministers Conference Eastern association; Building and Groundbreaking Committee C. Edward Culver, chairman, Marion Calloway, J. B. Moore, Earl Brannock, Mrs. Luther Mitchell; church department leaders; C. Edward Culver, chairman of deacons; Levin Lowe, chairman of trustees; Eugene Ross and Larry Hearn, senior church members.

Carlton Hastings, superintendent of Sunday school; Paul Mitchell, Training Union director; Mrs Mabel Elliott, president, W. M. U.; Ira Burton, president, Brotherhood; the Rev. Frank B. Robinson, pastor; and any other members of the congregation who wish to participate.

A cordial invitation is extended to all churches of the Eastern Baptist Conference and the town of Delmar to take part in the ceremonies. The public is invited and all former pastors of the church.