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A tornado destroyed the old chapel of Wetumpka First Baptist Church, Elmore County, Alabama

A powerful tornado destroyed the First Baptist Church of Wetumpka in January 2019. The old part of the chapel received “significant” structural damage during the tornado and was too expensive to repair.  

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WETUMPKA

The original part of the building was built in 1846.  The Church was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1977 and the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. (continued below)

The original church building of 1846-52 was substantially altered in 1909,  and additional buildings were added, including “a 1928-29 educational building, a 1959-60 second educational and office addition, a 1967 sanctuary, and a 1991 educational wing and fellowship hall, all of which are connected on the rear by a series of passages and corridors to form a tight E with its ends facing West Bridge Street. The three facing directly on the street are the original building of 1852, now known as the “historic chapel,” the 1967 church building, and the fellowship hall.”

“The rear wall of the 1852 church abuts directly against the 1929 educational building, which projects about six feet from the building line of the church on both sides and extends as generally a square to the rear.”

VIEW TOWARD ALTAR – Baptist Church, 205 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL

“The cornerstone of the First Baptist Church complex is the original sanctuary building, begun in 1846 but not finished until 1852 because it was paid for as it was built and sometimes the funds were not readily forthcoming.”

W. N. Manning, Photographer, March 15, 1935, FRONT ENTRANCE, N. – Baptist Church, 205 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL

March 15, 1935 COLUMNS IN CENTRAL PART OF BASEMENT – Baptist Church, 205 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL

March 15, 1935 SHOWING TURN IN STAIRWAY N.W. – Baptist Church, 205 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL

March 15, 1935 CLOSE- UP OF WINDOWS AND CORNER TREATMENT, ALSO PART OF FRONT DOOR – Baptist Church, 205 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL

Staircase W. N. Manning, Photographer, March 15, 1935- Baptist Church, 205 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL

An extensive 29-page history of the First Baptist Church of Wetumpka can be found here the National Register of Historic Places.

https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2019/01/19/alabama-tornado-wetumpka-damage-first-baptist-church-presbyterian-al/2628693002/

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