First Baptist Church of Claytonville

Organized as New Hope Baptist Church of Christ in 1891, this congregation changed its name in 1912 to Whitfield Baptist Church. It acquired a good church plant, a parsonage, and a cabin site at Plains Baptist Assembly Grounds. Steps began in 1960 to relocate on the paved highway in this new business community growing up around the cotton gin built in the 1950s by M. C. Clayton (1899-1963). The new church building -- first in the town -- was erected in 1962-63. The present name was adopted in 1964. Peak membership for the congregation has been 206. (1975)