Church History

Selma Baptist Church was established around 1872. Travelers taking supplies to and from the Chattahoochee River near Columbia, Alabama would make camp and build a "brush arbor" located on Old Taylor Road.

Selma Baptist Church This seemed to be a good stopping peace for travelers since there was a spring nearby. The campers held worship services here and as the settlement grew, so did the church. The membership of the church for the year 1886 was 94.

Young Folsom, a confederate veteran, suggested the name "Selma Baptist Church". Selma is the name of a town in west-central Alabama where Folsom had served in the war. The name was accepted.

Around 1904, three acres of the present site was deeded to the congregation for a church, schoolhouse and cemetery. In 1915 a two-story school and steep-roof church were built to replace the small building first erected on this site. The pastor's salary for the year of 1915 was $61.70 and the value of the church property was $1,000.

In 1923, a storm demolished the school building and heavily damaged the church. They continued to use the church until 1933, when a larger one-room building was constructed.

In the early years, the church had "Preaching" on the first Sunday of the month and "Church School" every Sunday. Later "Preaching" was held twice a month. B.Y.P.U. (Baptist Young People Union), which would later be called “Training Union” or “Discipleship Training”, was also held each Sunday. Selma Baptist Church

Baptisms were performed in nearby "swimming holes" located on various member properties. Homecoming was traditionally observed on the first Sunday in July followed by a one or two week revival.

Through the years additions were added to include educational classrooms, staff offices, and a sanctuary that seats 350. In 2002 the Family Life Center was completed which includes several classrooms, a gym, and a fellowship hall.