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The History of Arlington Baptist Church
As we stand on the threshold of the future, let us take a glance backward…
In early 1942, several families began worshiping God in the Women’s Club on Arlington Road. On July 2, 1944, a group of sixteen charter members organized the First Baptist Church of Arlington. The first building was a concrete block structure built on the corner of Arlington Road and Easter Street.
As the congregation grew, six temporary frame buildings were constructed. After the opening of the Mathews Bridge into Arlington, it became apparent that we needed more property to continue growing. In 1956 the church acquired the property for our present location at the corner of Arlington Road and Cesery Boulevard. In April 1956 the buildings were transported to the new site, and a temporary frame chapel was erected. In 1957 the building we now call Chapel Hall (Building B) was built and became our new sanctuary. Our first educational building (Building C) was also completed at that time.
Again, the need for a new building was so urgent that two more buildings were built – the Fellowship Hall (D Building) in 1960 and the Children’s Building (Building E) in 1963.
On April 22, 1973, ground-breaking ceremonies were held for the construction of our present sanctuary, and all the frame buildings were removed. From the moment our church steeple rose in the sky in 1974, it became an Arlington landmark visible for miles.
In 1985 our final building for preschoolers and youth (Building F) was completed.
The growth of our church from a membership of 25 in 1944 has been marked by the expansion of the sleepy fishing village of the 1940’s to one of Florida’s faster growing communities. With 60 years of ministry, Arlington Baptist Church has had 14 pastors, all of whom contributed in various ways to the growth and development of God’s church and its many ministries.
Through the years, our church has been dedicated to planting churches in the Arlington community. Terry Parker Baptist, Fort Caroline Baptist, Celebration Baptist, and Templo Bautista Renacer were all mission projects of Arlington Baptist Church.
The future of Arlington Baptist Church is as bright as the promise of God.
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