For more than 160 years, First Baptist Church has stood as a cornerstone of faith and community in Mathews County. Founded by formerly enslaved worshippers seeking a place to worship freely, the church’s story reflects both the struggles and triumphs of African American history on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula.

“Our foundation was built on faith in God,” said Shirley Cooke, church clerk and deacon at First Baptist Church. “No matter what happened, the people never gave up on the church.”

According to church records, the roots of First Baptist Church began before 1864, when black worshippers attended services in the balcony of the Old Baptist Church, now Mathews Baptist Church at Hudgins.

Between 1863 and 1864, black members were encouraged to establish a congregation of their own. In 1864, First Baptist Church officially organized and began worshipping in a log cabin at Pugh’s Thicket.

Later that year, 291 black members received letters of dismissal (permission to leave) from the Old Baptist Church, marking the formal beginning of an independent congregation.

The church’s first two buildings were eventually destroyed by fire. Yet members continued to gather and worship despite the setbacks.

“Though the church’s first two buildings were destroyed by fire, the faith of the congregation never faded,” Cooke said. “The people gathered there faithfully, singing and praying beneath rough-hewn walls.”

Church records identify the Rev. Thomas Washington as the congregation’s first pastor. He began serving in 1867 and remained pastor until his death in 1886.

Cooke said records from the church’s earliest years are incomplete, making it difficult to identify every founder by name.

“We always say our forefathers because we can only assume who some of the leaders were,” she said during an interview. “Back then they didn’t record things the way we do now. A lot of things weren’t written down.”

Still, the church recognizes Peyton Collins, Harry Cosby and Carter Hayes as trustees who purchased church property from Andrew C. Brown in 1867. That land remains part of the church site today.

First Baptist served as much more than a place of worship.

Church members helped establish the Mathews County Educational League Organization, which worked to create educational opportunities for black students during the years of segregation.

Their efforts contributed to the construction of the Thomas Hunter Training School in 1932.

“The purpose was to build a school for black children,” Cooke explained.

The church also sponsored organizations such as the Bible Band of Mathews County, Vacation Bible School programs, men’s and women’s clubs, and volunteer groups dedicated to serving both the church and the wider community.

As members moved away for jobs and new opportunities, they maintained strong ties to First Baptist.

Former members established city clubs in places such as Baltimore and Philadelphia. These groups continued supporting the church financially and returned regularly for homecoming celebrations and anniversaries.

“They would make their way back to Mathews to worship and fellowship with us,” Cooke said. “They remained loyal supporters of the church.”

Cooke has spent years helping preserve church records and historical documents.

As church clerk, she has assembled binders containing histories of First Baptist and other historically black churches in the area.

“I didn’t have anything to work from,” she said. “So, I started rebuilding everything. When I leave this position, I want the next person to have something to go on.”

Her commitment to preserving history stems from a desire to ensure that future generations understand the church’s impact.

“The history of First Baptist is so rich,” she said. “We are very protective of our history.”

One notable effort occurred in 1990 when church members assembled a museum exhibit featuring artifacts from the church’s past, including farming equipment, quilts, photographs, furniture, household items and religious artifacts dating back generations.

For Cooke, First Baptist Church is more than history, it’s her home.

Born and raised in Mathews, she was baptized at First Baptist and attended the church throughout her youth. After marriage, she attended another congregation with her husband before returning to First Baptist in 2011.

“I told them years ago I was going to give up being church clerk,” she said with a laugh. “I’m still doing it.”

Over the years, she has also served as church clerk, deacon, recording secretary, media ministry leader, children’s ministry volunteer, and women’s ministry member.

“I’m a servant,” Cooke said. “You can put whatever title you want on it. I’m there to serve.”

Today, the church continues serving Mathews County under the leadership of Pastor Isaiah J. Smith, who was installed in 2024.

While the church has evolved over the decades, its mission remains rooted in the same principles that guided its founders more than a century and a half ago.

From a humble log cabin to a thriving congregation, First Baptist Church’s story is one of faith, perseverance, and community.