Our History

Baptists in the Salt Lake Valley

For more than 135 years, the First Baptist Church has been an important part of the community in Salt Lake City. We have seeded several “mission churches” in the valley, opened a Child Care Center, started a Credit Union, been home to many music and community groups and have been a church home for thousands over the years.

To discover the roots of Baptists in the Salt Lake Valley, we must look not to the ordained clergy, but to Mr. and Mrs. James E. Berkeley. Baptist Laypersons from Ohio, they were a part of the very first gatherings of Baptists in the Valley and were instrumental in helping the Baptist Church lay down roots in Utah.

Through the Years:

1871 - Baptists first began to gather for services in homes when a Minister named Rev. George W. Dodge was stationed here as part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1871. The Berkeley’s were among this budding community.

1875 – Rev. Dodge was reassigned, and the church disbanded. Write a description for this tab and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, if you are using tabs to show different services, write about what makes each service unique. If you are using tabs to display restaurant items, write about what makes a specific dish particularly worthwhile or delicious.

1881 – When the Baptist Mission Society sent Rev. Dwight Spencer to the Salt Lake Valley, the Baptists organized again. Rev. Spencer sought out Baptists in town and found James and Annie Berkeley, the only remnant of Rev. Dodge’s flock. In July of 1882, the Berkeleys opened their home and held the first service of the new Baptist church in their parlor. They soon moved to Pendleton Hall, which was above a blacksmith shop on Second Street.

1883 – The permanent presence of Baptists in the Salt Lake Valley was established on August 26, 1883 as the cornerstone of a permanent edifice was laid. This began many decades of faithful ministry to the people of Salt Lake City in the name of Christ.

1884 - The new building was dedicated on March 16, 1884, along with a two-story school building. The new church was strongly committed to mission in the community, establishing several missions, including the East Side Baptist Church.

1908 – The First Baptist Church merged with East Side Baptist Church, creating a new church called Immanuel Baptist Church. The combined congregation met in a Jewish synagogue until the completion of a church building at the corner of 400 East and 200 South.

1910 – On October 23, the cornerstone for the “church with the columns” was laid. 474 persons transferred their membership to Immanuel Baptist Church.

1947 - The congregation voted to change the name of the church to “First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City” reflecting their long heritage in the valley.

1949 – In September, pledges were taken to build a new building. Many members contributed by mortgaging their homes and providing “sweat equity” to help build the new facility.

1950 - L. S. Skaggs, a prominent local businessman, donated $20,000 for the purchase of land on the corner of 1300 East and 800 South. Work on the site began in fall 1950, and the cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day, 1951.

1953 – 1954 - Over 1,000 people worshipped in the sanctuary for the first time on January 4, 1953, even though the stained-glass windows had not yet been installed and their openings were temporarily covered.

The congregation dedicated the Skaggs Memorial Chapel, named in honor of L. S. Skaggs and his wife, on February 24, 1954.

Finally completed, the new First Baptist Church building was dedicated on April 25, 1954.

1968 - First Baptist Church launches its day care center.