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First Baptist Church of Saks has been a Southern Baptist Church since its beginnings 80 years ago. The church has always been a leader in missions and evangelism activities and giving in the Calhoun Baptist Association, Alabama Baptist State Convention the Southern Baptist Convention. New Hope Missionary Baptist Church was established September 10, 1927, with 13 charter members. Those early meetings were held in the home of the members. I suppose that is where the term "church house" came from. On November 7, 1927, Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Harkins donated one-half acre of land to be used as a building site for a church sanctuary. That first building was constructed of wood and seated approximately 200 people. The estimated value was $1,500.

October 7, 1945, the first full-time pastor, Rev. Grover Shaddix, was called to serve the church.  In May 1955, the first Pastor's home was dedicated. Beginning April 12,1959, a bond campaign was started to raise $80,000 for a new church sanctuary. Ground breaking ceremonies were held May 24 of the same year.

Approximately one year later on May 4, 1960, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church became First Baptist Church of Saks. A few weeks later, on the second Sunday in June 1960, the first service was held in our second sanctuary, a $90,000 brick building, capable of accommodating about 500 people. Dedication services were held on July 9, 1960. In 1967 we began a kindergarten program that has grown consistently and still reaches many children from the community. In 1974 we completed a new educational building containing 23,000 square feet.

1977 brought the beginning of our current Child Development Center and daycare known as Weekday Early Education. Older adults who have left the Anniston area remember their time spent in daycare here. That same year a state of the art pipe organ was purchased.

On April 29,1990, our third sanctuary, a 2.5 million dollar facility with a seating capacity of 1200, was dedicated.

In 1995 we began our TV ministry which currently reaches homes in the greater Calhoun County, Gadsden and the northeast and east central Alabama area.

In 2008 we have met with an architect and will be starting Phase 1 of our new building project.

Our church is rich in history. We consider ourselves an Anniston landmark. We have a historical room that one of our oldest members maintains. It is filled with pictures, documents and all our history. We can show you a picture of our first church building, our first pastor and, written documents showing how our church has grown since 1927.