Newbern Baptist Church was organized in April 1848 by the Rev. Thomas Chilton, moderator, with John R. Hendon, clerk, and charter members John G. Huckabee, Wm. F. Hendon, B.F. Hendon, John Dial, Gray Huckabee, Thomas H. Croom, R.S. Tinker, C.C. Huckabee, L.A. Seawell, Mary A. Paul, Martha Huckabee, G.A. Huckabee, Maria Hendon, Hannah Hendon, Maria P. Hendon, Susan Hendon, Martha Donna Hendon, Elizabeth Driver, Martha Croom, and Mary Ann Tinker. Its sanctuary stands as built in 1849 with original columns of solid poplar, and an education building was added in 1959. The Baptist Historical Society deposited records of the church's first 111 years in the library of Howard College at Birmingham. Since 1868, the town bell in Newbern has called all congregations to worship services and also served as the town fire bell.