Area Baptists had established a church at Buena Vista when the railroad bypassed that community and founded Timpson in 1885. In 1886 the Houston, East & West Texas Railroad dedicated church sites for the new town, and the Baptists were given this land. Twenty members chartered First Baptist that year, with the Rev. W.F. Alford as pastor. Many families moved from Buena Vista to the new town, including that of Dr. J.B. Bussey, trustee of First Baptist. M.D. Blankenship and his family built a log house in Timpson and became leaders in the community and First Baptist Church. The congregation met in the Christian Church for two years before their first sanctuary was finished here. The wooden building with a belfry was replaced in 1917 by this brick structure with a classical entry portico. When the Timpson Public school burned in 1937, high school classes were held in this building. By 1939 the church listed 485 members. Musical traditions begun during the 30s, including special cantatas at Christmas and Easter, continued through the years. A library was founded in the early 1950s, a new parsonage was built in 1952, and an educational building was erected in 1961.