In 1871, fifteen local citizens gathered in a residence to form a church congregation, founding the First Baptist Church of Longview. The first white frame building was erected in 1874 on property deeded to the church by the Texas and Pacific Railroad Company, and the congregation has grown on or near that same site since then. Over the years, the congregation met in a red brick, Gothic-style building dedicated in 1901, in a Neo-classic domed auditorium dedicated in 1914 and later renamed Memorial Auditorium, and in a Gothic sanctuary and chapel dedicated in 1951. The church's facilities served the city of Longview as a meeting place for large community gatherings, civic and religious, patriotic and educational. From its founding, the church served as a source of strength, hope, and encouragement that influenced the integrity and character of the community.