Salem Baptist Church was organized on August 3, 1868, under a brush arbor by Elias John McLendon and John Bradley. Its first building was a log house near the cemetery west of Edd Dykes's place. First known as Antioch, the church was later named Salem. On September 6, 1871, one acre of land for the church was purchased and donated by Rev. John Bradley, the first pastor. Construction on the present church began in 1903, and various modifications have been made over the years. Its pastors have included John Bradley, Hargrove D. Cumbie, R.B. Arnold, J.E. Smoots, C.C. Kirkland, J. Alfred Phillips, H. Gunter, R.C. Deal, R.W. Stuckey, J.E. Franks, J.R. Byrd, R.M. Shirah, Eddie Johnson, W.S. Dean, C.W. Stutts, W.C. Henson, A.B. Conant, J.B. Johnson, A.O. Martz, Kiedell Thomas, Harvey W. Beasley, William A. Baker, Bobby Andrews, Johnny B. Spurling, Clyde Hancock, Jim Mitchell, and Dean Gatch.