First Baptist Church began in 1878 when members of Mt. Antioch Church organized the congregation under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. J.J. Riddle. At that time, Mt. Calm village was located at present old town. In 1884, with the coming of the St. Louis & Southwestern railroad, the church moved to this site. The congregation built a new church house about 1900 during the ministry of the Rev. J. Frank Norris (1877-1954). A fire destroyed that building in 1940. After Mt. Antioch Church declined over the years, it merged with the Mt. Calm membership in 1949. This structure was completed in 1954.