George W. Colley established a home, gin, and grist mill on Smiley Lake in 1879, and in 1880 he arranged for the Rev. John Stringer to hold the area's first formal Baptist meeting. People from throughout the area attended the three-week brush arbor meeting, during which 117 people were baptized in Smiley Lake. Smiley Lake Baptist Church was organized in 1882 with 34 charter members, erected a sanctuary, and organized a Sunday School. In 1893 a new sanctuary was built on two acres donated by F.P. and M.L. Colley, and in 1894 the congregation was renamed Smiley Baptist Church. In 1906 several church members established Calvary Baptist Church in the new railroad town of Smiley. In 1915 Smiley Baptist Church moved to a site in Smiley donated by Maggie Glover, and in 1916 the Smiley and Calvary churches reunited as the First Baptist Church. In 1921 the congregation withdrew from the San Antonio Baptist Association and joined 12 other churches to form the Gambrell Baptist Association. Church membership grew, a new church building was erected in 1949, and a parsonage was built in 1962. The church continues a tradition of Sunday School programs, women's group programs, Baptist instruction, and support of home and foreign missions.