Originally published in the May 22, 2008 issue of The Evangel.
by Steve Sparks, FBC History Committee Chair
May 21 marked the 183rd anniversary of the death of Richard Dabbs, our FIRST pastor, it seemed appropriate for our historical spotlight to provide some information on Pastor Dabbs.
Pastor Dabbs was in the habit of visiting locations where Baptist churches had not yet been formed or were in decline so that he might have the opportunity to preach the gospel of Christ. Richard Dabbs and his family arrived in Nashville near the end of 1821. Dabbs' pastorate began in 1822. "The Baptist Church of Nashville" was at that time located in the "west" and Nashville had only been settled for about 40 years.
Under Dabbs' leadership, the congregation erected its first building on Church Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues (at the current site of the Nashville Public Library). Pastor Dabbs tenure was to last only a few years as he fell gravely ill and died on May 21, 1825, at the age of 53.
Chuch history memoribila and books about our pastors are available in the Heritage Room of our media library.
