In October 1926, a Missions Commitee was appointed by the First Baptist Church of Enid with the Specific task of locating suitable property on the east side of Enid for the beginning of a Mission Sunday School. On November 4, 1926, the committee brought back their report and the First Baptist Church voted to buy a lot at the corner of 12th and Elm Street. By the latter part of December 1926, the building was completed and the Sunday School was started with the sessions being conducted on Sunday afternoon. The Sunday Afternoon sessions were soon upgraded and moved to meet in the morning after the first preaching services were complete.
courtesy of Enid News and Eagle
courtesy of Enid News and Eagle
The Attendance and intrest at the mission increased and in November of 1930, the Calvary Baptist Church was organized with 31 charter members. Dr. Andrew Potter was the moderator at the organizational meeting and Dr. J.B. Rounds, Executive Secretary of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma brought one of these messages. On November 13, 1930, the Calvary Baptist Church called its first pastor, Rev. Ellis Ham. In October 1931, the Calvary Baptist Church was offically received into the Perry Baptist Association. In May 1933, the church sent its first messenger to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Washington D.C. With continued growth of the church, additional space and a more favorable location was sought. In December 1935, two lots at the corner of Broadway and Ninth were purchased and plans were obtained for a new building. In March 1937, a building permit was obtained, and the church felt they would soom have their new building underway, but the owner of the adjoining property filed an injuction and after a lengthy court battle, the Surpeme Court of Oklahoma finally ruled that, "Calvary Baptist Church will be allowed to erect the building at the corner of Ninth and Broadway.
An Auditorium was completed in October 1940. In December 1947, Calvary members purchased a two story building adjoining the church property to the west. This building was used for a time as a parsonage.The building later served as asupplemental educational space.
In 1950, the first floor of the education building was completed. In 1952, the church purchased two lots on the corners of 24th and East Chestnut to start a mission. These plans did not materialize and the property was later sold. In February 1955, a house at 1818 East Chestnutwas purchased for a parsonage. This was sold to the Trinity Baptist Church in June 1958, when they relocated to the east side of Enid. This is when the parsonage at 1822 East Maine was purchased. Two Additional floors were added to the educational space at the church's location of 9th and Briadway. The auditorium was also enlarged and remodeled.
During the 1960's and 1970's the Calvary membership continued to purchase several available pieces of adjoining property just west and south of the presen church plant. In the fall of 1965 a bond issue was authorized by the church membership to construct a new auditorium capable of seating more than 500 educational facilities. During 1977 and 1978 the church completed two major building projects simultaneously. The building for a new Southern Baptist Church was completed in Drummond, Oklahoma, and a new Family Life Center, nursery renovation project and extensive completion of adjacent parking facilities are now a part of the history of Calvary Baptist Church. Thirty persons were baptized, plus thirteen were baptized in Drummond.
Through the years, God has continued to lead the people of Calvary Baptist Church in a powerful way. The membership of 31 has grown to more than 1000 members. Currently CalvaryBaptist Church is looking to expand again. The new building is for Sunday School classes for the physically challenged people. The new facility will be multipurpose facility to accomplish a number of tasks.