Below is a history of our annual Christmas Pageant and pictures from this year's rehearsal!
The Pageant, as we shorten the name and as we know it, was presented for the first time in 1946. Prior to that year, however, various church members performed similar but slightly different pageants.
Coming To The Light was first presented on November 28, 1926. It was staged in the basement of the church building. There was no central heat in the building at that time, so Mr. W.W. Dickson placed kerosene heaters around the room and spent the night guarding the heaters to assure no fire or other mishap occurred. Joyce S. Ethridge played one of the angels in the performance. This pageant was presented the following year in 1927.
Between 1930 and 1939, church members presented a pageant known as The Light Of The World. In 1940 through 1942, however, Why The Chimes Rang was performed. There were three primary cast members in Why The Chimes Rang. Bobby Bailey performed in this pageant for two years until he went off to the war. Tom Bryan and Mrs. Luke Lyle were in the pageant for all three years of its performance. The years 1943, 1944 and 1945 were war years and no pageants were held during these years.
In 1946, The Pageant Of The Holy Nativity began what has become a lasting and cherished tradition at the First Baptist Church. It is presented the second Sunday in December each year. The passion and commitment of cast, choir and committee members enable the church membership and the community to begin the Christmas season with a focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Mrs. Morris Bryan, Sr. instigated the church's Holy Nativity pageant in 1946 and directed it for 28 years until her death in November 1975. Following her death, Mrs. JoyceEthridge accepted direction responsibilities. Joyce continued the direction of the pageant for two decades until the mid-1990's. Judy Mitchell then either coordinated or directed the pageant until her death in 2001. Diane Oliver assisted Judy for several years and is the current chairperson of the Steering Committee.
A reception was held following the 50th anniversary performance of the pageant in 1995. Many people of all ages who had been in the cast, choir or some other service returned to renew memories and visit with other church members.
Cast and Choir rehearse for this year's presentation.
