History

A New Church is Born!

At the turn of the Twentieth Century, Baring Cross was a newly incorporated town. It grew up at the north end of the bridge that crossed the Arkansas River. A larger community called Argenta lay just to the east, and across the river was the flourishing city of Little Rock. In this little community called Baring Cross were about four hundred people, who, for the most part were affiliated with the railroads that crossed the bridge. These railroads were a vital part of the future of North Little Rock and the Baring Cross community.

The population was growing and developers were building houses for the families who were considered permanent residents. These families needed a place of worship and in God's providence, a revival was held in a brush arbor, which was a simple shelter made of poles supporting a roof of brush to afford shelter from the weather. A group, now twenty-nine in number, decided to meet in a community room on the second floor of Bauman Hall, a building across the street from the railroad roundhouse. With the help of Rev. B. N. Brooks, pastor of First Baptist Church, Argenta, and 23 members who lettered out to become charter members of Baring Cross, organized the church on October 20, 1903.

Times were fairly prosperous because the railroads brought many good jobs to the area. As the town was growing in population, the church was growing in numbers. Church was the social life for most people, and mothers proudly dressed their children in their Sunday best to make their way to worship or other events at the church.

A large brick building was erected in 1929. The entrance to the building was reached by high, wide steps that rose from the sidewalk. The Sanctuary was located on an upper level with a full basement beneath. Inside the Sanctuary there were tall windows along the sides, and at the front was a baptismal pool recessed into the wall behind the pulpit and choir loft. A balcony across the rear gave more seating space. There were Sunday School rooms for all ages, and the church grew in numbers and in spirit. Times were rough for Baring Cross

as the depression deepened and most families were effected. When the church was unable to make payment on the bank note, some members mortgages their homes in order to make payments. With a new church, few jobs, and very little money, people really sacrificed in order to keep their place of worship open. Those who had something to share did so, and slowly, the area began to recover. In 1935, the men of the church willingly gave their time and resources in building a parsonage across the street from the church. The women helped by cooking and serving meals.

In 1939, the men of the church again volunteered their services to build a new three story brick building and a one story primary building for educational space to accommodate our growing congregation. World War II was looming. Homeowners converted their garages into garage apartments to accommodate the families of these servicemen, some of whom attended church at Baring Cross.

The organizations of the church had expanded and God's people were willing to take places of responsibility and train for leadership roles. Baring Cross people gave generously to missions, and tithing was strongly taught as the Biblical way to finance the church and God's work. In 1943, Sunday School rooms were filled to capacity, as was the Sanctuary. The solution to crowding was to extend the building out to the sidewalk and make a vestibule with stairs at either side to go up to the Sanctuary. This afforded a large basement with additional study rooms, and the balcony was enlarged in the Sanctuary.

Plans were made for a continuation of the tremendous growth we had experience in the past, necessitating buying building and lots around the church as they became available. The lots were used for parking and the houses served as temporary Sunday School rooms. Air-conditioning was added to much of the main building in 1953. It became necessary to add to the balcony to accommodate the growing number of people. These additions extended from the rear balcony, along the sides and to the front, with steps descending to the main floor. Revivals were held each year, with many well-known evangelists packing the building. Dr. R. G. Lee held a meeting and preached his famous Pay-Day Someday sermon. The Sanctuary was filled, and the basement took the overflow crowd.

The Next 50 Years

When the church celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary in 1953, the membership had grown from the original 29 to 2,576 members! Plans were made for a new three-story brick building to include a nursery on the first floor, and other children's departments on the second and third floors by 1955. A chapel would serve not only small weddings and funerals, but also the Wednesday prayer service. It so happened that by the time it was built, prayer service attendance had increased in number, and the area was too small for this use.

Many were concerned about the other buildings, feeling that if a fire occurred while it was in use, people would be trapped. Much to the delight of the youth of that day, a fire escape was added. Many fondly recall taking every chance they got to slip into the cylinder with the circular slide and enjoy the ride, knowing full well that if they were caught, they were in trouble.

As the city continued to grow, people were moving from this neighborhood to the more affluent suburbs and Sunday School attendance began to decline. Yet, as a thriving church with good organization, we continued to reach people from all areas of the city. Study courses were held regularly in order to train our people. We were a graded Sunday School and were constantly striving to reach the "standard" achievement. Visitation was an important ministry as Christians reached out to invite others to attend services.

In 1959, the church voted to sell the parsonage. The newer trend was to give a pastor a housing allowance and let him either buy or rent anywhere he wanted in the city. The church felt led to build a new Sanctuary. It was a Georgian Colonial with a tall steeple. Underneath the Sanctuary was a Fellowship Hall and a large choir rehearsal room. It was dedicated to the Lord's service on September 20, 1970. It was during this time that Baring Cross began a bus ministry to bring people into their services. The church voted to remodel the old gym and include a kitchen and dining area to accommodate a weekly meal on Wednesday evening in 1975.

As five children were waiting for their school bus one morning, they were striking matches and throwing them at a basement window. When their bus arrived, they boarded, unaware that a fire had been started. Inside the building, no one knew the church was on fire until a member who lived across the street shouted the news in the door. Every effort was made to save the building, but it was a complete loss. Even though the fire was a tragic occurrence, God was able to bless

His people. As we struggled to overcome the losses of the fire, programs proceeded and a committee was formed to make plans for an addition to house the offices and new Sunday School departments. Plans also included a new choir rehearsal room, kitchen and a gym for dining and activities.

In October 1983, Homecoming Day was observed to mark the Eightieth Anniversary of the church. Many people arrived in costumes of the early Twentieth Century. One family even came by horse and buggy.

People came to Baring Cross from every area of the city. Sunday evening services and Prayer Meeting was well attended. Campaigns for higher attendance also continued. To encourage visitors and members to worship where they were not crowded or did not have
to go to the balcony, two morning services were begun to accommodate the congregation. A building committee was formed to plan for more educational space and remodel the nursery. The plan was rejected.

In the 1990's vans picked up boys and girls for RAs and GAs on Wednesday evenings. Prayer groups were formed to seek God's will for our church. After many prayer services, the church voted to move, feeling we would be able to reach more people in a new area. Committees were formed to seek available property and long range committees were activated to make plans for the future. Seventeen plus acres of prime property were found and the church voted to pay for it in three years beginning in November, 2000. An

architect was hired to draw of preliminary plans for a complex of buildings that are to be built in phases as the church grows, beginning with a multipurpose building. A North Campus site was set up so that people could get used to our presence in the area. Sunday School and church services were held at both locations.

One Hundred Plus and Counting

Baring Cross celebrated 100 years in October, 2003. We enjoy today what those 29 members could not envision would come to pass. Our church has changed drastically during the past 100 years. It will continue to change as God's people seek to receive and pass on to others the Lord's message of hope and salvation to a lost world. We press on to work with God to accomplish the work He empowers us to do.

   Baring Cross has embarked on a tremendous undertaking, laying the foundation for future generations to build upon, trusting in the never failing help of an Awesome God!

               - Excerpts were taken from the 100 year celebration booklet that was published.
                                                                          Written by Pauline Cox.