First Baptist Church is steeped with history within its walls. The church, located at the corner of North Spring and Donnell streets, is celebrating 175 years of ministry.Early church records show in 1831 a small group of women formed what was called Bethlehem Sewing Society in order to “raise money to build a house of worship.” The society was led by Mrs. Philo Lyon and her daughter, Mrs. Eliza J. Cotton Mitchell.Mitchell died in 1896 at the age of 96, and this was recorded: “Through her and her mother’s effort and energy, the first Baptist Church house in McMinnville was erected, and the little brick Baptist Church house was built on a lot she gave for this purpose.”