History of Cavanaugh Church

        In 1962, Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church was started as a mission. A dream was becoming a reality. One year later Cavanaugh was officially organized and moved into the original building located at 7817 Holly Street in the Cavanaugh community of Fort Smith, Arkansas with 32 charter members and Rev. Dick Shipley as pastor. The church grew and with faith that God would continue to bless, in 1976, purchased land and began construction on a new building located at 2825 Grinnell Avenue, our present location. The first building erected was a sanctuary and educational building, now our Family Life Center. This was a big step toward a goal and a dream coming to reality.

        Six years later, a small gym and fellowship hall was completed. This now houses our childcare ministry, the Cavanaugh Children's Center. The center consists of childcare from birth through 6 years and also provides a Christian Kindergarten program for 4 and 5-year-old students.

        In 1992 construction began on our permanent sanctuary. With enthusiasm building, we watched our vision become reality. Completion came in June 1993 when we opened the doors to our sanctuary that seats 650 people. The building also includes six Sunday school classrooms, three classrooms for our Wee Worship as well as a choir rehearsal room.

        Construction of our 10,000 square foot Administration and Education Complex began in the fall of 1998 and was completed in 1999. This new complex houses our entire administration as well as nine Sunday school classrooms. The entire Cavanaugh Campus consists of approximately 50,000 square feet of building space in which to honor God and worship Him.

Click here for the history of the Free Will Baptist Denomination

This page last updated 11/06/01.  Please send any comments to the webmaster.