Historic Derby Street Chapel Information

We have worshipped on the corner of Brevard Avenue and Oak Street for over 100 years. First Baptist Church was organized on Sunday, June 12, 1910 on the second floor of the Cocoa Town Hall, which was on the corner of King Street and Florida Avenue. The fifteen charter members of the church were J.N. Chalker, Della Chalker, J.T. Hodges, Carrie Hodges, J.R. Garren, Susie Garren, A.Z. Dixon, Mamie Dixon, Adela Rembert, Alida Platt, Rubbie Platt, C.B. Owens, Della Owens, N.J. Cooper and G.L. Combs. Under the leadership of the first pastor, Rev. F.M. Ross, the church continued to meet in the "Opera House", as the upstairs auditorium of the Town Hall was called, until a small church building was erected in 1911. The cast iron bell which hung in the belfry of the church is now displayed on the corner of Brevard Avenue and Oak Street, across the street from where the original sanctuary stood. The building was enlarged in 1914 to include an auditorium to seat 200 people, a choir loft, and baptistry. In 1919 the building was again enlarged by adding a Sunday School room, enlarging the choir loft and building an exposed baptistry. In 1920 the membership had reached 100. By 1925 the congregation decided to purchase new property on the corner of Delannoy and Maryland Avenues. Noise from the Florida East Coast Railway just beyond the traffic circle, and the traffic congestion on U.S #1 (which was Brevard Avenue at the time) made worship services unbearable. They were able to sell the church property, but continued to lease from the owners until they could raise money to construct their new building. The Florida boom of the 1920's saw a collapse of the economy, and the church building could not be constructed. High rental payments on the original sanctuary caused them to high construct a frame building on property they owned east of the sanctuary property. This building was called the "Tabernacle" and served the First Baptist congregation for several years. Finally, in 1930, the church was able to repurchase the original ...