Murfreesboro Baptist Church was formally constituted on 21 November 1848, with 31 charter members. The congregation had previously existed as a branch of nearby Meherrin Baptist Church since the summer of 1842, enjoying the occasional services of George M. Thompson, pastor of the Meherrin church, 1838-1850.
The Rev. Martin Rudolph Forey, principal of the recently established Chowan Female Institute (now Chowan University), was called as Murfreesboro Baptist Church's first pastor in May 1849, beginning a long and close relationship between church and school that endures today. Not only has the congregation included numerous Chowan students, faculty, and staff, but at least 16 of the church's pastors have held either administrative or teaching positions at Chowan.
A white framed house of worship for the Murfreesboro congregation was built in 1843 on the site of the present church sanctuary, which was completed in 1923 and was first used for worship on the last Sunday in April 1923. Since 1923, the church has expanded its properties and physical facilities on several occasions, most recently in 2001.
As of August 2006, the membership of Murfreesboro Baptist Church is approximately 450 members.
Taken from a history by R. Hargus Taylor, author of A Century and a Quarter of Service: Murfreesboro Baptist Church, 1848-1973
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