Two weeks after the proposed sale of the First Baptist Church property in downtown Columbus fell through, the congregation voted to approve another sale, this time to a buyer with local ties.

“I’m not in a position to say much about this, other than to say that the church membership has accepted an offer,” said Realtor Royce Hudspeth, who represents both the church and buyer. “I think the closing is going to happen pretty quick, probably in 30 to 40 days.”

Hudspeth would not divulge the purchase price or the buyer, other than to say the buyer has ties to the community.

First Baptist has occupied the downtown property at 202 Seventh St. N. since 1832, making it one of the oldest churches in Columbus. The current sanctuary was built in 1908. The property has been available for sale since 2005 when First Baptist purchased land on Bluecutt Road to build a new church complex.

The church was listed at $1.5 million in 2016, but listed at $450,000 most recently.

On Nov. 1, Hudspeth, who became the agent for the property in February 2021, confirmed that the property was under contract with an anonymous north Mississippi buyer, but he did not divulge the purchase price.

On Jan. 31, the date the buyer was scheduled to close on the property, Hudspeth confirmed that the sale had fallen through. The property was re-listed, again at $450,000.

Hudspeth said the new buyer approached him after reading that the sale had fallen through.

The church complex has four main buildings occupying 81,000 square feet.

At the request of the first potential buyer, Lowndes County Tax Assessor Greg Andrews provided tax estimates based on valuations of $700,000 and $800,000.

Hudspeth said part of this week’s agreement will allow the church to use the sanctuary for up to a year as work nears completion at the new First Baptist Church.

Church leadership did not return calls for comment by press time.

Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].