Hayes Barton Baptist Church stands in the heart of Raleigh's historic Five Points neighborhood, where streetcars once rattled down Glenwood Avenue and early twentieth-century homes gave way to a community of believers. Organized on November 7, 1926 with 173 charter members, the church has remained a fixture of this part of the city for a full century. The congregation describes itself with a simple motto: "Timeless values for a changing world: faith, hope, love. And you." A moderate Baptist church, Hayes Barton honors historic Baptist principles, proclaims the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and reaches out to people wherever they are on their faith journey.
A Century on Glenwood Avenue
Hayes Barton Baptist Church was born in a wave of growth that swept north of downtown Raleigh in the early 1920s. In 1922 the Baptist City Council of Raleigh, the forerunner of the Raleigh Baptist Association, purchased land between Whitaker Mill and White Oak Roads on Glenwood Avenue, anticipating the city's expansion. By the fall of 1926 a series of neighborhood meetings led to the formal organization of a new Baptist body. On November 7, 1926, at 2:30 in the afternoon, the church was constituted in what is now Westminster Presbyterian Church. Four others came forward for baptism that day, and the motion to name the body Hayes Barton Baptist Church carried unanimously.
Men of the new congregation built a small wooden "Tabernacle" for worship. The first service was held there on Thanksgiving Day, 1926. By the end of 1927 the Tabernacle had been replaced with a cream-colored brick sanctuary in classical style, complete with classrooms, a kitchen, office space, and seating for 850. Growth followed. The 1940s brought the church's first missionaries, and in December 1950 Hayes Barton sponsored a "Living Nativity" that, with more than 100,000 viewers, was the first of its kind in Raleigh and perhaps in North Carolina. A tradition that has continued every Christmas since.
A fire on September 5, 1962 destroyed the original sanctuary ten months after the church's thirty-fifth anniversary. The deacons voted that very night to rebuild. Ground was broken on January 3, 1965 for a new Colonial Georgian structure, and on Thanksgiving Day 1966, exactly forty years after the first service in the Tabernacle, the congregation worshipped in its new sanctuary for the first time. Seven pastors have served Hayes Barton over the decades, and the current pastor, Dr. David J. Hailey, has been in the role since July 1996.
Sunday Morning in the Sanctuary
Sunday is the anchor of the week at Hayes Barton. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:45 a.m., and at 11:00 a.m. the congregation gathers for worship in the sanctuary. The services are complemented by a television ministry that has broadcast on local CW22 for more than thirty-five years, supported in part by the Ledford Missions Fund, and services are also livestreamed on Vimeo and Facebook Live. An online friendship pad lets those watching from home check in, share prayer requests, and stay connected to the pastoral team.
The service itself follows a traditional Baptist pattern with congregational singing led by the Chancel Choir, Scripture reading, prayer, and a sermon from Pastor Hailey. Children of all ages are welcome in the sanctuary, and worship bags are provided at each entrance. On the first, third, and fifth Sundays of the school year, first through fifth graders are invited to Children's Church after the children's sermon for a time of worship designed just for them. Infants through kindergartners are cared for in Extended Session during the eleven o'clock service.
Baptist beliefs shape the way worship is ordered. The church's constitution, drawn from Article I, states the body was "founded on the principles of Baptist faith and composed of persons who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, in the authority of the Holy Scriptures, in the priesthood of the believer, in the competency of the soul in matters of religion, in the autonomy of the local church, in believer's baptism, in religious liberty and in the separation of church and state." That historical foundation sits alongside a stated commitment to unity in Christ and diversity in membership.
Wednesday Is Family Night
If Sunday is the anchor, Wednesday is the heartbeat. Family Night begins at 4:30 p.m. with Prayer in Community in Room 207, a quiet time of reflection that lifts up praises and concerns for the world. At 5:00 p.m. the Hailey Hall doors open for the Family Night Meal, with adults paying $8, children three to twelve paying $5, and a $25 family maximum. The menu changes week to week (recent dinners have included spaghetti and roast beef), and gluten-free options are available with advance reservation.
At 5:30 p.m. the Family Life Center gym opens for Family Gym Time, a half hour of free play for parents and children. From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. the building hums with age-specific programming. Two-year-olds through fifth graders head to Children's Missions and Music, where they learn about God's love and rotate between mission study and choir. Middle and high school students gather in the Youth Lounge for Youth Wednesday Nights, an informal evening of Bible study, games, and service. Adults step into The Gathering in Hailey Hall at 6:05 p.m., pulling up chairs around tables for prayer, study, and singing, with discussion around topics of interest to members. The night closes with Chancel Choir rehearsal at 7:05 p.m.
Throughout the building on a Wednesday evening one can hear the noise of basketball in the gym, the laughter of preschoolers in missions class, the focused reading of youth in Bible study, and the sound of a choir warming up for Sunday. It is, as the church puts it, an "uplifting experience for all ages."
Children and the Family of Faith
Children's ministry at Hayes Barton is led by Rev. Sarah Mears, Associate Pastor of Children and Families and Communication, who joined the staff in 2016. The ministry takes seriously Jesus' words, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." Sunday mornings begin with age-appropriate Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and continue into Extended Session during worship for infants through kindergartners. Children's Church on the first, third, and fifth Sundays offers older children their own worship experience after the children's sermon.
On Wednesdays the children move from the meal into Children's Missions and Music at 6:00 p.m. Throughout the year they learn how to share God's love in their families, in the church, in the broader Raleigh community, and around the world. Two-year-olds participate in Mission Friends, while children three and older rotate between missions and music. A Trunk or Treat on the Wednesday before Halloween brings families back to the parking lot in costume, and fall retreats give kids their own off-campus weekends. The church takes child protection seriously: every volunteer working with children completes an annual safety training and background check through Protect My Ministry, and a detailed Children and Youth Protection Policy covers classrooms, overnight events, and retreats.
Youth: A Place to Belong and Become
The youth ministry, led by Rev. Christian Justice since 2024, is built around a simple conviction: every student, regardless of background, school, or current level of faith, is welcome to belong for who they are. As they belong, they are also invited to become the people God has created and called them to be. The youth program gathers three times a week.
Sunday Night Youth is the main weekly gathering. Dinner is served at 6:00 p.m., followed by recreation and free time at 6:30, large group worship and Bible study at 7:00, and small groups at 7:30, with dismissal at 8:00. Wednesday Night Youth is the low-key midweek companion, meeting in the Youth Lounge from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for Bible study, activity, and service. Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. begin with fellowship and a light breakfast; around 10:00 the students break into middle school and high school classes for conversational Bible study that engages their current life experience. A weekly newsletter and a text messaging system keep parents and students connected to what is coming up.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is woven through nearly every corner of life at Hayes Barton. Rev. Tyler Ingram, who joined the staff as Minister of Music and Worship in 2025, oversees a wide-ranging program supported by Music Associate and Accompanist Lisa Moxley and Organist Jackson Glover. Together they lead a layered music ministry that includes Chancel Choir, Chancel Choir Express, Festival Choir, Adult Ensemble, Adult Handbell Choir, Alphabells (grades 3-5), Youth Bells (grades 6-12), Youth Choir, Children's Choir, and Preschool Choir. The HBBC Orchestra, made up of experienced musicians from the congregation and the broader Triangle community, plays for Festival Days and special services throughout the year and is open to advanced musicians by audition.
On most Sundays the Chancel Choir leads worship from the loft. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at 7:05 p.m. in the Choir Room. The Festival Choir gathers for special services that pair the full orchestra and choirs, creating days of worship that the church describes as "meaningful, inspirational and transformational." Handbell choirs rehearse throughout the week, and Youth Ensemble and Youth Bells rehearse on Sunday afternoons during the program year. Adult Handbells welcomes new players who can read music and is coordinated through Lisa Moxley.
The Hayes Barton School of Music
The Hayes Barton School of Music, directed by Lisa Moxley, offers private and class instruction in a Christian setting. Private lessons are available in voice, piano, organ, flute, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, ukulele, and violin, with other instruments offered on request. Group classes include Beginning Guitar (ages 7 through adult), Beginning Ukulele (ages 7 through adult), and Music Reading for Adult Beginners, all taught in eight-week sessions each fall and spring. The school serves students from young children to mature adults, and three scholarship funds help make lessons possible: the Barnes Scholarship for members of Hayes Barton with demonstrated musical talent, the Promise Scholarship for families facing financial challenges, and the Organ Scholarship, a full-tuition award for one new or returning organ student per semester.
Hayes Barton Baptist Preschool
Sharing the church's campus is Hayes Barton Baptist Preschool, a weekday program for children from infancy through PreK, directed by Beth Kittler. The preschool functions as a ministry of the church, operating within the HBBC mission and covenant and under a Preschool Board of Directors. Children spend their days in center-based activities, stories, music, art, nature, and play, all built around a developmentally appropriate, theme-based curriculum enhanced by the Wee Learn teaching series. LetterLand phonics is introduced in PreK to prepare children for elementary school.
Class offerings include Infants (two days per week), Ones (two days), Twos (two or four days), Threes (three or four days), and PreK (five days). Each class is taught by a lead teacher with assistants, and the program emphasizes the spiritual as well as the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of the whole child. Summer camps run for ages two through five throughout June and July, and an annual parent handbook, allergy action plans, and a child protection policy keep families and staff aligned. The school is allergy aware and maintains tight safety procedures for every child in its care.
Missions and the Wider Community
Missions at Hayes Barton are described as "the work our congregation, led by the Holy Spirit, to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in both word and deed." The church supports an extensive local network: Backpack Buddies provides nearly 700 bags of food each month to children at six Wake County elementary schools. Welcome House offers temporary housing and hospitality for refugees and immigrants arriving in the United States. StepUp Ministry uses Hayes Barton's building on Thursday evenings for its alumni program, with HBBC volunteers providing a monthly meal. Urban Ministries of Wake County receives a monthly weekend dinner prepared at the church for the Helen Wright Center, and church members also volunteer in the food pantry, the medical clinic, and intake. Other ongoing partnerships include Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Alliance Medical Ministry, CareNet Counseling, the local benevolence committee, the Angel Tree at Christmas, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry, which gathers on the first Tuesday of every month to create shawls and lap robes for those in need.
Beyond Raleigh, Hayes Barton supports mission work in Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, Scotland, Kenya (through the Africa Exchange), and Helena, Arkansas (through Together for Hope). The Ledford Missions Endowment Fund, established by Hubert and Lola Ledford, underwrites mission requests each year, including the television ministry that brings worship into homes across central North Carolina.
Active Adults 55+
For adults 55 and older, Hayes Barton runs one of the most active senior fellowship programs in the area. Monthly luncheons fill Hailey Hall from noon to 1:30 p.m. with food, fellowship, and a program, ranging from the Dancing Divas to a Dickens-themed talk with Ira David Wood III to a Holy Week reflection with Jane Lyon. Day trips and overnight excursions, scheduled throughout the year, have included the Watermelon Festival, the Mt. Airy Grape Harvest Festival, a Rocky Mountaineer train trip, a Mystery Trip, and the annual Howling Cow Ice Cream Party.
Fitness options for this age group include Fit Over Fifty on Mondays at 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. in the gym, combining low-impact aerobics, line dancing, light interval training, and strengthening. Senior Games on the first and third Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon in FLC-205 features dominoes (the group favorite) with small prizes. Pickleball on Thursday evenings draws players from the church and the surrounding neighborhood, and the North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry Hope Line (866-578-4673) is open daily for those facing loneliness or social isolation.
Women's, Men's, and Small-Group Life
Women's ministry at HBBC seeks to "empower women to grow in their faith and connect to one another." Opportunities include the Young Women's Bible Study, which meets twice a month on Wednesday evenings in Room 200 for women under 35, and a Women's Monthly Bible Study on the second Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. in a hybrid format, with no homework and a friendly, easy atmosphere. The Women's Monthly Missions Luncheon gathers women in Hailey Hall to learn about mission partners and to assemble care for homebound members, and an Equipping Women luncheon is held periodically at Carolina Country Club.
Men's ministry centers on the Yost Men's Breakfast, a regular gathering on Tuesday mornings at 7:30 a.m., along with a Yost Men's Bible Study. A Men's Ministry Leadership Council meets the first Thursday of each month to guide the work of men's ministry. Virtual and hybrid studies, a prayer shawl group, a grief support series called Navigating GriefLand, and many Sunday School classes round out small-group life, with offerings for every age, stage, and interest. Coffee, Talk, Paint invites members into a creative morning together.
The Family Life Center
The Family Life Center, directed by Garrett Ferguson, anchors much of the church's recreation and fitness outreach. The facility houses a gym that hosts men's basketball fellowship on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, open gym hours throughout the week, a seasonal 5K and Health Fair, and Soccer Shots for ages two through five. Pickleball, yoga, Fit Over Fifty, and the Women's Strength Class (Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.) all use the space. The FLC is also available for community classes, birthday parties, summer camps, and approved private events through a facility use contract.
The Family Life Center is where Family Gym Time happens on Wednesday evenings, where the 5K and Health Fair are organized each May, and where many of the church's most intergenerational moments unfold. It is, the church says, "a place where we seek to strengthen and extend our Christ-centered community of faith and expand our outreach."
Kidz Stuff Consignment Sale
Twice a year Hayes Barton hosts the Kidz Stuff Consignment Sale, a long-running community event featuring gently used children's clothing, shoes, toys, furniture, books, baby gear, and more. Proceeds support children's ministries at HBBC, and donations from the sale benefit children's charities across the Triangle. Two sales are held each year, one in spring and one in fall, each tailored to the season (swim gear in the spring, coats and boots in the fall). Volunteers, consignors, and donors earn early access to a Thursday evening preview sale, with general public shopping running Friday into Saturday. The Saturday morning half-price sale on marked items is a tradition for many families in the area. Volunteers can sign up through the sale's online portal, and consignors can register and enter inventory in advance.
Baptist Beliefs in a Moderate Tradition
Hayes Barton describes itself as a Baptist church in the moderate tradition, "proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ, honoring historic Baptist principles, and coming together as a community to share the presence of Christ in both word and deed." The congregation brings together Christians with a broad and diverse range of theological perspectives, united in their faith in Christ. The church's Article I, drawn directly from its constitution, affirms belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the authority of the Holy Scriptures, the priesthood of the believer, the competency of the soul in matters of religion, the autonomy of the local church, believer's baptism by immersion, religious liberty for all, and the separation of church and state.
These principles are paired with a stated commitment to unity in Christ and diversity in membership. The church "complements a traditional style of worship with contemporary programs and ministries that respond to people's changing needs in today's world." Affiliations include the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, and the Raleigh Baptist Association. Because the gospel calls the church to be on mission in the world, Hayes Barton also partners with a wide variety of Christian organizations in mission and ministry.
The Pastoral Team and Staff
The pastoral team is led by Dr. David J. Hailey, who has been pastor of Hayes Barton since 1996. A native of Chillicothe, Illinois, he was educated in Tennessee and Kentucky, served churches in Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina, and is married to Susan, a retired high school English teacher. They have three adult children and several grandchildren.
Rev. Kristen Muse, who joined the staff in 2003 and now serves as Executive Pastor, oversees Christian education, outreach, missions, and administration. Rev. Sarah Mears serves as Associate Pastor of Children and Families and Communication, and she joined the staff in 2016. Rev. Jeff Pethel, a Kannapolis native, joined as Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care in 2024. Rev. Tyler Ingram began as Minister of Music and Worship in 2025 after earlier service at the church as an intern and assistant. Rev. Christian Justice, a Campbell University graduate, joined as Minister of Youth in 2024. The staff also includes Music Associate and Accompanist Lisa Moxley, who also directs the School of Music; Organist Jackson Glover; Preschool Director Beth Kittler; Family Life Center Director Garrett Ferguson; Communications Director Melinda Sawyer; Facilities Director David Keel; Business Administrator Isadora Bailer; and a team of administrative assistants, a bookkeeper, a welcome center receptionist, and a facilities crew. The church is served by a deacon body, a Preschool Board of Directors, a School of Music Board, a Missions Evangelism Committee, and many other lay leaders who give their time.
Planning a Visit
Visitors are warmly welcomed at Hayes Barton. The church's address is 1800 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina 27608, just down the street from Five Points. Parking maps and a campus map are available from the church office. Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11:00 a.m.; both are held on the church's main campus. For those who cannot attend in person, the eleven o'clock service is broadcast live on CW22 and streamed on Vimeo and Facebook Live, with an archive of past services available. Wednesday Family Night begins at 4:30 p.m. with prayer and continues through dinner, programs for every age, and Chancel Choir rehearsal. To get in touch, the main office number is (919) 833-4617, the general email is hbbc@hbbc.org, and online forms are available for prayer requests, the friendship pad, and membership inquiries. A Newcomers' Meet and Greet is held periodically for those who want to learn more about the church.