The Alabama Baptist

Celebrating 175 Years of Informing, Inspiring and Connecting Baptists

Released in conjunction with a historic milestone, The Alabama Baptist: Celebrating 175 Years of Informing, Inspiring and Connecting Baptists explores the rich legacy of the long-running newspaper. Co-authored by Elizabeth Wells and Grace Thornton, the book chronicles the publication’s history, its enduring ministry, and its lasting impact on journalism and faith across the state.

Its release served as the centerpiece for the publication’s 175th-anniversary celebration, which featured a historical symposium and a special gathering reflecting on its founding roots. Offering a deep dive into the trustworthy news and heartfelt stories that have defined the newspaper’s mission for nearly two centuries, the retrospective was recognized for excellence by winning first place for “Best Niche Publication” in the Alabama Press Association’s annual media awards.

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About the authors

Elizabeth Wells & Grace Thornton

A veteran historian and author, Elizabeth Wells (left) is a retired librarian and archivist for Samford University in Birmingham, serving for almost 40 years. Wells is the recipient of several awards for her contributions in the preservation and dissemination of Alabama and Baptist records. She teamed up with longtime journalist Grace Thornton to bring this history to life. Thornton is an award-winning writer and author of “I Don’t Wait Anymore,” published by Zondervan in 2016.