by april 1888, b.p. hewitt became the church's permanent pastor and allen hill went on to start several other churches. needing more room, hewitt moved the church's meeting place to the hohman opera house at the corner of state and hohman streets. in 1889, the church erected its own structure for $2,358 when marcus towle, hammond's first mayor and a member of fbc, donated land on "sibley street" to the church.