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Shady Grove Baptist Church celebrates 125th anniversary Shady Grove Baptist Church will will celebrate its 125th
The Rev. Lee Byers Jr., interim pastor, will deliver the 11 a.m. anniversary sermon. The Rev. Nathaniel Craig, pastor of the Walls Memorial Baptist Church, Shelby, will be the guest speaker at a 4 p.m. service. Rev. Craig will be accompanied by his choirs and congregation. Other program highlights will be the recognition of the church's senior members and a slide presentation of the church history since its humble beginnings in 1881. The church has much to celebrate. Frayed and yellow records of the church's humble beginnings in 1881 were found in the basement of the home of the late Arie Boyce. The first church members had not long been freed from slavery in 1863 Emancipation Proclamation) the records indicate, and a complete history of the church was not recorded, but excepts from old minute books give valuable clues to Shady Grove's proud legacy. Page three of a church ledger entry dating February 20 1886, reads, "We met on our meeting day, reading John 15. We sang a song and after this prayer, and went into conference." A milestone in the church's history was reached in 1892 when a band of dedicated and envisioned patriots proposed and planned for a place of worship. No records can be found of where the congregation was meeting at that time, but records show that in 1892, less than 30 years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation from slavery, this group of Christians bought land for a new church house. The members agreed to, "Have a house 36 feet by 24 feet by 10 feet, with 10 windows and two doors." It was to be built "depot" style. Another entry dated July 3, 1892, records: "It was agreed to meet and get timber for the church house." In September 1892, the church decided to "ask help from sister churches." The importance of their work is expressed in the painstaking way each day's work was recorded in the official church book. The book includes Christmas programs, tithes, the preacher's salary and minutes of the monthly meeting. Several entries enumerate persons who worked and hauled lumber for the new meetinghouse. There were also pages listing the names of members and the amounts they paid on the church and to the pastor. For example, Brother Fernanders spent 17 days working on the church and Brother Gus Harris worked for 20 days plus hauled a load of lumber, rocks, and rafters and paid 25 cents for sills. Money paid to the church was in 5and 10-cent parcels for the most part, but sometimes it went up to more than a $1. In October 1894, the church had $30.30 in its treasury. In 1883, Gus Harris paid one bushel of corn to the preacher, Pleas Gaffney paid 11 bushel of corn, and Jim Linder paid 11 bushel of corn and 11 gallon of molasses. Other men paid in similar ways. No other references to this meeting house were found. In December 6, 1987, the present facility was completed after a time of prayerful planning, sacrificing, laboring and working together to make a vision a reality. Anniversary committee members include chairperson Lucious Jones, Arthur Dover, Sr., Minnie Leach, Clarence Dover, Dean Dover, James Pearson, Rev. L.C. Knuckles, John Pearson and Dianne Norris. Born deep in the hearts of Faithful men, In the days of long ago. This church, our wonderful worship place, Was visioned and made to grow. It grew by faith and by constant prayer, By gifts of true sacrifice, And we who pause to recall the past, Praise God for those who cared. The willing hands have been raised by faith, To beckon the lost ones in, Our church has been a torch held high, Dispelling the blight of sin. Glory to God!! Glory to God!! For He has done great things. Only by his mercy do we pause, To crown Him King of Kings! |
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