Our History
Check out our rich history going all the way back to 1787
Piedmont Church
The church now known as First Baptist Church had its beginnings as Piedmont Church in the early 1800s.
Old records indicate the first Iisting for Piedmont Church is from the Swift Creek Association minutes of 1787. According to the minutes of the Charleston Baptist Association from November 3, 1810, Piedmont Church applied for admission into the association by a letter and by messengers. Piedmont “originated from that of Swift Creek and was constituted on the 30th day of September 1810.”
The church was located on what is now U. S. Highway 15 south, about a mile and a half from Singleton’s Crossroads, directly across from Piedmont Cemetery. Not until the 1830s was the town commonly called Bishopville
Burned to Ashes
Several records refer to the burning of the Piedmont Church building, and there is a possibility the fire was intentional. The last sentence of the 1887 minutes reads; “Piedmont disbanded:
church house burned to ashes.”
After the June 7, 1887, fire which destroyed their sanctuary, church members rented the Masonic Hall and worshiped there. The Rev. Williams, a former missionary, was the pastor.
Bishopville Baptist Church
The church then became Bishopville Baptist Church. It was organized on October 9, 1887, with 32 former Piedmont members and two new members. A new building was constructed, apparently on Church Street. In June of 1888 R.M. Bailey was supposed to preach the dedicatory sermon but was delayed en route. Pastor Williams dedicated the new church.
Mr. Williams, who was noted as a leader, peacemaker, friend and comforter, resigned at the end of 1890. Although he was recognized as the father of the church and the leader of the building movement, he felt it was his duty to lead other churches in erecting houses of worship.
Another Fire
The new church, only five years old was destroyed by a fire; however, the organ, pulpit, and pews were rescued before burning. Another sanctuary was erected at the same location from insurance money and congregation donations. The new building was completed in 1894
Parsonage
During Mr. Phillips’ pastorate, the church sold its parsonage and lot on North Church Street to build nearer the center of town. Mrs. M. J. Woodward donated a lot on North Heyward Street, where a six-room cottage and out-buildings were constructed.
World War I
The Rev J.F. Cason served from November 8, 1908, until April 10, 1910. After a lapse of a year and a half, the Rev. M.M. Benson came next. He was more successful, serving from December 11, 1911 until 1917, the longest tenure in the church’s history, during World War I.
Remodeling
The church property was mortgaged for $4,000 on May 18, 1913. The funds were used to remodel the church building and to add rooms for the Sunday School department. At that time the wooden church was bricked over. While that work was being done, worship services were held in the new courthouse.
Under the Rev. and Mrs. Benson’s leadership, the church grew. The Sunday School and Women’s Missionary Society expanded.
New Parsonage
In the fall of 1924, the Rev. D. L. Hill began his ministry at Bishopville Baptist. During his short stay he conducted training classes for the Sunday School. A two-story parsonage on South Heyward Street was completed during his ministry.
Rev. Wade Griffin
From July 1930 until January 1933, the church was served by the Rev. Wade Griffin, an enthusiastic leader. He and his wife led the B.Y.P.E. and Sunday School to standards of excellence. Mr. Griffin was present for the 1986 dedication of the church’s new administration building, more than 50 years after he served as minister.
Rev. Wade Griffin
Deacons in the 1930’s
Cradle Roll Department when the Sunday School was accredited in 1933
New Leadership
The Rev. J. T. Littlejohn began his pastorate on April 15,1934. He brought the church membership from 192 to 296
Rev. J. T. Littlejohn
On March 6, 1949, the church voted unanimously to call Rev. W. A. Laudermilch. Two months later a floor improvement committee and building committee for the Sunday School was organized.
Laney Sunday School in the 1940s
This also shows the wooden Sunday School buildings
Rev. John L. Bobo
The following year was the start of a new era for the church. The Rev. John L. Bobo served as minister from December 20, 1950, until his retirement in April, 1965. Many progressive changes were made during this time.
Rev. John L. Bobo
The DesChamps property, which had been previously purchased, was used for Sunday School classes, along with the three wooden buildings behind the church.
Three years after Mr. Bobo came, plans were presented for an Educational Building. The church agreed to raise one-third of the money before construction began and another one-third during construction, and to borrow the remaining money from The Peoples Bank. On July 15, 1953, the commitment was made. The two-story brick structure was dedicated February 3, 1957. It contained about 20 rooms upstairs used for instruction and about 16 rooms downstairs. A kitchen, dining/assembly room, pastor’s study and administrative office were located on the first floor. H. H. Jordan was chairman of the building committee and D.R. Lowder served as head of the finance committee. The two-story DesChamps house formerly used for Sunday School was sold and torn down.
Renovations
In 1964 the sanctuary was completely renovated. The wall behind the pulpit was moved to enlarge the sanctuary, green linoleum floors were covered with cranberry-colored carpet, new pews were installed, and heating and air-conditioning were installed to replace the old oil heaters. The choir loft was relocated behind the pulpit. Stained-glass windows were installed at the time. Each window was given by a member or members of the church.
New Parsonage
In November 1967, the church purchased the home of the late Jerrold Sindler for use as the parsonage. This house and lot were located at 604 West Law Street. The parsonage was dedicated on January 21, 1968.
Organ
On January 18 1970, the church voted to purchase a new Allen organ. The organ was dedicated in memory of Miss Alberta Woodward, who served as the church pianist and organist for over 60 years
Rev. C.E. Scarborough
The church voted on August 25, 1974 to call Rev. C. E. Scarborough, Jr. as pastor. The vote was unanimous, and Rev. Scarborough assumed his pastoral duties on September 15, 1974. He, his wife Loyna, and their two children came from the First Baptist Church, Hartsville, S.C., where he was associate pastor.
Rev. C.E. Scarborough
During Mr. Scarborough’s pastorate the church started having family night dinners on the second and fourth Wednesday nights each month from September through May. The very first family night dinner was on November 24th, 1914. The first church pictorial directory was approved by the church on November 23, 1975. This pictorial directory included a brief history of the church, a picture of each family, and a list of church members with addresses and telephone numbers. A copy was given to each family.
The church parking lot was paved and dedicated on October 31, 1976.
Rev. John Thomas Collins
In March 1977, a new pastor, Rev. John Thomas Collins moved to Bishopville with his wife, Betty, and their three children, Tommy, Michele and Timmy. They came from the Eutaw Heights Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C.
The church continued to grow, and more emphasis was given to the youth and children of the church and community. Lake Delano was leased from the D. T. Denny family for five years to be used as a church recreation area for church members and their friends.
During Mr. Collins’ pastorate a summer youth worker was employed to supervise the recreation area and various activities. Lee Davis, a member of the church, served as summer youth director for several years. The church purchased a 16-passenger van in 1980 to be used for church activities. A steeple was erected on the church sanctuary in February 1980 in memory of Thelma Davis Kelley as a gift from Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Clifford Corbett, Jr. and family.
Fellowship and Administrative Building
The Planning Committee recommended that the church proceed with Phase I of the building program and construct the new Fellowship and Administrative Building. The church voted on June 30, 1985 to build. The church also voted unanimously to renovate the present educational building to make more classrooms and to replace the heating and air-conditioning units and all lights.
The new fellowship and Administrative building was dedicated on October 5, 1986.
Blessed
The Lord has blessed this church in many ways over the years. Our church has grown and prospered. The present revised membership is 580. It is with a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving that we celebrate our 100th anniversary on October 11, 1987. We rejoice and praise God for His manifold blessings bestowed upon us as a people and as a church.
We have a century to celebrate, but we also have a future to fulfill. We cannot sit back and rest upon our accomplishments of the past. We must move forward in faith to attempt even greater things!
Please check back soon as we continue to add and update this page
