A town and its church...
Excerpts from a Brief History of the First Baptist Church, Wagener, SC
(From Heritage booklet May 3, 1970)
Guntersville, originally known as Guntersville or Gunter's Crossroad, was a small settlement established in the late 19th century. The area was named after the Gunter family. The settlement began to develop more formally around 1887 when Elridge Gunter donated land to benefit local schools and the Baptist Church, which was then called Guntersville Baptist Church. On September 19, 1887, a group of ministers met with a congregation of Guntersville citizens at the Rock Hill School House and formed a presbytery which appointed Rev. John A. Seigler president, and John C. Humphries secretary, “and proceeded to organize a church under the name of The Baptist Church of Christ at Guntersville, composed of Brothers and Sisters bearing letters from various churches, to the number of thirty-one”. Those thirty-one charter members were:
It is interesting to note that for quite a few years following its organization the church met once a month on Saturday for a business meeting and worship and on Sunday for worship. No pastor received an indefinite call, but rather each year the church elected a new pastor or recalled the same pastor. This may account for the fact that the church had some seventeen different pastors in the first thirty years and only eight pastors in the last fifty-three. Both the pastor and the church knew “hard times” during those first years.
Of historical significance is the fact that on September 8, 1888, the Baptist Church at Guntersville united with the Edisto Baptist Association. B.J. Williams and Elvin Poole were elected delegates to the Associational meeting for that year. On October 6, 1888, the name of the church was changed to the Baptist Church of Wagener.
On February 14, 1891, the church formally expressed appreciation “to the sister of the church and friends of the community for the bell given the church”. That same bell hangs today in the tower in front of the fellowship hall. The bell was rung in the church’s early history on two occasions: to call the people to worship and for funerals.
Immediately following its organization, the church began to plan for a house of worship. Early in 1888 a building committee was composed and plans were made which resulted in the construction of a wooden clapboard sanctuary. This first church house was formally dedicated on August 4, 1889. A hand-written address delivered at the dedication in 1919 of the present brick sanctuary reads:
“The life of this church began with the beginning of the life of the town for which it was named. The growth of the town and that of the church were simultaneous, each partaking more or less of the character of the other. These early struggles were very similar.
A feeling of sadness comes to me as I think of the number of men and women with whom I met here in those days, and who I learned to love, whose faces are seen here no more. It appears to me brothers that as from time to time when the death Angel came, he took the best. Does it seen that way to you? I will not attempt to call the roll lest I should leave out one of the sacred members.
32 years have gone since our Brother R.J. Williams baptized the 24 young people, boys and girls, which number formed the nucleus around which you built up your numbers. Most of those boys and girls are today the men and women of whose shoulders the burden of present-day responsibilities is resting. You have done nobly and well, and as your former pastor I congratulate you upon your attainments in Wagener. Your splendid town is a proof of your pluck and energy; but most of all this beautiful house of worship stands today as a monument to your devotion and loyalty to Jesus Christ your Lord.
What as to your future? This equipment means more than some of you have ever dreamed for the next 20 years of Baptist history (of which you’ll make a part) will work such changes as this world has never seen or even dreamed of. I’d rather live in the next 20 years than to have lived three score years of the past.”
A high point in the life of the church came in 1914 with a motion to build a new brick church. At the dedication service on June 8, 1919, Reverend Dean Crain stood following the dedicatory sermon and asked that the doors of the church be locked. He stated to the congregation: “We are all friends and we have come together to raise $7,000.00 to pay off this building debt, and we are going to sit here until we do.” The money for the debt was raised that very day and enough money left over to buy a new piano. Following construction of the new brick building, the church made much progress.
First Baptist Church Wagener has a rich and glorious heritage of which it can be honorably proud. Like all human institutions, it has suffered the vicissitudes of bad and good fortune. It has had its high moments of achievement as well as low points which resulted from accident, lethargy, and the frailties of human nature. To those who love this holy church, this brief historical sketch may serve to tie even tighter the bonds of affection that unite them with the congregation. To those who come after us, our history may serve as a reminder of those enduring values that must be preserved if our church is to fulfill the destiny for which it was called into being.
The outcome is in the hands of the Lord. To Him be all the praise and glory.
(From Heritage booklet May 3, 1970)
Guntersville, originally known as Guntersville or Gunter's Crossroad, was a small settlement established in the late 19th century. The area was named after the Gunter family. The settlement began to develop more formally around 1887 when Elridge Gunter donated land to benefit local schools and the Baptist Church, which was then called Guntersville Baptist Church. On September 19, 1887, a group of ministers met with a congregation of Guntersville citizens at the Rock Hill School House and formed a presbytery which appointed Rev. John A. Seigler president, and John C. Humphries secretary, “and proceeded to organize a church under the name of The Baptist Church of Christ at Guntersville, composed of Brothers and Sisters bearing letters from various churches, to the number of thirty-one”. Those thirty-one charter members were:
It is interesting to note that for quite a few years following its organization the church met once a month on Saturday for a business meeting and worship and on Sunday for worship. No pastor received an indefinite call, but rather each year the church elected a new pastor or recalled the same pastor. This may account for the fact that the church had some seventeen different pastors in the first thirty years and only eight pastors in the last fifty-three. Both the pastor and the church knew “hard times” during those first years.
Of historical significance is the fact that on September 8, 1888, the Baptist Church at Guntersville united with the Edisto Baptist Association. B.J. Williams and Elvin Poole were elected delegates to the Associational meeting for that year. On October 6, 1888, the name of the church was changed to the Baptist Church of Wagener.
On February 14, 1891, the church formally expressed appreciation “to the sister of the church and friends of the community for the bell given the church”. That same bell hangs today in the tower in front of the fellowship hall. The bell was rung in the church’s early history on two occasions: to call the people to worship and for funerals.
Immediately following its organization, the church began to plan for a house of worship. Early in 1888 a building committee was composed and plans were made which resulted in the construction of a wooden clapboard sanctuary. This first church house was formally dedicated on August 4, 1889. A hand-written address delivered at the dedication in 1919 of the present brick sanctuary reads:
“The life of this church began with the beginning of the life of the town for which it was named. The growth of the town and that of the church were simultaneous, each partaking more or less of the character of the other. These early struggles were very similar.
A feeling of sadness comes to me as I think of the number of men and women with whom I met here in those days, and who I learned to love, whose faces are seen here no more. It appears to me brothers that as from time to time when the death Angel came, he took the best. Does it seen that way to you? I will not attempt to call the roll lest I should leave out one of the sacred members.
32 years have gone since our Brother R.J. Williams baptized the 24 young people, boys and girls, which number formed the nucleus around which you built up your numbers. Most of those boys and girls are today the men and women of whose shoulders the burden of present-day responsibilities is resting. You have done nobly and well, and as your former pastor I congratulate you upon your attainments in Wagener. Your splendid town is a proof of your pluck and energy; but most of all this beautiful house of worship stands today as a monument to your devotion and loyalty to Jesus Christ your Lord.
What as to your future? This equipment means more than some of you have ever dreamed for the next 20 years of Baptist history (of which you’ll make a part) will work such changes as this world has never seen or even dreamed of. I’d rather live in the next 20 years than to have lived three score years of the past.”
A high point in the life of the church came in 1914 with a motion to build a new brick church. At the dedication service on June 8, 1919, Reverend Dean Crain stood following the dedicatory sermon and asked that the doors of the church be locked. He stated to the congregation: “We are all friends and we have come together to raise $7,000.00 to pay off this building debt, and we are going to sit here until we do.” The money for the debt was raised that very day and enough money left over to buy a new piano. Following construction of the new brick building, the church made much progress.
First Baptist Church Wagener has a rich and glorious heritage of which it can be honorably proud. Like all human institutions, it has suffered the vicissitudes of bad and good fortune. It has had its high moments of achievement as well as low points which resulted from accident, lethargy, and the frailties of human nature. To those who love this holy church, this brief historical sketch may serve to tie even tighter the bonds of affection that unite them with the congregation. To those who come after us, our history may serve as a reminder of those enduring values that must be preserved if our church is to fulfill the destiny for which it was called into being.
The outcome is in the hands of the Lord. To Him be all the praise and glory.