A Brief History of Our
Church
"The roots of the present are
deep in the past."
We realize the truth of this
statement when, through the history of our
church, we re-call the experiences and landmarks
of the chain of progress from 1913-1996.
Our beginning grew out of a
Sunday School fellowship led by the Reverend H.B.
Fuller in the old Minnifield Hall on North Main
Street. Reverend Fuller was a member of
Saint Paul First Baptist Church but did all that
he could to enhance Christian Education in the
North Anderson area. Among his followers
were: James Lowden, Henry Aikens, Gus
Gray, Emma Edwards, Anna Sloan, Nathaniel Bell,
Paralee Day, Mary Glenn, and Ola Hamilton.
In the year of 1913, under the
leadership of Reverend R.D. Glenn, Calvary
Baptist Church was organized. Upon a
lengthy discussion, moderated by its first
pastor, the word "Wilson" was added to the
word "Calvary" in memoriam to the President of
the United States at the time of its
originality.
Reverend Glenn labored with us
from 1913-1931. Following his death, the
Reverend H.R. Asbury was elected in 1931 and
served as a dynamic leader for 15 years.
Following his death, the Reverend E.L. Sitton
was elected and served for 14 years.
In the year of 1960, Reverend
Sitton left our church family to serve in the
State of New York. Following his
resignation, the Reverend C. Rudgie Lewis, Sr.
was called to be our shepherd. Under his
leadership, our church grew from the little
white church to our last structure.
Following Reverend Lewis
resignation in the year of 1981, the Reverend
Cecil V. Clement served as Interim Pastor
until such time when a new pastor would be
elected. In the year 1981, the Reverend
Sidney H. Davis was elected and served until
1989. Following his resignation, the
Reverend O.L. Reuben served as Interim Pastor
from the year 1989 until 1991. In the year
1991, the reverend James C. Clark, Sr. was
elected and still serves as pastor of Wilson
Calvary Baptist Church. Under his
leadership, our church has grown from the
previous structure to the new structure today.
We are grateful for and proud
of our glorious heritage. We, therefore,
pause at the dawn of a new day to pay tribute to
those people who, by their dedicated lives and
deeds, have paved the way for this great
monument which stands today as a living symbol
of their love, faith wisdom, courage, loyalty,
and perseverance.