The History of Unity Baptist Church

Do you have a link to our church that you are not aware of?  Read on to see if you recognize family members that were a part of the History of Unity Baptist Church.....

On October 6, 1900 a number of Baptists in the Hopewell and Fairview communities met at Hopewell Methodist Church to consider the organization of a Baptist church in the area. " Unity" was unanimously selected as the name; and the Articles of Faith held by Standing Springs Baptist Church, where most of the community Baptists were members, was adopted.

Rev. J.A. Martin was called as the first pastor. Services were held each second Sunday and the Saturday before. Construction of the church building began in the fall of 1900 and was completed by the second Sunday in January 1901. A new organ was purchased for the church. The pulpit, built by Mr. J.M. Henderson, is still being used in the Men's Bible Class. The Sunday School was organized January 13, 1901 and met every third Sunday afternoon.

Unity Baptist Church started with 51 charter members; and by the end of July 1901, 73 members were reported to the Greenville Association. Lights had to be secured before the first " Protracted meeting", and a baptismal pool was prepared in the creek behind the church. The September revival added twelve members by baptism. "Because Rev. Martin was unable to perform the ordinance of Baptism, the Rev. D.D. Richardson served in his stead. An interesting incident", that was long remembered, " Mrs. Mamie Henderson, an invalid at the time of her baptism, was carried into the outdoor baptismal pool in a chair and thus baptized".

The first recorded observance of the Lord's Supper was in October 1901. On April 6, 1902 the first recorded offering for Foreign Missions was taken, followed by an orphanage collection July 6, 1902.

In 1903 the envelope system of financing the church was adopted, songbooks were purchased, and carpet was purchased for $29 by the " Ladies Aid Society of Unity Church". A mission-minded people from the beginning, they set a goal of $100 for missions in June 1905. An iron fence was purchased for the cemetery in 1908 at a cost of $375.00. It still stands today, a beautiful reminder of days past.

Saturday services were discontinued in May 1909, having a Sunday morning and evening service instead. "A lovely silver communion set was donated to the church by Bro. J.D. Richardson in 1910." Sunday School rooms were built to the sides of the church in 1920 and a " graded Sunday School" was adopted in 1921. Membership recorded in 1930 was 269. The Deacon rotating system was adopted in 1931.

The beloved Rev. and Mrs. H.M. Fallow served Unity, sometimes at great personal sacrifice, for twenty-five years from September 1923 to May 1948, during which time the church grew and prospered.

In 1949 the parsonage was built at a cost of $6,404.00. Weekly services replaced monthly services and a choir was organized. Rev. Hal H. Helms was the first pastor Unity sent to the Southern Baptist Convention in Chicago, Illinois, May 1950.

The Golden Anniversary Celebration was held October 1, 1950. During the '50's WMU and mission organizations were very active. The Brotherhood was organized July 1, 1953, and Family Night began on October 28th with 74 present. Vacation Bible School became a yearly event. In 1956 the auditorium was remodeled, classrooms on either side were removed, an Educational Wing with 14 rooms was added and the building was bricked. Renovation was complete and occupied on January 13, 1957 at a cost of $26,705.93.

The highlight of the ' 60' s was a Coronation Service to honor the intense work of the WMU in which 10 Queens, 2 Queens with Scepter and 3 Queen Regents were crowned. This was a great accomplishment, rarely equaled by much larger churches.

In April 1978 Rev. and Mrs. Howard Wimrner organized J.O.Y. Fellowship for senior adults. An Educational Building and Fellowship Hall was added in 1979 and dedicated September 30 that year.

Rev. and Mrs. Stan Candler and three others went to England on a mission trip in September 1982. In October 1984 eight members of Alder Road Baptist Church, Poole, England, came to Unity. The wall hanging in the Fellowship Hall was a gift from their church to Unity.

The Policy Manual was approved in July 1987. A love offering of $1483.57, in addition to three truckloads of food and supplies, was given to the Hurricane Hugo victims in September 1989. The parsonage underwent an extensive remodeling during the interim period in 1991.

Ordination services were held for two of our young men. Greg Russ was ordained July 20, 1990 and is pastor at Enon Baptist in Easley. Wm. Randall Harling was ordained August 4, 1991 and is serving as pastor of First Baptist, Simpsonville.

On October 1, 2000 Unity celebrated its Centennial with a packed auditorium. Five former pastors returned to take part in the morning worship service. Unity has had a glorious past 100 years, and we pray that it will continue to be the same mission-minded church in the future.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

An Installation service was held January 9, 2005 to welcome Rev. Danny R. Bridges, his wife Linda and their two children to Unity Baptist Church. Our future is bright as we continue to serve our LORD.

From " The History of Unity Baptist Church", condensed & rewritten by Mrs. Glorian Clark

Join us as we continue to make History!