|
Waterville Baptist Church was organized with 38 members on April 23, 1950, as a Missionary Baptist Church. All services were at Waterville School, across the street from the present location. The first pastor, James L. Bennett, resigned due to poor health on April 29, 1951. Rev. Lester Lewis was elected as pastor on May 6, 1951.
Labor on the church building began July 4, 1951. The first service was held in the building on August 19, 1951. The second part of the building (now known as the Chapel) was started on May 12, 1953. Rev. Lester Lewis resigned on July 6, 1955, and Rev. Paul Watson was elected as pastor on September 7, 1955. He served until his resignation on November 8, 1959. Rev. Percy Maples was elected on September 4, 1960, and served in that capacity until September 4, 1966.
Waterville Baptist Church purchased land from Claude and Myrtle Nipper in November, 1965, in June, 1973, and in May, 1977. Rev. Clyde Crook, Jr., served as pastor from March 1, 1967 through December 31, 1972. During that time, Waterville built the parsonage and added additional education space on the north side of the building. Rev. Vester Blanton served as pastor from September 9, 1973, through June 15, 1975. The Chapel was remodeled while he was pastor.
Rev. Roger Hobbs became pastor of Waterville, November 9, 1975, and served until his resignation on August 6, 1997. During this time, the present sanctuary and additional education and office space were added. This project began on May 7, 1978, and the first services were held in the new sanctuary on June 3, 1979. Open House and Homecoming celebrations were observed on September 16, 1979. The note was burned on November 23, 1991. The Fellowship Hall was added during the early 1980’s; a thirty-passenger bus was purchased in 1987. Construction began in 1993 on the J.C. Trewhitt Family Life Center, and it was completed in phases, debt-free. This facility houses the church offices, gymnasium, and Youth Department.
Rev. Allan Lovelace became pastor on March 6, 2000. Shortly afterwards, the church celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 23, 2000, Easter Sunday. The church celebrated this occasion on September 17, 2000, as the highlight of Homecoming festivities. The church recently purchased (debt-free) a new forty-passenger bus for transportation and support for various ministries. In 2003, work was completed on the new addition to the J.C. Trewhitt Family Life Center. This new addition included a commercial kitchen, showers for mission teams staying in the facility, two additional restrooms, and two additional classrooms upstairs for the Youth, plus needed storage space. The church grounds have changed, with a new parking design, new landscaping, and refurbished signs. With new growth coming to our community, we’re praying that God will bless us as we work in His harvest for His glory. God has given us a vision for the future of Waterville, and it is very exciting!
Through the years, Waterville has been blessed to have the services of many fine interim pastors, as well as volunteer and paid ministers of music and youth. These graciously served as needed and filled major contributory roles in the life, work, and growth of Waterville Baptist Church. From July 2, 1989, to August 31, 2004, Rev. Charles Towler served as our Minister of Music; he retired from music ministry but continues to be active in other areas of service. On July 24, 2005, the church called Sammy Parris as its new Minister of Music. Joe Brooks was called to serve as Associate Pastor on August 19, 2007, and Judson Kirkpatrick was called as Student Minister on May 24, 2009.
The church is facing possible relocation due to the Dalton Pike Road expansion and has secured property 1½ miles south on Dalton Pike. We do not know what the future holds, but we’ll continue to hold on to the hand of the One who does. |
.jpg)
.jpg)