History oi Conway Baptist Cnurcli 1905 2005 - Digitized by the Internet Archive 2013 in http://archive.org/details/historyofconwaybOOtayl History of Conway Baptist Church You are the Potter, we are the clay - Mold us! This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word ofthe Lord came to me: "O house ofIsrael, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand ofthe potter, so are you in my hand, O house ofIsrael." (Jeremiah 18:1-6) DEDICATION Our history book project was funded in part with a generous contribution by Stanley Taylor, given in loving memory of his wife, Bernice Leigh Martin Taylor. She was the daughter of Marvin J. and Minnie L. Martin and sister ofLucille Martin Futrell and M. Earl Martin, all members of Conway Baptist Church. Bernice Leigh was a member of our church from 1928 through 1948. Bernice m Leigh Martin was born on November 23, 1920, and grew up attending Conway Baptist Church. After high school graduation, she attended Chowan College and Meredith College and enlisted in the US Navy (Waves) in 1944. She married Stanley Taylor ofJackson on June 7, 1947. The wedding ceremo- ny was held here in the "old" church. Mrs. J. A. Fleetwood provided the music at their wedding. They later moved to Columbus, Ohio, where they raised their family and spent many happy years. Bernice Leigh and Stanley Taylor have three children, Barry Martin Taylor, Ronald Keith Taylor and Jill Annette Taylor. They have also been blessed with grand- children. Bernice Leigh lived by the high principles and morals that were instilled in her by her parents, her church and her community as she grew up here in Conway. These were traits that she passed on to her children and family. Bernice Leigh Martin Taylor passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2004, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was a gracious homemaker and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. A memorial service was held at Westminster-Thurber Chapel in Columbus, Ohio. On October 30, 2004, a second memorial service was held here at Conway Baptist Church. The love ofthis family was evident as they gath- ered to remember her life. There was also a homecoming feeling as loved ones worshiped at Bernice Leigh Taylor's home church. Our church family would like to extend a tremendous "thank you" to Mr. Taylor and his family for their generous donation. The blessings of our Lord stretch far and wide. From Conway Baptist Church here in the small town ofConway, North Carolina, to the big city ofColumbus, Ohio, He has united us as children ofthe Father and brothers and sisters in Christ (joint heirs together with Christ!). All praise to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Acknowledgements The history book project became a wonderful experience for me and proved to be a fascinating and very rewardingjourney. Its research evolved into a scavenger hunt that began with the uncovering of a wealth of information that was discovered in Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University. Julia Bradford, director of the North Carolina Baptist Historical Collection at the library (in her welcoming way), enabled me to take a trip into our past when she provided access to ourboxlike file thatheld so much information on the early his- tory ofourchurch. James F. Martin's handwritten minutes and original roll book, as well as many other early documents stored in our file at Wake Forest, proved to be invaluable. Mr. Martin single-handedly recorded most of the information that we have forourearly days. Agreat deal ofinformation about ourpastors was also obtained from the library's files. All Scripture references in the book are from the NIV unless otherwise indicated. Please let me apologize in advance for any errors and omissions. This book began with a compilation of earlier histories written by Mrs. Nita Davis, Mrs. Kitty White and Mrs. Alice Woodard. Information was also obtained from history books of area churches and from West Chowan Association's history book. Carl Witt, local historian, gave us information on our prehistory and recommended that we include memories in our book. We fol- lowed his suggestion and many people contributed memories. Some were inter- viewed by Peggy Davis, Anne White and me and recorded on tape for later use. Other people wrote oftheir memories and sent them to us. We are grateful to all who helped in any way to make this book special. A special thank you goes toAlice Woodard, Peggy Davis and Jean Ricks, our history committee (each one essential to the writing of this book), who have done an outstandingjob preserving our history, both printed and photographed; to Kathleen Johnson, who worked to put our charter members in "family order," which in itself was a fascinating process; to my family and friends who have patiently listened to me talk on and on about our church history and have allowed me to use my time to complete this book; to Gurney O. Burgess, III, who drew the pen and ink pictures ofour stained glass windows that appear at the beginning of most chapters; to Bobby Taylor, who researched our stained glass window symbols which are featured in Chapter 8; to Carol Lowe, who shared her gift of photography so willingly; and to Betty Moore, who graciously applied her edit- ing and proofing skills to this book. I am grateful and thankful to each one ofyou and to those in my past who have influenced my life by your sharing of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our history is rich and wonderful, and I am grateful to God that he has put me in this place at this time. This book was written with love and I hope you will find itenjoyable, butfirst andforemost, I pray thatthis book will findfavorin the sight ofour Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! — Wanda R. Taylor (2005) Table of Contents Chapter 1 Our Roots (Dove) 6 Chapter 2 The Beginning (Rock) 1905-1929 10 Chapter 3 The Growing Church (Bible) 1930-1949 23 Chapter 4 Completing a HalfCentury (Wheat) 1950-1960 33 Chapter 5 A Step in Faith-Full Time Church (Keys) 1961-1969 41 Chapter 6 The Faithful Church (Crown) 1970-1979 52 Chapter 7 Our Haven ofRest (Noah'sArk) 1980-1984 62 Chapter 8 Our Stained Glass Memorial Windows 68 Chapter 9 A Church With a Vision (Chahce) 1985-1989 76 Chapter 10 Our Only Hope (Flowering Pomegranate) 1990-1994 84 Chapter 11 A Dream Come True (Star) 1995-1999 88 Chapter 12 The New Millennium (Ship) 2000-2004 96 Chapter 13 Our Centennial Celebration 2005 109 (BurstingPomegranate) Chapter 14 The Challenge 119 _ Chapter 15 Music Ministry (Harp) 125 Chapter 16 Sunday School (Cross,Anchor&OliveBranch) 133 WMU Chapter 17 Women and (Lamp) 136 Chapter 18 Brotherhood and Baptist Men (Ohve Branch) 140 Chapter 19 Charter Members (Anchor& Cross) 142 Chapter 20 Pastors ' (Goodshepherd) 146 Chapter 21 Constitution, Bylaws and Church Covenant 161 (TenCommandments) Chapter 22 Timeline and Bulletins 173 "CHOSEN VESSEL" by B. V. Cornwall The Master was searching for a vessel to use: Before Him were many, which one would He choose? "Take me," cried the gold one, "I'm shiny and bright, I'm ofgreat value and I do thingsjust right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest. And for someone like you. Master, gold would be best." The Masterpassed on with no word at all. And looked at a silver urn narrow and tall. "I'll serve you, dear Master, I'll pour out your wine, I'll be on your table whenever you dine. My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true. And silver will always complement you." Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass. Wide-mouthed and shallow and polished like glass. "Here! Here!" cried the vessel, "I know I will do. Place me on your table for all men to view." "Look at me," called the goblet ofcrystal so clear, "My transparency shows my contents so dear. Though fragile am I, I will serve you with pride. And I'm sure I'll be happy in your house to abide." The Mastercame next to a vessel ofwood. Polished and carved, it solidly stood. "You may use me, dear Master," the wooden bowl said, "But I'd rather you use me for fruit, not forbread." Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel ofclay. Empty and broken it helplessly lay. No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose To cleanse, and make whole, to fill and to use. "Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find. I'll mend it and use it and make it all mine. I need not the vessel with pride ofitself, Nor one that is narrow to sit on the shelf. Nor one that displays its contents so proud, Nor the one that thinks he can do all thingsjust right, But this plain earthen vessel filled with power and might. Then gently He lifted the vessel ofclay, Mended and clea—nsed it, and filled it that day. Spoke to it kindly "There's work you must do! Just pour out to others, as I pour into you." As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out ofthe water. At that moment heaven wasopened,and hesawtheSpiritofGoddescendinglikeadoveandHghtingonhim. (Matthew 3:16) ' Chapter 1 Our Roots Dove with nimbus The Spirit helps us in ourweal^ness. We do not know what weought to prayfor, but the Spirit himselfintercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind ofthe Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Romans 8:26-27) We must look to Roberts Chapel Church to find our roots because she is our mother church. As reported in their 1998 history and in Northampton Parishes by Henry Wilkins Lewis (1951), Roberts Chapel Baptist Church was originally located on the county road which leads from Boykins, Virginia, to Woodland in Northampton County, North Carolina, about one-fourth mile south from Woodard's Cross Road (Pendleton) and two and three-fourths miles north from Martin's Crossroad (Conway). There is evidence that there were four Anglican chapels in Northampton County as recorded on an early map in 1775. It is likely that one of those chapels, St. Paul's Chapel at Dawson's Mill, at which Abraham Stevens served as both clerk and sexton, is indeed what later became Roberts Chapel Church. Other sources report that Roberts Chapel's first building was a mis- sion chapel, built sometime prior to 1848, and was at that date "an old house." Evidence persists that "the old house" served in the colonial peri- od as a chapel of one of the state-supported Anglican parishes, long since abandoned. This parish was known as St. Paul's Parish, which most Hke- ly eventually became Roberts Chapel Church. The Methodist church began within theAnglican community. After the Revolution, the Anglican church struggled and reconstituted itself as the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1784, when the Methodist Church was constituted as a separate denomination, the Methodist Anglicans in St. Paul's Parish probably took the church as their own. From the post-Revolutionary time up to 1848 when Roberts Chapel became a Baptist denomination, it is thought that the Baptists and Methodists either metjointly or met on alternating weeks. Earlier histori- ans alluded to doctrinal disputes between the Baptists and the Methodists, with threejudges ruling in favor ofthe Baptists. The Methodists, claiming thejudges were biased, became angry and began gradually not to attend the services and finally gave up the chapel to the Baptists. Some say Roberts Chapel Church was named after the carpenter who built the first building and died from a fall off the new structure. Others say that the first building was a mission station given by Lord Granville to his subjects settling in this section of the county and that the name came from a family who lived nearby when all denominations wor- shiped there. Gradually, as there were more Baptists, the Methodists went to other area Methodist churches. The land was deeded to the Baptists by Silas Edwards. Nicholas Tyner, who owned all the land around, was said to have given the chapel. Roberts Chapel Baptist Church was constituted on the third Sunday in October, 1848, having thirty charter members. The church grew to 83 in number by the year 1854. During this time Roberts Chapel was a member of the Chowan Association. The clouds were gathering for the scourge of the Civil War. War, as horrible as predicted, came. It was noted by W.H. Stephenson in his "Roberts Chapel History" that the next years were among the most diffi- cult in the history of Northampton County and of the nation. Mr. Stephenson wrote of the "war stricken and poverty stricken" years. The Civil War began in 1861 and ended in 1865. 1865 was the year in which President Lincoln was assassinated, the Confederacy dissolved and slavery was outlawed. The records of Robert Chapel reveal that by 1868 most of the former slaves had left the church. It is recorded that the churches of the Chowan Association recov- ered quickly from the devastation of the war. Roberts Chapel was no exception and the church "grew in number and influence." On Tuesday, October 16, 1883, West Chowan Baptist Association was formed with 34 churches including Roberts Chapel making up the new association. A highlight of the year 1884 occurred when Roberts Chapel hosted in its new building the second annual meeting of the recently formed West Chowan Baptist Association. Roberts Chapel is the fourth oldest church in that association. The association meetings in the 1800's were BIG events. Our churches, spread so thinly over a large geographical area, considered the A association meetings to be the social event of the year. church hosting the meeting had a bigjob to do planning for the many messengers to be fed and housed up to three days. Getting to the association meetings was no easy task in those horse-and-buggy days. As early as the 1884 meeting, the association realized a state Baptist orphan's home was needed. They debated about building their own but decided to raise funds to donate to the N. C. Baptist Orphan's Home. As early as 1887 Roberts Chapel Church collected offerings for foreign, state and home missions, the Baptist Hospital and Mills Home. Charles W. Scarborough became the fourth pastor in 1886. Membership was greatly enlarged due to a ''more thorough work in a bet- ter Sunday School building." An historian's report for 1889 notes a dra- — matic change in church building design the inclusion of Sunday school (Sabbath) rooms, called infant classrooms, to their church houses. Up to this point, church buildings were mainly auditoriums used for worship services. Roberts Chapel was the first church in the association to build Sunday school classrooms. The role ofwomen in the church had been developing rapidly since the 1870's. Ladies Aid Societies were functioning. Women sang in the choir and taught in the Sabbath schools. The missionary zeal and leader- ship of the women of our churches is a history in itself. Temperance societies had been flourishing for a number of years. Some association historians indicate that alcohol abuse was a problem in as much as seventy percent of the church families. By 1890 sentiment against alcohol was so fervent that the rules were toughened to bar church- es from the association if they allowed members in their churches who manufactured, sold or consumed alcoholic beverages. In 1903 Roberts Chapel members wanted an organ, although "for a long time some of our members thought it sacrilegious to have any musi- cal instrument in church." A new pump organ was purchased for a total cost of $80.00. It was during Rev. Scarborough's pastorate that Roberts Chapel's membership was the largest. From that church many members took letters 8