Humble Beginnings

 

Jesus said “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Matthew 16: 18 

                                                                                                                                           

Fifteen members from the Healing Springs Baptist Church met and constituted Mt. Calvary Baptist Church on June 21, 1856. Reverend J. J. Ray was called to be the first pastor; he walked from Healing Springs to Mt. Calvary and was paid in produce for his preaching, if he was paid at all. Wilson J. Hair gave three acres of land for a church yard and burying ground.

Members of the church met under a brush arbor for several years before building the first church. During the early years, times were hard and at one time the church treasury consisted of only $3.50; money was scarce and people worked hard for a living.

Mt. Calvary Baptist Church has grown from fifteen people meeting under a brush arbor to over 250 members with a beautiful sanctuary and social hall complete with stained glass windows. In 2002, we built an educational building which is where our Sunday School classes for all ages are held along with a nice pastor's study and our choir room.  We have a church parsonage available for the pastor and his family across the road from the church. Children and adults both enjoy playing church league softball on our softball field that was built in 1980 which is complete with a concession stand and playground equipment for the children to enjoy. In recent years, we have acquired some land next to the church and have increased the size of our cemetery. The original one-room schoolhouse is the future home of a museum.

The first annual Homecoming and Harvest Day were held on a Thursday in October of 1937, some years later Harvest Day was held on Saturdays of each year. In 1960, a big change came when it was decided to have Harvest Day on the last Sunday in October of every year. This is a tradition that we continue with today, as we come together to worship, fellowship and enjoy a meal of bar-b-cue just as members did in 1937. 

We have many different social activities that we enjoy as a church family such as the Easter Cantata, Easter Sunrise Service (the first sunrise service was held in 1964), and Children’s Christmas Musical. Vacation Bible School has been held every year since the first Bible School was held in 1955.  We also enjoy an annual peanut boil (the first peanut supper was held in 1967) and ice cream social, as well as caroling at Christmas.

We believe that music touches the soul and can comfort those who hear it and wishing to make a daily Christian impact on the community. If you happen to be near our church, you just may happen to hear the Schulmerich chimes that were donated in 1994 as they ring out in song.

Mt. Calvary Baptist Church will celebrate its 159^th year on June 21, 2015. We have made many changes through the years, but we also continue with some of the original traditions. We pray that our light will continue to shine throughout the community.