We bow in humble thanks to God for more than a century of progress.

The history of Lowndes Hill Baptist Church reveals many mountain top experiences. These great events were the results of God’s leadership of a dedicated people. The aim and mission of Lowndes Hill Baptist Church is to carry out the great commiss ion of our Lord as recorded in Matthew 28: 19—20. This we shall do through worship, prayer, God’s spoken word, stewardship, teaching, training, mission activities, music and fellowship in Christian love.

Lowndes Hill Baptist Church was born in 1871, beginning with a little group of six members : Alex and Stacy James , Billy and Harriett Booker, and Jack and Mary Elijah. Undaunted by wars, sorrow, hardship and privation, this little group sang a hymn followed by prayer in a little old log cabin. This was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alex James , the grandparents of Mrs. Ella Thomas and Mrs. Emma Byrd. As God would have it, through loyalty , sincerity and steadfastness on the part of “this little group”, prayer meetings were started. The meetings were held twice a week on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons. To these meetings people came, walking miles to be in attendance.

Thus, as the membership of ‘this little group’ increased, there was the need for more and better accommodations . So a church was built out of slabs with homemade benches for pews. Yes , in a house located in an old field near Henderson’s Supermarket off By-Pass 291, across from the Textile Hall, a church was born. Rev. Ansum Fuller served as pastor for four years (1871-1875) with Jack Elijah and Billy Booker serving as the first Deacons.

In 1889, the church was erected by the Rev. J. O. Allen. It was dedicated in June 1908. The dedication sermon was preached by the Rev. Cal of Columbia, South Carolina. The land on which this church was built was purchased from Jack and Mary Elijah and it stood a little above the place where the church now stands. After some time, under the leadership of Rev. J. O. Allen, a second church was built on the present site with slabs from a nearby sawmill. The first plank sills used in the construction of the building were carried by Mrs. Betty Thompson on one end and Mrs. Julia Smith on the other. Only one aisle was provided for in that church.

Fortunately, on this purchased property there was a spring, the water of which was used for drinking. Below this spring was a pond in which the candidates for membership were baptized. After some years had passed, the church decided to set a special day or time of year for baptismal services: the third Sunday in September. The order of the procession to the pool, or pond, was led by the minister, followed by the candidates, the deacons and then the congregation. They marched two by two, singing “Take Me To The Water” and ‘ ‘Let’s Go Down To The Jordan. The pond of Mrs. Amanda Poole and Mr. Frank Ware, the father of Mrs. Hortense Walker and Mrs. Gertrude Smith, was the scene for these events. This pond is now known as Woods Lake .

The church got its name from Mr. & Mrs. Thomas O. Lowndes. The Lowndes also gave the Lowndes Hill Road its name. On the lower side of the church several attempts were made to supply water, but due to the loose texture of the soil this effort failed. There were unsanitary conditions too, that made the water unsafe for drinking. So, they decided to dig a well across the road which served their needs quite well for a long time. The water from this well was drawn by means of a bucket, a pulley and a chain. Later, the church, through the church board, decided to sell this piece of property on which the well was located. The money from the sale was used to rid the church of an indebtedness owed for covering pews. The city now supplies water to the church.

HEAT The first church was heated by a wood burning heater. After a time, this type heater was replaced by a coal burning stove with joints of pipes extending across the church, held in place with wire attached to the ceiling. Mrs. Josie Fleming donated a circulating heater. Later came the oil furnace and now the gas furnace.

LIGHTS Kerosene lamps were used for lighting the church. They were placed around the walls. Later came the gasoline lamps with mantles which had to be pumped up with air. This system was changed and was called the DELCO SYSTEM. A motor was placed under the church to provide power for the lamps which lighted the church. After that came electric lights.

One of the most interesting features of the church was the revival meeting. This usually began the third Sunday in August and continued through a period of two weeks. These services included prayer, praise and preaching. At the close of the sermon, the doors of the church were opened for new members. The third Sunday in September was the time for all candidates to be baptized. They were to stand facing the congregation and give the right hand of fellowship to the church, with the congregation marching around and singing, “EVERYBODY IS GOING TO MAKE YOU WELCOME.

Another interesting feature was the Lord’ s Supper or Communion. The wine was made by some member of the community. The ladies, usually a deacon’s wife, would cook bread without salt or soda. This was called unleavened bread. Everyone used practically the same glass for drinking the wine. There were no Communion sets such as we have today. Some of the ladies who prepared the bread and wine were; Mrs. Dora Goldsmith, Mother Lula Mims, Mrs. Minnie Byrd, Mrs. Sunnie Mims and Mrs. Burnese Henderson. Today, the Lord’s Supper is prepared by the Deaconess of the church.

Seventy-five dollars was the price paid for a bell that was purchased from Carolina Supply Company of Greenville, through Tom Inglesby. At that time Louis Ray was janitor of Lowndes Hill Church. He would ring the bell, which could be heard for miles around, each Sunday at 9:00am to notify the people of Sunday School and Church Services. Somehow, ringing the bell cracked it and it had to be taken down by Mr. I. A. Brockman and others and replaced by another one from the Carolina Supply Company .

The means of communication was limited. There was no telephone in the church. Automobiles were few in number ; therefore, community messages were sent by people walking, riding on horseback or on buggies and wagons . Men and boys would mount their horses and go from house to house spreading important news, both good and bad, and at times, shocking and distressing. A number of people living in remote areas could not be reached easily; therefore, if a funeral was to be held on a certain day, the bell would ring early that morning. It would cease ringing for a few seconds, then ring again, striking the hour of the funeral . If the funeral was to be held at two, the bell would ring two times.

When the church was destroyed by fire, the community was notified by a continuous ringing of the bell. The bell was a great asset to the community. Somehow it was misplaced and the church is without a bell today. Because of the increasing congregation, the church contracted with Will Sewell to build additions to two sides of the building. This was another great accomplishment for the church.

There are many living testimonies to the value of sacred and beautiful music. Music is beautiful and awakens a deep sense of reverence in one’s soul. There was a time in our church, when an element of our membership rebelled against the innovation of any musical instruments . Some members had the idea that any kind of musical instrument was worldly and was simply an instrument of the devil.

As was then the fashion, the preacher would read two lines of a hymn at the top of his voice. They called this “giving out a hymn” or “lining a hymn” . Then, the congregation sang from memory and calmly waited for the minister to read two more stanzas. The effort was a chopped up rendering of what should have been a continuous melody. When hymn books came into general use, this method of lining out hymns was sidetracked. For a long time, in country and small town churches the music was altogether vocal.

Rev. J. O. Gordon, along with his two sisters, Bertha and Henrietta, organized the first singing choir at Lowndes Hill. The choir rendered music for several years. After Rev. Gordon entered the ministry and resigned from the choir, Ernest Cloudy became the leader. Some other leaders were: Mr. Hudson Vaughns, Mr. Blake Johnson, Mr. Huff, Mr. Teagues, Mr. Baker, Mr. Woodlaw, Mr. George Gray, Mr. Blassengame, Mr. Richard Johnson and Charlie Arnold. When Mr. Richard Johnson was choir leader, a group decided to buy a pump or pedal organ. Among that group was: Emma Fowler, Emma Byrd, Ella Thomas, Minnie Byrd and Charles Henderson.

Today, (1997) there are six choirs at Lowndes Hill. They are: The Chancel Choir, The Male Chorus, The Gospel Choir, The W. T. Radden Choir, The Youth Choir and The Sunbeam/ Junior Choir.

After the church land was purchased from Jack Elijah, a section was used for burial ground. No one paid for grave lots or for digging of graves. The graves were dug voluntarily by the men of the community. The first person to be buried in Lowndes Hill Cemetery was Mrs. Mary Wilson, the wife of Mr. Alfred Wilson. The dead were transported to the church and cemetery in a wagon drawn by mules. Among the first graveyard sextons were: T. H. Goldsmith, Sam Brown, J.M. Byrd and Larry Brockman.

In 1971, Mrs. Rosa Mary Durham help organize a cemetery committee. Willie Henderson was President; Rose Benson was Secretary; Mildred Thompson was Treasurer. Lula McBee, Ophelia Crouch and William McBee also served as committee members. Today, the care and upkeep of the cemetery is handled through the Trustees of the church.

Near December 25th, the members would meet at the church, usually in the evenings to share the generous fruits of a Sunday School Christmas Tree. In addition, the parents of the children attended, together with a number of their friends. The opening hymn, usually “Joy to the World, was sung and prayer offered. The superintendent and some other person would make a few remarks concerning the birth of Christ, then another hymn was sung. The tree stood forth in all its beauty with thickly clustered fruits and three men were selected to appraise it. A few moments were then spent in admiring the tree, and then the joy of distribution was begun. Many eager little hearts were gladened by the gifts which were showered upon them. Everyone received some token of esteem and affection.

On December 31st, the members would gather for Watch Night Services and watch for the coming of the New Year. They would sing, pray and testify . Today, the church observes watchnight jointly with two other churches; Rock Hill # I and Enoree Fork Baptist Church.

As stated by Mr. Silas Byrd, Mrs. Ella Thomas and Mrs. Hattie Nix:

When there was a death in the community (1895), men of the church would put picks and shovels on their shoulders, go to the cemetery and volunteer to dig the grave. The deceased was measured, the men would go to the lumber companies, buy the lumber and make the coffin. Some were lined, some were not. The coffin had no handles. It was carried by hand sticks cut from dogwood trees that was allowed to dry out and season. The deceased were carried to the church in a wagon drawn by two mules. The children, as many as possible, would sit in the wagon on top of the coffin; other members of the family and friends would walk behind the wagon carrying the deceased, sometimes for miles and miles. Funeral homes were not known. The dead was bathed and dressed in the homes. The bed was taken down, carried out of the house, washed with soap and hot water. The clock was stopped at the hour of death, all mirrors in the house were covered, and salt was put in a saucer and put on the stomach of the deceased to keep the body from swelling because there was no embalming.

Because of the inconvenience of handling, the deceased was not carried in the church, but remained in the wagon. Family and friends would go in the church and the preacher would preach the funeral. Then the deceased was carried to the cemetery and lowered in the grave with ropes and hand sticks. No box was used to put the coffin in. A few planks were put on top of the coffin, then covered with dirt.

Among those buried in the first cemetery were the twin brothers of Mrs. Ella Thomas and Mrs. Emma Byrd (Alex and Andy Bates) .

Lowndes Hill Rosenwald School was built in 1930 and got its name from the church and Julius Rosenwald, a philanthropist and the son of a Jewish peddler. In 1917, he established what was known as “Julius Rosenwald’s Fund” for building rural schoolhouses. Being impressed by this information, the trustees and the Lowndes Hill Community decided to deed to the county two acres of land for school purposes. After the school was built, many fruitful years followed for both children and adults.

Consolidation of many schools took place. There was an increase in the enrollment of pupils and the number of teachers in the school. The length of the terms was also increased. The work of the fund in Southern education stressed four programs: the building of schools, the provision for library purposes, the education of teachers and the development of strategic centers of higher learning for Negroes. After serveral years of progress, it was decided by the Board of Education that the school should be moved to another area. The two acres of land was repossessed for $800. The following deacons, by order of the church, made the transaction: J.M. Byrd, Lee Henderson and Clarence Harrison.

Education in the rural South was appalling. The schoolhouses, which had been erected were few and poor. Classes were held in churches, abandoned huts and lodge halls. Often, these buildings were in bad need of repair. The roofs leaked, cold and rain came through gaps and spaces between the rough boards of the floors and walls. Many children walked for miles over rough and bad roads to get to these schools, to shiver in their threadbare clothes as they repeated their lessons. During the cold season when the unheated building became unbearable , it was not uncommon to build a fire outside to warm icy fingers and feet.

Frequently, the buildings and grounds were cluttered and dirty and bare of equipment. There was little in the way of furniture, blackboards, desks and textbooks. Children were lucky to find benches on which to sit. Many of these had no back support and were so high that many of the smaller pupils feet dangled above the floor.

Under these conditions, many Negro youngsters did not attend school . In all the South, there was not a single standard eighth grade rural Negro public school. The schools, such as they were, were opened for an average of four months a year. The teachers who presided over them had an average training of an eighth or nineth grade student and received an annual salary of about $150. Negro trustees were; Mr. Sam Brown, Mr. L. D. Duckett and Mr. T. H. Goldsmith.

The B. Y. P. U. (Baptist Young People’s Union) was organized in 1918 by Professor J. H, Chapman.

The following members were enrolled: Ophelia Goldsmith, Lillie Bates, Lula Goldsmith, Willie Mae Byrd, Lucile Byrd, Bertha Goldsmith, Versie Wood and Lydia Wood.

Lula McBee organized the County Y. W. A. Association under Rev . N.J. Brockman, Moderator of the Men’ s County Association. The Sunbeams were organized by Lula McBee in 1931, and they have been active for many years. The Cradle Roll was organized by Rev. G. W. Wilburn, Superintendent of the Sunday School, with Lula McBee, Louise Chaney and Ethel Duckett serving as assistants.

Lowndes Hill Baptist Church has been blessed with many great pastors down through the years . Unfortunately, very little, if no information was available on the early pastors. * (A complete list of pastors is located in this history report.)

The sixteenth pastor was Rev. H. W.D. Stewart, who served for twenty-three years. During or shortly after his administration, a new roof was put on the church. Twenty seven pews were bought. Two committee rooms, a basement, a heating plant and a room for baptizing were added. Three deacons were added, namely: Harold Duckett, Ruben Arnold and J.D. Sullivan. In 1947 the pastor was given a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark by Lowndes Hill and Welfare Baptist Churches.

On February 28, 1952 the church was destroyed by fire, which brought sorrow to the members and friends, both black and white. The pastor, at the time, was attending a meeting in San Antonio, Texas. When he arrived here, he called the church members together and discussed plans for raising money to rebuild the church. Worship services were held in the nearby school building. On March 8, 1952 a banquet was held at the home of the pastor as a kick-off for the first financial goal. The following words were uttered for consolation: “Be still sad hearts and cease weeping, for behind the dark cloud the sun is still shining”. For three years, the members struggled to rebuild the church.

During the administration of Rev. Stewart, Lula McBee was chosen as financial secretary; Ophelia Crouch was elected kitchen supervisor; and Hortense Walker was made president of the Pastor’s Aid Club. During this time, two deacons were added to the board, John H. Walker and Sphere Scott. Deacon Noah Crouch joined by letter and was added to the deacon board. J.M. Byrd and L. D. Duckett were made honorary deacons.

On Sunday, June 19, 1955, the members marched into the new church for dedication services. The sermon was delivered by Rev. S.C. Campbell of Detroit, Michigan. On June 17, 1956 services for laying a cornerstone were conducted by Rev. Prince Riley.

The new church consisted of a main auditorium with an organ and piano, a pastor’s study, a ladies room, a financial room and a choir room. The downstairs area contained an auditorium, six Sunday School rooms, a kitchen, dining room, baptizing pool, restrooms and some beautiful pictures which were given by Mrs. Emma Byrd. The pictures portray Christ from the cradle to the cross and His resurrection.

The seventeeth pastor, Rev. Otis O. Pickett, was pastoring in Nashville, Tennessee when he was called to pastor Lowndes Hill. Rev. Pickett came as an energetic, inspiring man, with a keen and progressive mind. He preached his first sermon as pastor on the third Sunday in November of 1966. He served from 1966 to 1973. The church was experiencing what might be termed as a plight in the wilderness. It was troubled and low in spirit. It had to be God’s will that he came to Lowndes Hill, for just such a time as this. The church had a mortgage of $8,000 and a note of $1,000 on the Hammond Organ. The basement was incomplete and needed furnishing. The heating system was inadequate . The church was disorganized with less than enough money in the treasury to take care of current expenses. Rev. Pickett reorganized the church and rekindled the spirit of fellowship. He carpeted the floors, installed a new heating system and burned the mortgage in less than six years. He completed and furnished the Sunday School department, reorganized the Missionary Society, established and named five circles into functioning units, completely landscaped the yard and added 142 members to the church . He worked and was successful in getting a waterline to the church.

Rev. Pickett was very concerned about the children, so much so, that he had the church to designate the second Sunday in June as SUNBEAM DAY, and all money on this day was given to the church. On the second Sunday in December, the Sunbeams presented a Christmas program to raise money for needy children in foreign countries. Family nights were set up for each Sunday which added greatly to the church spiritually and financially.

During Rev. Pickett ‘s administration, five deacons were added; Brothers Willie Henderson, Early Evans, Thomas McBee , Clarence Harrison and George Redmond. Also , three preachers were sent out; Rev. Alvin Henderson, Rev . Randolph Hawkins and Rev. John Black. Lowndes Hill grew and prospered. The church went on full services and purchased a 45 passenger bus. Then, in memory of the late Mrs. Emma Byrd, the Tree of Life Club purchased a pulpit set and a microphone for the church.

The eighteeth pastor of the church was Rev. Earl -Lewers, who served from 1974 to 1978. Under his leadership, a three-floor educational building with more office and classroom space was added onto the church, but only two of the floors was used. One of the highlights of the Spring of 1975 was a visit by the members of the church to Washington Street Baptist Church in Bedford, Virginia for the 29th Annual Men’s Day Program, Rev. Alvin Henderson, Pastor.

In rethinking the program of Lowndes Hill, these were organized or reorganized: the Male Chorus, Young Adult Choir, Junior Choir, Young Peoples Usher Board, Officers Training Program, Building Committee, Nurses Aid, Floral Committee, Bible Study Group, Youth Workshop, Youth Choir and Sunbeam Choir.

Also, during this time a church van was purchased and the church membership increased.

During Rev. Lewers administration, four deacons was added-Thomas Javey , Leroy Duckett, Douglas Hawkins and James Ferguson.
In 1978, Rev. Lewers left Lowndes Hill and started Open Heart Baptist Church. We lost some of our members to Open Heart Church.

The nineteeth pastor of the church was Rev. Willie T. Radden, who served from 1978 to 1995. At that time, the church was more than ninety thousand ($90, 000.00) in debt, but with the grace of God, in seven and three fourth years, the mortgage debt was liquidated. During Rev. Raddens administration, eleven (I l) men were asked to serve and later ordained as deacons; Charles Brockman, Tommie Brooks Jr. , Willie Dawson Sr., Thomas Duckett , Eugene Harrison, Kenneth Harrison, Jones B. Lloyd, Levonia (Tony) Owens, Fred Stephens, Harold Young and Ricky Young. Also under his leadership, the following preachers were sent out to preach and do the will of God; Rev. Kenneth R. Harrison, the late Rev. Sis. Carrie McCants and Rev. Phillip Baldwin.

Plans and ideas to renovate the church was initiated while Rev. Radden was pastor, but it was not started until January 15, 1996. Rev. Radden had retired as pastor, a year earlier, on January 7 , 1995. He died in a car accident on February 25, 1996.

The twentieth and present pastor, at the time of this history update, is Rev. Dr. Edward D. Brantley. Upon his arrival, Lowndes Hill Church has been spiritually uplifted. With the Divine Grace of God, the pastors dynamic leadership and the dedicated congregation, within the very first year of Rev. Brantley’s administration, the church was completely renovated with the completion of the third floor. The renovation work was done by Irick Construction Company and was started on January 15, 1996. During the renovation, our services were held several months each at Beck Academy and Rock Hill Baptist Church # l.

The Lord then blessed us to return to our newly renovated church on Sunday, August 18, 1996 for Homecoming Day Services. We began the day with Sunday School and then a spirit-filled message from God, delivered through Pastor Brantley. He spoke from Luke 15 : 8—10 and Galatians 5: 22—26 and his subject was “Its Time To Sweep The House”. That afternoon at 3:00pm, our hearts were blessed and souls uplifted with the message coming from the Rev. Dr. C. S. Sanders of the Pilgram Rest Baptist Church of Greenville SC.

The dedication services for the renovation was held December 10— 13, 1996 with the son’s of the church preaching the Word of God. They were; Dr. N.J. Brockman, Rev. Kenneth Harrison, Rev. Randolph Hawkins and Rev . Phillip Baldwin. On Sunday, December 15, 1996 the official services was held with Dr. John T. Berry, Pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church and Moderator of the Enoree River Baptist Association, as the guest speaker. His subject was, “The Challenge To Build on The Rock”.

Pastor Brantley not only came in preaching the Word of God, but he also came in teaching the Word of God. He held workshops for all auxiliaries of the church. As the membership increased, he started a New Members Class for all who joined the church. He revived Prayer Service and Bible Study. He started Children’s Church during the morning service. He started a Tape (CD) Ministry, recording and distributing copies of the services. He set up the fourth Sunday of each month as Youth Day, where the youth of the church could take a more active part in the church. He also led the Deacons in serving as Worship Leaders during the morning worship service, one month at a time. In addition, a Deacon’s Family Ministry, Girl Scouts, Junior Missionary Organization, and Couples and Singles Ministries have been formed among other endeavors.

The members of Lowndes Hill, have this church simply because our predecessors appreciated and cherished it. They gave it width, they gave it depth, they gave it length and they gave it life. Their quick hands raising the lifeless bricks, their hopeful eyes reflecting their fathers visions and lending them in turn to their children. Their finite minds grasped after the Almighty God and His encompassing Word of Truth. This church is the product of the people, the persons, the individuals, not only those in the forefront whose names are sprinkled through out the pages of this history, but all of those who have served and are still serving in still, quiet and supporting ways.

Standing on the faith and strength of its early pastors and members, Lowndes Hill Baptist Church’s present congregation “presses toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14), continuing to preach and teach the unadulterated Word of God and serving its own, as well as the community.

Lowndes Hill Baptist Church has been a beacon of light in Greenville for over one hundred forty six years, and, God willing, led by its current pastor, Dr. Edward D. Brantley, will continue its godly heritage in many more years of worship and service.

As the Lord continue to bless us, we continue to celebrate the many historic years of Lowndes Hill Baptist Church. We are here at this point in history simply because of God’ s Grace and Love, worshipping with our families and many friends. So, we close, at this time, with the words of John 4:24, “God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” GOD BLESS LOWNDES HILL BAPTIST CHURCH.