Holden Chapel Missionary Baptist Church history represents faith, hope, and a strong
determination by its member to make instrumental changes in our church, families
and community.
The story you are about to read was recanted by Mrs. Plessie Moore and Mrs.
Ruth Earles. They recall vividly the "Old Days" and were gracious enough to offer
a very factual recollection of Holden Chapel down through the years. This invaluable
data was organized by the yearbook staff and Alice Suber, the Past and Present.
Holden Chapel Baptist had its beginning as a brush harbor, and a later a parcel
of land was donated by G.W. Holden on February 17, 1898. To the following trustees:
Broadus Whieside, David Foster, and Thomas Lyles.
A plank building was erected on a site beside the road in the front of then
present church. Some of the recorded Deacons that served on the board were Ben Lyles,
Cletus Whiteside, John Bobo, Joe Worthy, Reta Thompson, Berry Thompson, Elijah Young,
Oliver Wilkins, Ben Hughes, Frank Butler, Milton Walker and Lemmie McDowell. Mr.
Berry Thompson serves as a superintendent of the church for many years and walked
from Spartanburg and back home each Sunday. The late Ervin Brewton and Deacon Elijay
Young also served as superintendent. Other deacons that followed were Taft Lewis,
Lewis McDowell and Matthew Miller.
The recorded ministers that pastered the Church in its early beginnings were
Reverend Gamble, Reverend Wheeler, Reverend McCluster, Reverend Dillard, Reverend
Davis, Reverend L.C. Duncan and Reverend Aubrey Duncan. Holden Chapel was fortunate
in that its ministers were men of faith who rendered many years of service.
Reverend D.A. Shell was elected pastor and realized Holden Chapel needed a new
building to worship in. A new church was erected and much of the work was conducted
by the following members: A.D. Dodd, B.T. Young, John Brewton, Joe Free and Duffie
McDowell. The Church was erected at 2260 Old Furnace Road and has remained at this
site since.
The Reverend D.A. Shell resigned and the Church was without a pastor for a short
period of time. It was during this time that Dr. J.R. Whitmore came to us and preached
on the Fifth Sunday as a trial sermon and was elected. An educational building and
a dining hall was added to the Church under his leadership.
In February 1972, the Church was leveled by fire. As the church burned, Dr.
J.R. Whitmore remarked as he and some of the members watched as the building was
being consumed, "The building was burned, but not the church." The congregation
assembled in Fosters Grove School House where service was held for r a few months.
In December of the same year, Revival was held and was most successful.
When the church was rebuilt, a kitchen, dining room and an educational building
were added by Deacon Suber, Deacon Foster, Deacon Smith, Deacon Lowrance, Deacon
Joe Free and other faithful servants. Reverend B.J. Watt was the builder. Deacons
at that time were Deacon Joe Free, Sr, Deacon Duffie Mcdowell, Deacon J.W. Gentry,
the late Deacon W.C. Landrum, Deacon Frank Suber, Deacon A.L. Williams, Deacon Rookard
Williams, the late Deacon David Brown, the late Deacon Howard Foster, and Chairman,
Deacon Harold Dodd. Recorded ministers that were ordained from our Church are the
late Reverend A.D. Dodd, Reverend Nelson, Reverend Mills, Reverend Hugh Hawkins,
Reverend Vuke McDowell, Reverend Robert Bivens, the late Reverend H.T. Dodd, Reverend
David Moore, Reverend Stevenson Reed, Reverend Bobby Hogue, Reverend Hiti Dodd,
late Rayford Means.
Presently, 14 Deacons, 16 Trustess, 25 Deaconness' and approximately 300 members
make up the Holden Chapel Missionary Baptist Church family. Through the loyalty
and untiring dedication of its members and friends, Holden Chapel has sustained
and met the challenge to uplift our Lord and Savior. For this we give thanks and
praise to our Lord and Savior.
The fact that Holden Chapel Missionary Baptist Church has graduates scattered
throughout the world makes even more vivid to us the image of this earth as a spaceship
in which we are all still holding their banner high for God.
"Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it." Matthew 17:18.
