NASH COUNTY, NC - CHURCH - Lee's Chapel Baptist Church History ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Rev. Al Stefanelli alstefanelli@yahoo.com ==================================================================== CELEBRATING 175 YEARS, 1825 - 2000 In approximately 1820, a Mr. Lee who owned many acres of land in the community where the church sits, gave five of those acres to a group of people who were interested in organizing a Missionary Baptist Church. The church, a one room frame structure, was erected, and given the name "Lee's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church" in honor of Mr. Lee, who donated the land. This building was also used as a school. The church records date back to June of 1825. Bud Bunn was the first church clerk, and he filled that position for the eighteen year period between 1825 and 1843. Unfortunately, there is no record for a pastor for the first two years the church was organized. In June of 1826 Lee's Chapel adopted a set of rules that were called the "Rules Of Decorum", which they were governed by until the adoption of the church constitution many years later. Although they seem very outdated, these rules were obeyed 175 years ago by our founding members! The first pastor of record was Rev. L.B. Horton, in 1827. On May 18, 1844, in church conference, Joseph N. Taylor, who was the clerk at the time, submitted the preamble and constitution which was prepared by the committee under the leadership of Rev. Ellen Mecoms, who served the church for twenty three years. The constitution was adopted. The church records do not give us the exact year, but in approximately 1860 the original building was sold to Mr. Zaac Driver who moved it to another location. A new one room frame church was built. In 1861 a resolution was passed allowing females to vote for their Pastor. On July 20th, 1918 the church granted 21 members letters of dismissal for the purpose of organizing a new church at Hales School House. In 1921 the church purchased another acre of land from Mr. G.G. Driver as an addition to the cemetery. The third Sunday in June of 1925, the church celebrated it's 100th anniversary. In 1934 the church was renovated. The front of the church, which then faced Old Raleigh Wilson Rd., was completely turned around and made to face Taylors Mill Rd. Sunday School rooms were added, and soon afterward new pulpit furniture and a new communion set was purchased. Since 1950, a heating system has been added, new furniture has been purchased, the library has been added to, partitions have been installed, the choir loft had been renovated, the ceiling had been recovered in celotex, the parking lot has been resurfaced, and the fellowship hall was added. The church is now 175 years old, there are approximately 130 resident members and about 180 on the membership rolls. Lee's Chapel Baptist Church 14551 Taylor's Mill Rd., Middlesex, NC 27557