MOUNTAIN REST BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY, Oconee County, SC A.K.A. C56 Double Springs Union Church, Mountain Rest, SC C58 Double Springs Baptist Church, Mountain Rest, SC Version 1.0, 30-Dec-2001, C127.TXT, C127 **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. **************************************************************** LOCATION: --------- HISTORY: -------- Churches have always been popular meeting places in our community. From the number of churches located in this area, one must realize that the majority of the residents are church-affiliated. In the early days, all-day singings with dinner on the ground were much looked forward to in the summer months. Revival meetings were held about laying-by time in July or August, and most who attended would experience a religious awakening. There would be baptizings held soon after the close of the revivals to bring into the "fold" the new converts. There were baptizing "holes" on several of the creeks in the area, and sometimes baptizing were held at Earles Ford on the Chattooga River and, in later years, in the local lakes. At Christmas there was always a play put on by youngsters of the church. A Christmas tree would be decorated with whatever could be rounded up at home strings of popcorn. We always drew names, and you got a gift for the person whose name you drew. Singing carols is still a favorite, with groups from some of the churches going door-to-door to the homes of the elderly and shut-ins. At Easter time all the mothers were busy making new outfits for the children to wear on Easter morning. It didn't matter whether Mom had a new dress or not, if the kids had something new. On Saturday afternoon, the day before Easter, all the children would gather at one neighbor's house for an Easter egg hunt. Mothers would save eggs to color for this occasion, and it was always fun whether you found a lot of eggs or not. Bert Robin's pasture and Albert Brown's grassy yard were places where egg hunts were held and are still held by churches in the community. Our church had its beginning when a small group of Baptist (C58) and Methodists (C60) joined together in 1858 to form the Double Springs Union Church (C56). During those early formative years, services were held in an old school building with itinerant preachers conducting the services. The two congregations worked Together to build the Double Springs Union Church, which was completed in 1868. By 1942 Baptist membership had grown to 30 members, and the deacons, with the support of the members, began planning a separate place of worship. A building plot a short distance from the Double Springs Union Church was donated in 1947, and the members started working toward the goal of building a church of their own. The Double Springs Baptist Church was built in 1951. Much of the work and materials for the church were donated by the members. In 1975 the Double Springs Baptist Church was renamed Mountain Rest Baptist Church (C127). Among other considerations, the name was intended to tie in the church more closely with the broader community she serves. As our church continued to grow, the need for more adequate facilities became more & more evident. A Long Range Planning Committee was elected to study the future needs of the church. It was recommended that a Building Committee be elected to plan the construction of a new church building, and that the site of the new church be changed to its present location in order to better serve the majority of the membership and the total community. Our beautiful Mountain Rest Baptist Church was built to the Glory of God and the service of all mankind, and it stands as a fine memorial to the Christian spirit and dedicated lives of all who share its history - past, present, and future! The new church was dedicated on April 12, 1981. DATAFILE INPUT . : ____________ at ____________ in _______ DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in _______ HISTORY WRITE-UP : Mountain Rest Community Club in 1984 LIBRARY REFERENCE: ____________ at ____________ in _______ LOCATION WRITE-UP: ____________ at ____________ in _______ TRANSCRIPTION .. : ____________ at ____________ in _______ TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: -------------------- a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife