ROCK SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY (1883), Pickens County, SC a.k.a. > Version: 3.0 Effective: 3-Aug-2006 Text File: P132.TXT Image Folder: P132 ******************************************************************************** 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 recording contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the following USGenWeb coordinator with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn (visit above website) SCGenWeb "Golden Corner" Project Coordinator Anderson: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scandrsn/ Oconee: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Pickens: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scpicke2/ DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Jul-2006 GPS MAPPING .... : Gary Flynn at (visit above website) in -2006 HISTORY ........ : ____________ at ____________ in _______ IMAGES ......... : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in -2006 RECORDING ...... : ____________ at ____________ in _______ ******************************************************************************** CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ > GPS = Latitude N x Longitude W CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ Brief History of Rock Spring's Baptist Church Rock Springs Baptist Church had its beginning in the hearts and minds of some of the Christian men and women in this community some 110 years ago. In 1882 these people worshipped in different homes. Services were usually held once or twice a month. They realized a permanent meeting place was needed. One of their first places was an old store located near Cedar Hill Apartments below our present church building: toward Plez-U. Mr. Jim Stegall gave a tract of land for a permanent church building. This land is located near the cedar tree at the entrance into Chadwick subdivision below our cemetery. A brush arbor was erected on this land and used by the people in the spring and summer of 1883. By September or October of that same year a wooden structure was built. The building was furnished with 12 wooded pews, a potbelly stove, an organ and pulpit on a dirt floor. A baptismal pool was built in the cold water stream located in the woods 300 yards across the road from our present day fellowship hall. Rock Springs Baptist Church was officially organized in the fall of 1883. The church called a circuit preacher by the name of Rev. D.C. Freeman to be their first pastor. In August of 1884 the church joined the Piedmont Baptist Association. At that time there were 122 members. During the first year 10 joined by baptism and five by letter. In 1904 a half acre of land was deeded to the church for parking and hitching buggies. The first building was used until 1904 when it was blown down by wind. Another building was erected in a few short months. The building-was used until 1922. In 1918 the church bought 2-1/2 acres located where our oldest existing structure is standing today. The third building was completed by 1922. The building is the front portion of our oldest building where our senior high youth meet for Sunday School today. Sunday School was organized in 1927. The membership increased from 122 in 1927 to 268 in 1930. The building was wired for lights in 1939. It was brick veneered in 1943. In 1948 two Sunday School classes were added on either side. This is where our junior high youth meet today. Also the auditorium was lengthened and a baptismal pool installed. In 1955, 10 new Sunday School classes, an assembly room and 2 indoor restrooms were added to the rear of the building. The present middle building, the auditorium we most recently vacated, was built in 1959. This was the fourth building. The membership was 538 in 1959. The rear addition to the middle building was built in 1968. This included the nursery downstairs, classrooms and an office upstairs. We went on radio in 1973 and are now on two stations every Sunday morning and one station on Sunday afternoon.. The land between our church and Highway 123 was purchased in 1977. Our present pastor. Rev. David Gallamore was called to Rock Springs and preached his first service on September 11, 1983. Two and one-third acres of land was purchased in 1985. This property is located where the pecan trees sit today. Rock Springs voted on January 18, 1987 to build its fifth building, our present sanctuary and adjacent rooms. The first service in this beautiful building was Easter Sunday, April 15, 1990. The church voted on November 17, 1991 to build a Preschool/Children's Education building and Family Life Center which were both completed in 1993. The church has purchased 3 parcels of land in the last several years. In August of 1994 the church voted to purchase a 20 acre tract and in June of 1995 the church voted to purchase a 10 acre tract. Then in February of 1997 the church again voted to purchase the 16.29 acre tract directly across from the church on the Rock Springs Road side. Our average Sunday School attendance is about 1300. We now have 3 worship services on Sunday morning and 2 Sunday Schools. The membership now is approximately 3,100. By: Unknown Author (maybe Ron Black) o----------o Rock Springs Baptist Church had its beginning in the hearts and minds of some of the Christian men and women in this community some 110 years ago. In 1882, these people worshiped in different homes. Services were usually held once or twice a month. They realized a permanent meeting place was needed. One of the first places was an old store, located near Cedar Hill apartments below our present church building toward Plez-U. Mr. Jim Stegall gave a tract of land for a permanent church building. This land is located near the cedar tree at the entrance into Chadwick Subdivision below our cemetery. A brush arbor was erected on this land and used by the people in the spring and summer of 1883. By September or October of that same year, a wooden structure was built. The building was furnished with 12 wooden pews, a potbelly stove, an organ, and a pulpit, on a dirt Floor. A baptismal pool was built in the cold water stream located in the woods 300 yards across the road from our present-day Fellowship Hall. Rock Springs Baptist Church was officially organized in the fall of 1883. The church called a circuit preacher by the name of Rev. D. C. Freeman to be their first pastor. In August 1884, the church joined the Piedmont Baptist association. At that time, there were 122 members; and, during the first year, ten joined by baptism and five joined by letter. In 1904, a half-acre of land was deeded to the church for parking and hitching buggies. The first building was used until 1904 when it was blown down by wind. Another building was erected in a few short months. The building was used until 1922. In 1918, the church bought 2.5 acres located where our oldest existing structure is standing today. The third building was completed by 1922. This building is the front portion of our oldest building. Sunday School was established in 1927. The membership increased from 122 in 1927 to 268 in 1930. The building was wired for lights in 1939. It was brick veneered in 1943. In 1948, two Sunday School classes were added on either side. Also, the auditorium was lengthened and a baptismal pool installed. In 1955, ten new Sunday School classes, an assembly room, and two Indoor restrooms were added to the rear of the building. The present middle building, the auditorium we most recently vacated was built in 1959. This was the fourth building. The membership was 538 in 1959. The rear addition to the middle building was built in 1968. This included the nursery downstairs, classrooms, and an office upstairs. We went on radio in 1973, and are now on two stations every Sunday morning and one station on Sunday afternoon. The land between our church and Highway 123 was purchased in 1977. Our present pastor, Rev. David Gallamore, was called to Rock Springs and preached his first service on September 11, 1983. Two and 1/3 acres of land was purchased in 1985. This property is located where the pecan trees sit today. Rock Springs voted on January 18, 1987, to build its fifth building, our present sanctuary and adjacent rooms. The first service in this beautiful building was Easter Sunday, April 15, 1990. The church voted on November 17, 1991, to build a Preschool/ Children's Education Building and Family Life Center, both of which were completed in 1993. The church has purchased three parcels of land in the last several years. In August 1994, the church voted to purchase a 20 acre tract, and in June 1995, the church voted to purchase a 10 acre tract. Then, in February 1997, the church again voted to purchase the 16.29 acre tract directly across from the church on Rock Springs roadside. On Sunday, March 25, 2001, an artist rendering of the proposed new worship center was presented to the congregation. The proposed new auditorium will seat 3,200. Sunday, April 28, 2002, the church held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new worship center. Construction began in August 2002 and should be completed within sixteen to twenty-two months. Our average Sunday School attendance is 1,300. We now have three worship services on Sunday mornings and two Sunday Schools. The membership now is approximately 3,500. Pastors Include: 1. D.C. Freeman 2. J. Thomas Looper 3. J.E. Foster 4. W. Johnson Sheriff 5. H.O. Martin 6. S.A. McDaniel 7. J.L. Vass 8. J.T. Singlton 9. H.H. Mace 10. Jimmy T. Wrenn 11. R.G. Joiner 12. John Wickliffe Cannon 13. John N. Wrenn 14. T.A. Drake 15. J. Essley McJunkin 16. Clarence Chastain 17. J. Essley McJunkin 18. Carl Cullette 19. 0scar W.Dodd 20. Homer Couch 21. Marion T. Hudgens 22. David Gallamore By: Piedmont Baptist Association 2003 TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife