A Godly Heritage

As they grew, the church needed a larger meeting place. Mrs. Sam (Ellen) Morrell, mother-in-law of Rev. Vince Oliver, gave the land on which the present church sets in 1907. This area was known as the Morrell School District No. 10. Our parsonage, built in 1953, is located on the site where the school once set. The first church building was built on the present location in July 1907. Between 1921 and 1925, the original building was moved to a nearby farm; a new building was constructed, which is our present auditorium. In the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, the building was bricked, and the classroom wings were added. The auditorium was remodeled in the mid ’70s. The men in the church started building our Fellowship Hall in 1980, completing it in 1984.

In 1992, the baptistery was installed “In Memory of Nellie Jordan.” The steeple was placed “In Memory of Addie Prosser” in 1993. In 1998, the stained glass window behind the baptistery was placed “In Memory of Elise Gibbs” by her family. A new piano was placed in the sanctuary in honor of Buck and Bonnie Tolson in 2004.

John Horton, a FWB Minister from Lynchburg, began preaching on the fourth Sunday of the month in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Morrell in 1905; they sometimes met in his tobacco barn shelter. This location was about two miles west of Timmonsville. They continued meeting in homes for at least a year with Bro. Horton conducting the services. The homes included those of Vince Oliver, R.J. Welch, and Frank Singletary. Rev. J.B. Oliver led the small group to organize the church in July 1906 and became the first pastor. It was named Bay Branch Free Will Baptist Church. Bay Branch became a member of the South Carolina Conference on October 26, 1906. Charter members included Harley Welch, David Welch, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben James Welch, Lucy Welch, Lizzie Lee, Hampton Lee, Sam Lee, Mr. and Mrs. William Neal, and Carrie Welch. Reuben James Welch and William Neal were the first deacons. Harley Welch was the first treasurer/clerk.