OUR HISTORY
Bethel Baptist Church was organized June 4, 1847 with eighteen (18) charter members.
Representatives for Concord, Walls, Sandy Run, Camp’s Creek, High Shoals and Double Springs churches attended:
The charter members were:
William Hardin George Hamrick Levi Burns John Huckaby
Thomas Downy Jason Hamrick Jesse Wright Jeremiah Webb
James P. Webb James O. Webb Jessie Walker Drilla Webb
Artmissa Wright Elizabeth Wilson Sarah Richards Mary Hamrick
Mary Wils Mary Hardin
The following day, June 5, 1847, services were again held, at which time four more members were added by letter, including one colored girl but no names were given.
Bethel was originally a member of the Broad River Association. Later transferring to the Kings Mountain Association and finally became a charter member of the Sandy Run Association, which was organized at Bethel Baptist Church in 1890.
The following men have served this church as pastor:
William Harrill Dove Pannell William McSwain J. H. Tarboro
T. J. Campbell J. J. Jones A. A. McSwain A. P. Hollifield
Z. B. Harrill George Webb G. W. Rollins B. M. Bridges
W. L. Limerick B. M. Hamrick J. M. Hamrick D. J. Hunt
I. D. Harrill C. L. Taylor C. C. Crowe W. W. Davidson
C. F. Laughlin Charles Hamrick Harold Brown Wayne Blackwood
Rick Jackson Ron Williams B. David Easler Michaell Sepaugh
Their years of service were:
William Harrill was the first pastor and according to our old church records served “a few years” until 1855.
Dove Pannell had charge “for a time” then William McSwain for a year and then Dove Pannell until 1860.
J. H Yarboro was pastor in 1867. Then Dove Pannell again in 1868 followed by:
T. J. Campbell until..............................1873
J. J. Jonn................................................1874
Dove Pannell (again)...........................1875
A. A. McSwain......................................1876-1877
T. J. Campbell (again).........................1878
A. A. McSwain (again)..................…...1880-1884
A. P. Hollifield......…........................……1886
Z. D. Harrill............................................1887-1888
George Webb..............................….......1889
Z. D. Harrill (again)..............................1890-1891
G. W. Rollins........................…...............1892-1893
B. M. Bridges........................…..............1894-1896
R. L. Limerick.....................…...…...…….1897-1902
Z. D. Harrill (again)............…............…1903-1908
B. M. Hamrick.................................…...1910
J. M. Hamrick.......................................1911
B. M. Bridges (again)..........................1912-1913
R. L. Limerick (again)......…......…....1914
D. J. Hunt..............................……...…....1915-1923
Z. D. Harrill (again).....................…....1924-1928
I. D. Harrill..............................…......…1929-1932
C. L. Taylor.................................…......1933-1937
C. C. Crowe......…..................…............1939-1941
W. W. Davidson......…...….........….......1941-1947
C. F. Laughlin...……..................…...…1947-1950
Charles Hamrick...............................1950-1954
Harold Brown.........….....................…1955-1978
Wayne Blackwood...............…..........1978-2001
Jim Whitlow (Interim)...….........…....Feb 02 - Oct 02
Rick Jackson...…........................…....Oct 02–June 04
Ron Williams (Pastor& Interim)...2004–2007
Dr. Jack Buchannan (interim)......2007-2008
David Easler...............…...................2008 -2012
Michael Sepaugh............................2012
Bethel Became Incorporated .........December 3rd 1997.