FLAT ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY, Pickens County, SC a.k.a. > Version: 3.0 Effective: 3-Aug-2006 Text File: P049.TXT Image Folder: P049 ******************************************************************************** It's believed that the usage of any original work submittals contained within these webpages such as articles, compiling, photographs or graphics, conform to Fair Use Doctrine & Copyright Guidelines. COPYRIGHT NOTE: (1.) Works published before 1923, are considered to be public- domain. (2.) Works published 1923-1977 without a copyright notice, are considered to be public-domain. (3.) Unpublished non-copyrighted works will have Author permission for public-domain. Facts, names, dates, events, places & data can not be copyrighted. Narration, compilations and creative works can be copyrighted. Copyright law in the U.S. does not protect facts or data, just the presentation of this data. REPRODUCING NOTICE: These electronic pages may only be reproduced for personal or 501(c) Not-For-Profit Society use. Use the following names, if, you would like to give any author compiling credit. AUTHORS: Paul M. Kankula-NN8NN & Gary L. Flynn-KE8FD *********************************************************************** 05-01-15 CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ > GPS = Latitude N x Longitude W CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ 1870 - Flat Rock Church -1986 In the summer of 1870 a revival meeting was held in a brush arbor on a little knoll near the present location of Holcombe's Super Market. As a result of this meeting a church was organized with twenty-six members. The Rev. T.R. Gary of the Enon Community, who preached at the brush arbor revival, became the first pastor and served until his death. A large picture of Reverend Gary now hangs in the hall of the present church building. Mr. J. Leander Boggs gave the land for the first church building and some land for a cemetery. The first people buried in this cemetery were Mr. and Mrs. Billy Gillespie, both the same day. Mr. L. N. Taylor was the first member received by experience to be baptized. The field near the church was always called the Flat Rock field by Mr. Boggs because of the large flat rocks on it. When the church was built, Lou Gary, a nine year old daughter of the pastor, suggested that it be called Flat Rock. The church members agreed, so Flat Rock Baptist Church was named. There have been four church buildings. The first two stood on the side of the road with the old cemetery. The logs of the first church were hewn by hand and have long been destroyed. The second building was bought by Mr. Sam Wilson who owned most of the land around Flat Rock at that time. The building was moved back a few hundred yards and made into a barn. This building was destroyed by fire some time ago. The third building stood in the grove of what is now Magee Park. Mr. Sam Wilson gave land for this building and some land to enlarge the cemetery. This building was erected in 1905 and was used as a one room church building until 1937. That year the house was rolled back a few yards and four new Sunday School rooms on each side were added. In 1949 a Sunday School plants consisting of twelve rooms, a basement, and a new baptistry was added to the church. The first one baptized in this baptistry was Mr. Tom Watkins when he was seventy years old. Rev. Tommy Gary, the first pastor, was his grandfather. His mother was Lou Gary who suggested the name for the church. In 1960 the fourth and present building was erected on top of the hill overlooking miles of Pickens and Anderson counties. The view of the great and beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains is an inspiration to everyone. The first pastorium was built in 1944. Rev; W. H. Harbin was the first full-time pastor and served two different terms. He, with the help of local labor, did much of the work on the house. The beautiful new pastorium was built in 1969 on church property behind the church building. In 1950 the first fellowship building was erected. In 1978 a new Fellowship Building was built behind the church house. There were never any footwashing ceremonies at the church. Strict discipline was imposed on early members for many reasons. The salary of the first pastor was $7.50 per year. A little later it was raised to $15.00. The church owned no Bible at first so Rev. Gary brought his with him. In 1903 Sisters Charity Gillespie and Jane Shelton, with some others, bought and gave a Bible to the church. One of the members who had a buggy kept the Bible during the week. The old Baptist Hymnal was used. The people sang in long, common, and short meter. Soon after the first Bible was bought the church purchased an organ. In 1937 the first piano was bought. No night services were held during protracted meetings. People brought their lunch and stayed all day. The people walked, rode horseback, and came in oxcarts, buggies, and wagons. At the first church house there was a stopping block for those who rode horseback. The ladies wore long riding skirts which would be removed and thrown over the side saddle until time to go home. Many years ago when a new deacon was needed, a man and his wife were strictly measured by Bible requirements and then observed for three months before being ordained. The names of pastors and much other detailed information will be found in excerpts from old records. EXCERPTS FROM OLD MINUTES AND RECORDS (Information from long, long ago until now as found in old church records and in Piedmont Association minutes.) Flat Rock has no records from the time in 1870 when the church was organized until about 1894. A few references were found, however, in the Association minutes. It is very interesting to note that Flat Rock had a part in organizing the Piedmont Association in 1878. This item appears in the very first of the book of records. November 15, 1878- When delegates met to organize the Piedmont Association, Rev. Sammie Gary. who was at Enon at that time, but who also served as pastor of Flat Rock at one time, was on the committee to draft a Constitution and Rules of Order for the new Association. This report was given and adopted after a second reading. He was also on the Sunday School Committee and Arrangements Committee. The delegates to this first meeting from Flat Rock were: A. M. Hamilton and J. T. Hinton Rev. J. C. Hudson was pastor at Flat Rock in 1878 and G. F. Moore was Church Clerk. August 13-14, 1880 The Association Meeting was held at Enon with the following delegates from Flat Rock: A. M. Hamilton, T. G. Fennell, J. T. Hinton and Alfred Godfrey. Bro. A. M. Hamilton served on the committee on Religious Exercises. J. T. Hinton was appointed to serve on the Home Missions Committee for the next year. The missionary sermon was preached by Rev. J. C. Hudson, pastor at Flat Rock. August 19 and 20, 1881 Rev. W. B. Singleton, who was pastor at Flat Rock, was elected moderator of the Association. Delegates from Flat Rock were: A. M. Hamilton, T. G. Fennell, R. M. Young, and J. 0. Smith. 1882 Delegates from Flat Rock to the Piedmont Association Meeting were: H. H. Browne and J. T. Hinton. 1883 In 1883 delegates were: A. M. Young, J. T. Hinton, J. C. Cooley, and J. G. Fowler. Mr. Fowler was a charter member of Flat Rock. He was the father of Mrs. Mae Ellenburg and grandfather of Audrey Ellenburg. The other early delegates were probably charter members, also, but no records could be found to verify this. 1885 In 1885, delegates were: W. P. Thomas, W. S. Smith, J. E. Roberson, and J. Corley. 1889 The total value of Flat Rock Church property was listed as $200.00. 1891 In 1891 the total church expenses, not including pastor's salary, was $15.10. 1892 Delegates to the 1892 meeting were: J. W. Bartly, D.L. Kay, W. C. Owen, and Samuel Boggs. Feb. 4, 1894 The church sold a remnant of ceiling planks to Brother A. M. Young for one dollar per one hundred feet. Brother Young paid five dollars down and the church paid over to the pastor on his salary. Then sung first long meter doxology and adjourned. Benediction by Brother Hatcher. October 1894 Rev. D.I. Spearman called for pastor for 1895. January 1895 Called conference. Brother Brown was elected for supply pastor. March 2, 1895 Called conference. Object was to arrange the pastor's salary. The 3rd chapter of Romans was read for instruction. The church agreed to pay the pastor fifty dollars and to place the money in the hands of the treasurer for the pastor. August 1895 Brother Robert Bryant was elected organist. By: Unknown Author o----------o In the summer of 1870, a revival meeting was held in a brush arbor on a little knoll near the location of Anderson's Meats and Groceries. As a result of this meeting, a church was organized with 26 members. The Rev. T.R. Gary, of the Enon community, had preached at the brush arbor revival and became the first pastor. He served as pastor until his death. Mr. J. Leander Boggs gave the land for the first church building and some land for a cemetery. The field near the church was always called the flat rock field by Mr. Boggs because of the large flat rocks in it. When the church was build, Lou Gary, a nine-year-old daughter of the pastor, suggested that it be called Flat Rock. The church members agreed, so Flat Rock Baptist Church was named. There have been four church buildings. The first two stood on the side of the road with the old cemetery. The logs of the first church were hewn by hand and have long been destroyed. The second building was bought by Mr. Sam Wilson who owned most of the land around Flat Rock at that time. The building was moved back a few hundred yards and made into a barn. This building was destroyed by fire. The third building stood in the grove of what is now Magee Park. Mr. Sam Wilson gave the land for this building and some land to enlarge the cemetery. This building was erected in 1905 and was used as a one-room church building until 1937. That year, the house was rolled back a few yards and four new Sunday School rooms were added on each side. In 1960, the fourth and present building was erected on top of lie hill overlooking miles of Pickens and Anderson Counties. The view of the great and beautiful Blue Ridge mountains is an inspiration to everyone. Flat Rock has been richly blessed with me Christian people, and many move on to serve as preachers, missionaries, teachers, musicians, and faith members of other churches. By: Piedmont Baptist Association 2003 o----------o In the summer of 1870,a revival meeting was held on a knoll near the present intersection of SC Highway 178 and SC Highway 135. One result of the meeting was the organization of a church with twenty-six members. Tommy R. Gary, pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church during the 1860s and postmaster at Salubrity from l87l to 1876,was the church's first pastor. He used his own Bible until the church bought one about 1880. Mrs. J. Leander Boggs, a member of a pioneer family in the area, provided land on which to construct a building and to establish a cemetery sometime after the church was organized. A nearby field was always referred to by Boggs as "the flat rock field" because it contained large flat rocks. Since the church's founding, four separate buildings have served the congregation. The first two buildings were located beside Highway 178 at the old cemetery. The logs used in the construction of the first structure were hewn by hand. The second edifice was bought by Sam Wilson and later transformed into a barn. A third building for the congregation was built in a grove of trees now known as McGee Park. In 1937,eight Sunday School rooms were added to the one-room building. The church building was further remodeled in 1949, and a new Sunday School plant was added. The fourth and present church building was erected in 1960, and the first service in the new structure was held on August13, 1961. According to 1911 records, Mrs. Sam Wilson organized the first Women's Missionary Society and served as its first president. With the exception of a few years during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the society was very active in all phases of mission work. Pastors who have served Flat Rock Baptist Church include Tommy R. Gary, Sam A. Gary, Brock Singleton, Hardy Ray, Rev. Stone, J. K. Mendenhall, A. M. Allen, W. Brown, Rev. Nelson, D. I. Spearman, William Seaborn, Johnson Sheriff, Rev. Crawford, J. S. Grim, J. Dean Crain, Johnny Wilson, J. M. Bass, F. S. Childress, Walter Owen, J.S. Anderson, Walter Lee Coker, R.J. Jones, A.E. Lockee, L.W. Pace, Preston Garrett, Esley McJunkin, Mac Bryant, W.H. Harbin(two terms), J.T. Kelley, William E. Corley, Robert Wheeler, R.L. McGee, and Marvin Murphree. Young men who grew up in Flat Rock community and later entered the ministry include John Tollison, Roy Melton, Doyle Kay, Wallace Hughes, C.E. Price, Jr., Charles Hamlin, Carl Ellenburg, Bruce Kelley, and Grady Tollison. TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife