Southside's History

Since 1908, Southside Baptist Church has stood on the corner of Carlisle and South Church Streets.  It all began when Judge J.J. Gentry, a member of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, became impressed with the need of another Baptist church in the city of Spartanburg.  After counseling with his pastor and the deacons of First Baptist, the site on the corner of Carlisle and Church Streets was selected.  At 4 o’clock on the afternoon of June 28, 1908, in accordance with previous announcements made in several Baptist churches and in the local newspaper, a large number of men and women who had obtained letters from their various churches assembled at the South Side Public School Building for the purpose of organizing a new Baptist church.  There were 102 present from First Baptist Church, 7 from Green Street Baptist Church, and 5 from other churches, a total of 114 charter members.  The church voted to receive as charter members all others who became members during July 1908.

Rev. W.T. Derrieux, Assistant Secretary of the State Mission Board, led the program that first afternoon.  It began with a statement of the meeting’s purpose followed by singing the Doxology, prayer led by Mr. John Graham, and a message by Rev. Derrieux, “The Mission and Organization of a Baptist Church and What It Stands For.”  The meeting concluded with the reading and sanction by the congregation of the Articles of Faith, the appointing of necessary committees, and the taking of an offering ($11.35) which was sent to the State Mission Board.

The minutes of the organizational meeting state that “the Spirit of the Lord Jesus was present.”  The new church was named “The South Side Baptist Church.”  With great enthusiasm the church members went to work.  The next Sunday they met in the same place and organized a Sunday School.  Soon there was a Woman’s Missionary Society, a Ladies’ Aid Society, Sunbeams, and other organizations.  On July 18, 1908, Rev R.E. Neighbour accepted a call to become pastor of this newly organized Baptist church.

 

The first house of worship was a tent, purchased for $250.  On August 7, 1908, the name of the church was changed to Southside Baptist Church.

The second house of worship was a frame building finished in March 1909 and cost approximately $4,000.  This soon became too small to accommodate the fast-growing congregation.

The third house of worship was an auditorium of brick construction begun in the spring of 1910 and cost approximately $30,000.  The church worshipped in this building from February 1911 until October 1978.

In the intervening years, Sunday School classrooms in the basement were finished (1918), a new educational building was erected (1927), and the Lewis H. Wright Educational Building was completed (August 1949).  In 1965, a 30,000 square foot educational building with church offices was added for approximately $500,000.  In 1973, the C.B. Simmons Activities Building was completed.  An open house and dedication was on December 23, 1973.  Also in 1973, the Church held a special observance of the 65th anniversary of its organization.

316 S Church St.  Spartanburg, SC   29306

On June 27, 1993, the church family had the 85th Church Anniversary Celebration.  Also in the 90's, Southside completion of space under the sanctuary to provide a center for youth Sunday School and other activities including  – After School Care program, Fall 1997 and it continued until Dec. 2006. 

 

“His Heart, Our Mission” - Greater emphasis on missions, and increased personal involvement in mission service and in monetary contributions to missions

In 2004 Southside adopted the mission statement "Connecting People to Jesus Christ"

The church renovated the Family Life Center  in 2004, upgrading the kitchen,  fellowship hall (now called The Cafe), and the gym. 

In 2006, the church renovated the old fellowship hall, making it a worship room for the youth ministry, including a stage, praise band equipment, video, games, and more.  A family mission trip team was sent to Kentucky.

In 2007, the youth ministry sent a team to Philadelphia to help run a camp for teenagers.  The church also sent a medical team to Guatemala.

In 2008, Southside sent two mission teams to Southeast Asia and Alaska.  The World Changers Alaska team was made up of adults and high school students.  The team served and had the opportunity to witness many times.  There were three decisions for Christ.

In 2009, Southside sent teams to Kentucky, China, and Bluffton SC for ministry and missions.

In 2010, teams were sent to Asia, Guatemala, Kentucky, and youth World Changers Tampa FL.

In 2011, a team was sent to Kentucky.

In 2012, plans are being made for mission trip overseas and California.  

Southside celebrated 100 years June 29, 2008.

 

 

Southside Baptist Church has been responsible for the beginning of four mission churches:

Just as the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ was present on that beginning day in 1908, so through the more that 100 years of this Church the Spirit of the Lord has been its guiding force.  As we find ourselves at the threshold of a new century, may we accept the challenges and opportunities God gives us.  May we be found faithful, obedient, and completely dedicated to the Lord’s leadership in our mission of sharing the Gospel with our neighbors, our country, and our world.

Rev. R.E. Neighbour (1908 -1912)
Rev. M.S. Jenkins (1913)
Rev. R.V. Miller (1913 -1914)
Dr. M.D. Jeffries (1914 -1918)
Rev. H.V. Tanner (1918 -1923)
Dr. J.L. Vipperman (1923 -1937)
Rev. O.K. Webb (1938 -1945)
Dr. Lewis H. Wright (1945 -1949)
Dr. John E. Huss (1950 -1957)
Dr. John T. Tippett, Jr. (1957 -1959)
Dr. W.H. Clapp (1960 -1969)
Dr. Herbert C. Garrett, Jr. (1970 -1979)
Dr. Gene M. Adams (1981 -1987)
Dr. Benjamin W. Littlejohn, Jr. (1989 -1995)
Dr. D. Allen McWhite, Sr. (1997 - January 2002)
Rev. Barry Ellis (2002 - 2003)
Rev. David Blanton (2004 - 2010)

Dr. Schuyler Peterson (2011 - present)