The History Of Second Baptist Church

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Rev. William Norman with communion members, Lucy Winter, Enoch Weaver, Sarah Holinsworth, Miss Amelia Harris, Mrs. Boone, Mrs. Elizabeth Douglas and Mr. and Mrs. James Wright organized the Second Baptist Church in 1856. At times their meetings were held in homes. Before the first year was completed, the members purchased land for the church with a dwelling house on it. This property was used for services until 1869, until the cornerstone of the present structure was laid. The lot was located on Canal and Mill Street. It was bought for $600.00 and was paid for at the end of the fourth year.

The present brick structure, built in 1869, cost $4500.00, but this debt was also cleared at the end of the fourth year. The site of the church was changed because of the plans for a double tracking railroad in the immediate vicinity. Since the labors of the Rev. William Norman, Reverend Cox, and Reverend Boone in the organization of Second Baptist Church, the following ministers have served the church:

1. Rev. Grayson Jones

2. Rev. Elder Day

3. Rev. Jim Springfield

4. Rev. Jessie Meeks

5. Rev. Andrew Hunt (2x)

6. Rev. William Norman

7. Rev. Wallace Shildon

8. Rev. William Nash

9. Rev. J.L. Murray

10. Rev. R.D. Grant

11. Rev. Meritt

12. Rev. Thomas Coleman

13. Rev. Samuel Brown

14. Rev. Gilman

15. Rev. J.A. Brooks

16. Rev. J.T. Stewart

17. Rev. G. Jordan

18. Rev. Reed

19. Rev. Tolliver

20. Rev. C.L. Thomas

21. Rev. H. Wingo

22. Rev. J.H. Boyd

23. Rev. T.W. Brown

24. Rev. O.H. Miller

25. Rev. Stephen Bates

26. Rev. C.L. Willis

27. Rev. Otis Crowder

28. Rev. James Lewis

29. Rev. Derrick Bass, Sr.

30. Rev. Charles W. Ferguson 

31. Rev. Derrick K. Holmes

32. Rev. Vanessa R. Jones 

The present Second Baptist Church building cornerstone was laid on Sunday Afternoon October 8th, 1911 at 2:00 P.M. Rev. J. Wesley Carter of Chillicothe, Ohio delivered the sermon. The services were under the supervision of Pickaway Lodge Knights of Pythias with L.O. Harris, Master of Ceremonies, Rev. B. J. Shadd of Gallipolis, and Rev. L.W. White of the A.M.E. Church, Circleville, OH.

L.O. Harris placed a box containing a roster of the officers of the church, the program from the services, copies of the Daily Union Herald, the Circleville Herald, and a silver dollar in the cornerstone. The official board at that time consisted of Deacons: Matthew May, Everett Johnson, W.A. Jones, Michael Reed, Joseph Thomas Jacob, and Edward Redman.

Past Deacons of the Church:

1. John Phifer

2. Charles Byrd

3. Frank Smith

4. Forest Lowe

5. Elwood Lewis

6. James Scott

7. W.A. Jones

8. Victor Harmon

9. Charles Breath

10. Emmitt Dade

11. Robert Jones, Sr.

12. Rev. Carl Smith