Lowe's Grove Baptist Church
Lowe's Grove Church History.
Early in 1890, a Sunday School began on the porch of a home near the intersection of Alston Avenue and highway 54. Farther south on Alston Avenue, near the Wake County line, another congregation was meeting at the High Point Baptist Church. These two groups agreed to work together and become one church. On September 20, 1909, the Lowe's grove Baptist Church was organized. The new church met in the Lowe's Grove School House. The Rev. R.E. Atkins was called as pastor at a salary of $100.00 per year. A Church Building Fund began immediately.
Getting established and building a church was difficult in the early 1900's. This was a farming community. Travel to Raleigh and Durham was difficult.
The Lowe's Grove School and Church enjoyed a unique bond. Teachers and principals participated in the church activities.
In 1910, on donated land located near the site of Lowe's Grove School Agriculture Building, construction of the first Lowe's Grove Church building, 34x54 with 18 foot pitch, began with $299.75 in funds, Many pledges of faith, labor and material were made by the members. A later note states: cost of church $741.35. A communion servingware set and pump organ were purchased. The Church was accepted into the Mt. Zion Association.
In 1925 this little frame church building was moved across the road to approximately the same site as the present church. The building was remodeled with a stucco finish and basement added. The cemetery was moved to the present location.
In 1946 Dr. Charles E. Maddry, a retired Foreign Missionary, was called as interim paster. He lead the church in a dream of a new church facility. As a result, the church elected a building committee. Thursday, September 5, 1946, the new Building Committee met for their first meeting at 8:00 p.m. Dr. Maddry called the meeting to order and requested an executive committee to be elected from the 16 committee members. This was done, and the committees began their work.
During the early stages of this task, Dr. Maddry was instrumental in leading and advising. The committee members searched for specific details/help as to direction for a building program from September 5, 1946 until September 9, 1948 when the first logs were cut. In reading minutes one finds that the members often expressed differences of opinions, but never lost their ultimate goal of a new church building for Lowe's Grove. The minutes indicated the meetings were either opened or closed with prayer. The majority ruled.
Dr. Maddry led the church from March 1946 through August 1947. The church called Rev. J. Harold Anderson as pastor on April 18, 1948.
The big day was Thursday September 9, 1948 when the first logs were cut for the new church from trees logged from the church cemetery property. Logs were cut daily. The logs were donated and hauled to E. O. Ferrell's sawmill.
Many of the church members helped to raise funds for the new building. Originally the plan was to build an educational building only. November 28, 1948 the building committee voted to build the sanctuary also and to take the recommendation of the church. This passed. Chairman Powers appointed a committee to choose and purchase memorial windows.
Progress continued with enthusiasm. A joint meeting of the building committee and board of deacons was called for selection of church pews and other furnishings. Because of the tireless effort of individual church members and the dedication of various committees throughout the church, the newly constructed Lowe's Grove Baptist Church was dept free.
The formal opening was held June 12,1949. The sermon was delivered by Paster J. Harold Anderson. C.C. Edwards offered the prayer of thanksgiving. Following the sermon, J. Roy King presented the cornerstone to the church trustees and J.W. Maynor laid the stone. A picnic dinner followed and a memorial service was held in the church cemetery.
In 1996 an exchange of property with Northeast Baptist Church was made. In exchange for their property of one acre of land on Alston Avenue now a part of the church cemetery, Lowe's Grove purchased 2 1/2 acres of land on Highway 55 north of Cornwallis Road, moved the Northeast cemetery to the present location, purchased 10,000 bricks and pledged to assist them with $50 a month toward the Northeast mortgage, if needed. The new Northeast Church burned the mortgage a few years later with many from Lowe's Grove taking part in the ceremony.
Two women and five men have been ordained to the gospel ministry by Lowe's Grove. The first woman to be ordained was Pamela Shipp Bass, a member of the church. This ordination was held on February 1, 1981.
Lowe's Grove gives to and participates in local and foreign missions. Several times when neighborhood homes were destroyed or damaged by fire, the church has assisted in repairing the damage or rebuilding the home. In 2000 and 2001 members participated in Yates Association mission trips to South Africa.
The parking lot was paved in 1999, new carpet installed and the sanctuary painted in 2001. A picnic shelter was dedicated on July 22, 2001. In February 2002 the restoration of the front entrance of the church was begun. It was completed in 2003. during the summer of 2007 a bus and a grand piano were purchased.
Lowe's Grove Baptist Church stands proudly today knowing that with God's help and guidance it has a mission to accomplish into the new century and beyond. Steadfast In Purpose.
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