A Brief History of Sand Hill Baptist Church

            The early beginnings of Sand Hill Baptist Church are unknown because all records were lost or destroyed. The first known record of this church was on October 28, 1814, but it was called The Baptist Church of Kershaw District instead of Sand Hill Baptist Church. Our second available church record, Moriah Association Minutes of 1853, gives the name of Sand Hill Church and of our first known pastor, the Reverend J.T. Copeland. The record shows church membership as 43 whites and 49 blacks.

            Records indicate there have been only three permanent church buildings here: the log building (1814-1900), the white frame building (1901-1950), and the present brick sanctuary built in 1949. On January 8, 1950, the first worship service was held in our present brick building. In March 1955, a new recreational building was completed. The building had a fully-equipped kitchen and a large dining area with a large fireplace. This building now houses the church office, the pastor’s study, nursery, choir room, and Sunday School rooms.

            Our first homecoming was held September 18, 1955, with the Reverend A.E. Fulmer as guest speaker. The first history of our church was written by Hazel P. Jones and books were distributed at the second homecoming on September 16, 1956.

            On Sunday, December 4, 1960, for the first time in our history, Sand Hill had a full-time resident pastor. A modern brick parsonage was built with the Reverend Boyce A. Davis in his second pastorate here. In 1980, the present fellowship building was added with a kitchen and storage room; the Reverend Kenneth Catoe was pastor. That was the fist time in the history of our church that money was borrowed to improve the facilities. The debt was paid off in three years instead of twenty years. The Sand Hill Baptist Church Constitution and Bylaws were adopted by the church on July 12, 1987. The church approved the purchase of a 15-passenger Ford van in January 1988.

            Nine men have gone into the ministry: Don A. Brown, Thurman Carnes, Elton Hunter, Henry L. Hunter, Koger Hunter, James A. Kelly, Marion K. Kelly, Ralph Thompson, and Edgar Horton. Mission activities include home visitation, a tape ministry for shut-ins, K.A.R.E., Hope of Lancaster, prisoner packets for Christmas, health kits for migrant farm workers, duffle bags for foster children, Operation Christmas Child, World Hunger, Youth Service, Baptist Women’s Alliance, supports of Crisis Pregnancy Center, State, Home and International Mission Offerings, and Stephen Cauthen, missionary.

            The Sand Hill Puppet Team began in December 1998. In 1999, a new vision of puppets began with the introduction of Black Light selections along with their puppet ministry. The Black Light Team visited 13 churches in 2000-2001. At present, the Team includes twenty-seven children and adults who witness not only at community-wide events but also perform at other churches.

            In January 1950, our church membership was 214. In 1999, church membership was 185. Total membership for 2004 is 265 with 185 active members.

            Sand Hill approved renovation of our sanctuary on Sunday, February 24, 2002. Seating capacity increased from 175 to 250. All stained glass windows and pews were purchased in honor or in memory of loved ones. The beautifully renovated sanctuary was dedicated on Sunday, September 21, 2003. The building loan has been repaid and our church is debt free.

            Patrick J. Minihane resigned as pastor at the end of May 2001. Dr. Charles H. Rabon served as interim until Patrick W. Shealy became pastor in late March 2002. Our church’s mission statement is: To be a community of believers devoted to the glory of God through God-centered worship, evangelization of the lost, and the development of mature followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.