OUR HISTORY

In the Mid 1800's a congregation of white baptized believers changed the church name from Lockwood's Folly to Mt. Pisgah. It was located near the mouth of Lockwood's Folly River. In 1800-1871, a second frame structure was constructed 8 miles from Supply on the Chimney Road near a place called Sand Hill. Worshipping with them was a group of recently free Negro brothers and sisters who were restricted to worshipping in a fenced off area in the church. Given the circumstance, the Negroes did not feel that had full freedom and the rights of worship they should have.

In 1872 this small group of Negro brothers and sisters decided they would rather have a church, pastor, and officers of their own. This group of devoted Christians continued to worship at Mt. Pisgah while making plans to organize their church. The Lord blessed this small beginning as they held meetings under a large oak tree, which they called the Committee Tree. It was under the shade of this tree and under the leadership of Reverend Moses Lauder, with faith in God, they organized and built the first church. The first structure has been described as a log building, which was constructed under a large cedar tree with other cedars growing nearby. The church obtained the name, Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church, from these trees.

It is interesting to know that the stump of that same cedar tree remained many years in the spot where old church stood and remained clear and no trees grew on this sacred spot. In 1958 the stump was removed from the ground.  Despite partial decay, there was enough of this stump to be cleaned, varnished and is now housed in a small building on the church campus as a memorial to the first church. This stump is a cherished symbol of the fortitude and ingenuity of the ancestors who erected the first church.

THE FIRST AND SECOND CHURCH

The first church was a log structure which was erected adjacent to the Mount Pisgah Church between the Stone Chimney Road and a place called Sandhill on the banks of the Lockwood Folly River. It was built under a large cedar tree with other cedars growing nearby. The first church had seventeen (17) charter members. Deacons were Brothers: Wade Bryant and Riley Hewett; The first Trustees were Brothers James Bryant, Jackson Clemmons, S.R. Eagles and Joseph Gore. 

Church minute books of 1886 reveal that Brother Pompey M. Bryant was Clerk and Brother Miles Bryant was assistant clerk. The Deacons were Brothers: Wade Bryant and Riley Hewett. The Trustees were brothers: James Bryant, Jackson Clemmons, S.R. Eagles and Joseph Gore. Even though we do not know the names of the charter members, research in the earliest records have revealed the names of first members of the church were: J. L. Sampson, Benjamin Gore, J.D. Gore, George Grissett, Wade Gore, Mary E. Burney, Miles Bryant, P.M. Bryant, James Bryant, George A. Hewett, W.D. Bryant, Peter Morgan, Peter Morgan, J. Clemmons, Sr., John A. Hewett, George D. Gore, Abraham Hewett, Mary Hewett, Winney Mitchell, Mavina Fullwood, Sharry Hewett, Carrie Louder, Joseph H. Hewett, Alvin Eagles and others (these names were found in minute brooks from January 1886-December 1886). In 1886 the church received its first glasses from Brother Benjamin Gore. In 1886 Elder J.R. Holmes served as pastor, Elder Jackson Eagles served as Pastor in 1887, 1888, and 1889 with a $20.00 to $25.00 yearly salary. In 1887 Elder Moses Louder and wife joined Cedar Grove church by letter coming from Bethesda Church of South Carolina. Church sexton’s in 1887 were Brother John A. Hewett and Brother George Grissett. In 1888 Brother Jackson Clemmons served as treasurer.

Business meetings were held every month on Saturday before the 3rd Sunday (Lord’s Day), unless a call meeting was necessary. Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church was an absolute model of democracy, and stood by it’s rules and regulations for the Church at Cedar Grove. This factor can be noted throughout the record books of the 1887-1900, where brothers and sisters were found guilty of dancing, speaking profane language, not attending business meetings of the church, failing to pay fees for pastors, having children out of wedlock, or whatever was deemed breaking the rules of the church. It is clear from the minutes that the church played the role of local legislature and law enforcement, establishing and enforcing rules of moral conduct among the members of the church. Members who violated these rules would be asked to answer to the standing Committee or appear before the Church congregation at business meetings to give satisfaction to the church or they would stand a chance of being dismissed from the church.

Alternatives to paying money in church included donating lamps for lighting, oil for burning, lumber for doors or even glass for windows. Two examples of this was at the meeting in June 1886 Brother George Grissett gave a gift of a lamp to the church that was equivalent to 30 cents; at the meeting in August 1886 Brother J.D. Bryant was credited with giving a lamp to the church. Brother W.J. Stevenson served as pastor from January through August 1898 at a salary of $15.00 annually. Brother Thomas Brown served in 1899.

In a regular business meeting in September 1888 the church adopted a resolution presented from Brother Miles Bryant that all male members be accessed 5 cent a month to help support the expense of the church with the exception of the pastor’s salary. The pastor’s salary was collected at the end of every year. A committee was appointed to go around to each member and collect money to pay the pastor for his services. Many of the preachers and elders of those days traveled from one church to another, working in one location for a brief period then moving to another. Some of the God fearing ministers who graced the pulpit at Cedar Grove during this time frame: Rev J.R. Holmes (1886), Rev. Jackson Eagles (1887-1891); Rev. Thomas Brown (1892, 1897, 1899); Elder J. R. Holmes (1893); Elder S. R. Eagles (1894); Rev. W. J. Stevenson (1898) and Rev. Jackson Eagles (1900).

THE SECOND CHURCH

The records do not disclose when the members became dissatisfied with the FIRST CHURCH, however during the middle part of the 1880’s a parcel of land not located on the banks of the Lockwood Folly River was purchased from Deacon Wade Bryant. The SECOND CHURCH, a log structure, was built. Records show that in March 1900 lumber was purchased to ceil the church. As time passed, the members became dissatisfied with the log structure and again made plans to erect a new building. The Brothers and Sisters worked diligently to buy lumber, donating lamps, glasses and other materials to complete the construction of the new structure. The members worshipped in this church until the third church was erected on the same site as the second church in 19l0. 

Somewhere after the Second church was erected, another group of black Christian Brothers and Sisters who worshipped at Cheerful Hope Baptist Church and sat in at regular business meetings at Cedar Grove, officially united with the Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church family. The exact location of the Cheerful Hope Church is not known, it’s approximate location was somewhere near the present site of the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church off Holden Beach Road. These members included the Heirs of Edward and Miranda Johnson who lived in what is called Johnsontowne. The merging of these two groups of God fearing Brothers and Sisters increased the membership as the church continued to grow in spirit and prosperity.”

THE THIRD CHURCH 

In the year 1910 the members moved into another framed building which was erected approximately one quarter mile from the site of the second church. On Wednesday might, January 21, 1946, the Pastor, Rev. B. W. Pugh and members met in prayer meeting. Following prayer meeting devotions, was made known that it was necessary to go into a call conference. On a motion by Brother Levi O. Grissett to enter into a call conference the pastor rose and declared the conference open and ready for business. On another the Citation Committee was heard, Brother Governor M. Gore stated that he had found a site on the land of J. D. Bryant in front of Brother Ulysses S. Bryant house, at a cost of $125.00 per acre. On a motion the church accepted the site and empowered the Committee to pay for the site. A motion was made and accepted to authorize the treasurer to pay for the site and once the motion passed the meeting was adjourned until the next time. (This information was found in official church records recorded on or about January 21, 1946, by Ulysses S. Bryant, Church Clerk and Rev. B. Willie Pugh was Moderator.) In this building they continued to uphold the name of God and progressed steadily. Seeing a need of improvement another structure was erected and became the Fourth Church. Services for the third church were held until 1951 through the week of May 13, 1951. During the final week, services were held, and messages were preached every night. The final Friday night service, a sermon was preached by the late Pastor Bennie P. Stevenson.

THE FOURTH CHURCH 

On the 3rd Sunday, May 20th, 1951, the members moved into the new cinderblock structure under the leadership of the new Pastor, the late Rev. Dr. William Henry David Flowers. Rev. Flowers delivered the morning message. The afternoon message was delivered by the late Dr. I. Irvin Boone, accompanying him was the aged and sainted late Rev. H. T. Hopkins. The service was a grand affair, and the congregation was great in numbers. Dinner for this occasion was served in the canning house, which was the community center located near the church. The new church had a larger sanctuary, two classrooms, a pastor’s study and a room for the ushers and choir. As time passed Rev. Flowers, the deacons and members felt the need to improve the church with additional rooms and other facilities. Those improvements began in the year 1965, and included additional classrooms, a kitchen, dining room assembly rood, dressing rooms, bathrooms, baptistry, and bricking of the entire structure. Later in late 1971 and early 1972 improvements were made to the church yard.

Following more than thirty years of service, in the year 1982 God called the Rev. Dr. William Henry David Flowers to his heavenly home and Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church was without a pastor. On March 20, 1982 the late Rev. Charlie Fullwood served as our Interim Pastor until a new pastor could be selected. 

On April 3, 1983 the Pulpit Committee reported to the church that the Rev. Dr. Freeman Gause had consented to be our Pastor and a new era at Cedar Grove began. On December 17, 1983 during a regular scheduled business meeting the members voted to become a station church. The church doors were officially opened each Sunday. On the first Sunday of each month the Young People in the church (Juniors) would provide music for the service; on the second Sunday of each month the Young Adults in the church would provide music for the service; on the third Sunday of each month the Senior Choir (adult men and women) would provide music for the church and on the fourth Sunday a Male Chorus was established to provide music for the church. 

In the year 1986, under the leadership of Pastor Gause, windows were replaced in the entire church with stained glass. The church continued to grow in membership and progress through the years. New furniture was purchased, entire church carpeted, new heating and air conditioning system installed and other items which was necessary for the continued growth of the church In 1995 ground was broken to build a new dining room. This facility was dedicated on the first Sunday in February 1999 and dinner was served there immediately after the morning service. In 1999 the entire parking lot was paved and parking spaces officially marked off. The cornerstone for the new dining hall was laid and dedicated on September 11, 2005. During 2007, church services were held in the church dining hall while the interior of the main sanctuary was being renovated and remodeled. The project involved moving existing walls to open the worship space, new lighting, enlarging the pulpit area, and installing carpet covering the existing hardwood floors. In 2008 work began on upgrading classrooms, creating new sick room, installing a new handicapped restroom, remodeling the existing women and men’s restrooms, creating a larger pastor’s study, a meeting room for the deacons the clerk office. This was completed in 2009. In 2016 a new audio visual and security system was installed in the church and dining hall. Under Pastor Gause’s leadership Bible Study has become a part of the weekly prayer service on Wednesday nights. In 2010/2011 timeframe, Pastor Gause organized and established several ministries in the church. In January 2019 Rev./Dr. Freeman Gause stepped down as pastor of Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church following thirty-five and one-half years of dedicated service.

Following the departure of Pastor Gause, a Pastor’s Search Committee was elected and the search for a new pastor began. During 2019 through April 2021, we maintained church services at Cedar Grove by inviting associate ministries and other preachers to bring the word each Sunday. As we continued search for a new pastor, we observed our 147th, 148th, and 149th church anniversaries. At the end of 149th church anniversary on the third Sunday in March 2020, in person services at the church were canceled for twelve months because of the COVID 19 Pandemic, to slow the spread of this deadly virus. The pandemic slowed, but it did not stop the work of the Pastor’s Search Committee. In April 2021, following months of searching, the church held a drive through voting process and Rev. Jaymus D. Stanley, Sr. was elected as the pastor of Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Stanley is a young, vibrant, and charismatic minister and was installed as our new pastor on July 4th, 2021. He shows great promise as the new leader of Cedar Grove in this present age. 

Pastor Stanley stands on the shoulders of previous great pastors who established Cedar Grove as a progressive church, serving a community of believers for one hundred fifty years. 

Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church has strived and flourished under the devoted leadership of Rev. Moses Louder, Rev. Bennie P. Stevenson, Rev. John Crowsling, Rev. Sam J. Bryant, Rev. Jackson Eagles, Rev. L. M. Stevenson, Rev. J.R. Holmes, Rev. Thomas Brown, Rev. H.A. Robinson, Rev. Willie Pugh, Rev. Dr. W.H.D. Flowers, Rev. Dr. Freeman Gause, and currently Rev. Jaymus D. Stanley, Jr. Under the leadership of these God-fearing men and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the church has continued to fulfill it’s missionary mandate, expand outreach and grow membership. We give honor to our founding fathers, past pastors, deacons, and members who helped pave the way for us. We humbly ask God for his continued blessings, and we are thankful to God as “We’ve Come This Far by Faith” for 150 years, leaning and depending upon the God of our salvation.