The Swords Creek Community Baptist
Church as it is known today, is a
unique church, on which God has
blessed greatly and continues to do
so. This truth is apparent when you
trace the different directions it
has taken in its more than 100 years
of existence. The first church was
founded in 1880. The people
worshiped in one-room log
schoolhouse and at the time it was
know as a Community Church. The
first church building was erected a
short time later on land donated by
Alta Mansfield and Vicky Smith
Martin. The church did not have
regular pastor, but was placed on
the Honaker Charge of the Methodist
Church and preachers came by
appointment.
The church building was badly
damaged by a storm in 1950 and was
later torn down. The church
worshiped at the Swords Creek
Elementary School during that time
and in 1956 a new brick church was
built. The new building had three
Sunday School rooms, a sanctuary,
and was heated by a pot-bellied
stove. Rev. R.M. Barton came as
pastor and remained until 1966. In
1967 the Honaker charge closed the
circuit to the Sword Creek Church
but the congregation wanted to
remain a local church; so they
affiliated with the Pilgrim Holiness
Church. The church building was
purchased from the Holston
Conference of the Methodist Church
for $6,700.00. Some time later the
Pilgrim Holiness merged with the
Wesleyan Methodist. The denomination
resulting was known as the Wesleyan
Church and the Swords Creek Church
changed its name to the Swords Creek
Wesleyan Church.
In March 1967, Reverend E.C. Price
came as pastor. The church grew to
70 members and offerings were
$200.00 weekly. Rev. Price stayed
until 1972.
Reverend Robert Emmons came as
pastor in 1973. Rev. Emmons stayed
until 1974, when the ill health of
his father forced him to return to
Florida. The church grew both
spiritually and economically during
his stay.
Reverend Calvin Bradley, who had
been a missionary in Africa for 20
years, came to pastor the church in
1974. He stayed until 1976.
Reverend Bob Emmons returned as
pastor in 1976. Because the church
had increased to 200 members, a
building program started in 1978.
“Bro. Bob” who, was a wonderful
pastor as well as an excellent
carpenter, led the men in a building
program during which the sanctuary
was remodeled, a foyer added and
additional Sunday School rooms was
built. Much of that remodeling is
part of the existing church today.
history
continued...
