Thursday, October 25, 1990 -THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Page 7B
Church of the Week . . .
Patterson Grove
Ti Baptist Church
Corner of Oak Grove and
Putnam Lake Roads, Kings Mountain
PEGGY'S RESTAURANT
Management and Employees
DR. JAMES R. MASON
Optometrist
DEPOT STOP AND GO, INC.
Ken Roberts and Employees
RANDLE BROTHERS, INC.
739-4459
BOLIN DAY CARE CENTER
Management and Employees
739-7715
ALLENS FLOWER SHOP, INC.
Management and Staff
LOVE'S FISH BOX
1104 Shelby Road
WADE FORD
"You Can Count On WADE."
PLONK TIRE
Wray and David Plonk
WARLICK AND HAMRICK
ASSOCIATES
Insurance-Real Estate
PAUL'S SEAFOOD
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PATTERSON GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
During the summer of 1884, a brush arbor revival meeting was held in an area which was then known as
Sandy Plains. The result of this meeting was to be the formation of a new Baptist church, Patterson Grove.
On November 15, 1884, a Presbytry was formed with Rev. G.M. Webb as chairman. Seventy-two member-
ship letters were presented from three area Baptist churches, Bethlehem, Pleasant Hill and Capernaum, to
form the membership of this new church. The first minutes of the new church reads: ‘On motion the church
was constituted on the principles of the Holy Bible with name ‘Patterson Grove’.” Many of the names of
those who presented themselves for charter membership are still common to our area: Patterson, Falls, Ross,
Bridges, Thornburg, Randle, Whisnant, Harmon, Goforth, Putnam, McGill, Ormond and Morrison among
others.
During her 105 year history, Patterson Grove has had 25 pastors. Rev. Philip E. Elam began his duties as the
first pastor on January 3, 1885. The present pastor, Rev. Richard E. Plyler, began his tenure of service on
March 24, 1963.
During 1885, Rufus and Sarah Patterson and G.J. and Eli B. Patterson deeded over four acres of land to
the church. It is not known exactly when the first building was constructed, but it was prior to 1889. This
original building was remodeled in the early 1920’s and was torn down in 1966 to make way for construction
of a new sanctuary to be joined to a three story educational building completed in 1957. This new sanctuary
was completed and dedicated in March, 1967.
On September 24, 1885, Patterson Grove Baptist Church was received into the membership of the Kings
Mountain Baptist Association. The membership was 68 and the annual pastor's salary was $50.00. In 18886,
the Sunday school had an enrollment of 79 with weekly average attendance of 40. During 1886, total con-
tributions was $81.60 with $2.00 going for state missions and $2.00 going for home missions.
It was not until November 1, 1954, that the church voted to go full-time. This meant there would be a wor-
ship service held every Sunday. In 1959 a pastor's home was built. Since 1965 four men have been ordained
to the ministry with a fifth having been licensed to the ministry last year. In March, 1972, a weekly newsletter,
The Spire, was begun and continues to be mailed to members and others. In October, 1976, the church
began supporting Rev. and Mrs. Ronald B. Wilson as their foreign missionaries which continues. The
Wilson's now serve nine countries of the Northwest Caribbean: Rev. Wilson as Associate Area Director and
Mrs. Wilson as missionary homemaker. :
Today, Patterson Grove has a resident membership of 286. Of the 74 churches which comprise the Kings
Mountain Borin Association, Patterson Grove ranks 33rd in resident membership among her sister church-
es; 26th in Sunday school enrollment; 19th in average weekly Sunday school attendance; 21st in total gifts
received and is 10th in total gifts to all mission causes. .
According to the first minutes, Rev. G.M. Webb preached the sermon of dedication at the eleven o'clock
worship service on Sunday, November 16, 1884, following Sunday school. His text was from Il Chronicles
2:18, ‘And he (Solomon) . . . set the people a work.” “In his earnest manner,” reads the minutes, ‘*he im-
pressed indelibly upon the minds of all present the well selected truths.”
A church is not just buildings, budgets or mere statistics. A church is people. People who have met and
responded to the call of God and His free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ as Savior. People who strug-
gle to allow Jesus Christ to be the Lord of their lives and the living of the days. Only God can fully evaluate the
full impact of all the people of Patterson Grove, past, present and future.
We are grateful for the past 105 years of our history. We are grateful for the people who have toiled for
God's Kingdom. Seed has been sown. God will bring the harvest. His harvest. For His goodness and bless-
ings we are thankful!
PASTORS OF PATTERSON GROVE
Philip Blam. ios. ih son ii, i i 1885-1887: 1.0. Harrlll. .... .. ciel dais vateiaiaiators » 1916-1919
CE: 2 Rlemet.. ine, wad hla rsd 1888-1801 AC. devin... iia a aa 1920-1921
Te ABIL i he eR SR ne Se Re 1892 J.0. Fulbright. ....... ken is) niin 1921-1924
PG. Hofiner: ia nw. inal in in 1893 W.0. JOhNSON. .. .... 0% es sdialaliiatiaia ls 1924-1925
Philip Blam i. a oa a 1894-1897 J.Hoylelove..............ccoovvnnnnn 1925-1928
SiC. we Blanton. Ta Ee 1898-1900 G.P. Abernathy................cccunnn. 1929-1931
AH SIMS iA RL a 1901-1902 John W. Suttle. ................ccv.n.. 1931-1945
J.C Gillispie: ot laa ls, 1903-1904 W.A. Roberts...............cco0uunn. 1945-1947
RING Hawking. 0 de ose Sn 1905-1906 Grover C. Teague. ..........cuouveunen. 1948-1951
S.C Blamton. on. ls ln a 1907-1910 John J. Thornburg. ...........c.cc00vnn. 1951-1968
G0 Harri rs SE se a 11-1913. Fred 'F. Hicks. ........\ cise sein iainis 1969-1962
D.E. Vipperman. ......ook cna ll Je, 1914-1915 Richard Ervin Plyler. ................ 1963-Present
SPM: oa Ss SR 1915-1916
Paul and Joyce Hord
739-1631
SETZER'S DISCOUNT AUTO
PARTS
1301 S. Battleground Ave. 734-0121
GROVER INDUSTRIES
Where Friendly People Work
KINGS MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL MARTIN MARIETTA
739-3601 Management and Employees
HARRIS TEETER FIRST CAROLINA FEDERAL AMITY FINANCE
SUPERMARKET SAVINGS BANK of Kings Mountain
And Employees Since 1907 739-1311
739-4781 484-0222 865-1111
THE SUB FACTORY
124 A. West Gold Street
739-4255
THE PRINTIN' PRESS, INC.
Management and Employees
COMBUSTION ENGINEERING,
INC.
Management and Employees
BEN T. GOFORTH PLUMBING
Management and Employees
BUTLER AIR CONDITIONING
AND HEATING
David Butler and Employees
WINN DIXIE STORES
and Employees
PARKDALE MILLS, INC. #5
Management and Employees
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, INC.
Ollie Harris and Staff
MCGILL EXXON SERVICENTER
100 E. Kings Street
HARPER'S PRESCRIPTION
PHARMACY, INC.
739-3687
KERNS TRUCKING INC.
"You Call-We Haul"
JONES INTERCABLE
Management and Employees
MAC'S GROCERY
739-3391