We give praise to God for all that he has led the members of Sardis Baptist Church to accomplish during our many years of service to Him.   Our church building has undergone numerous improvements and renovations since the "ox cart" days of the founding of Sardis Baptist Church. During all these improvements, all the money, time and materials that were needed for the projects have been donated.

     Most recently Sardis has completed a top to bottom renovation of our Fellowship Hall, including a contemporary kitchen!!  We love to fellowship with food!!

 

1883-Present

               "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

                 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been   

                     taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving"

                                                                    Colossians 2:6-7

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Several years prior to 1883, a group of Baptist and Methodist jointly used the old Sanders School Building for public worship services. Rev. W.C. Nowell was the Baptist minister and Brother D.C. Poole was the Methodist minister.

During a joint revival in 1886, these two ministers saw that the time was ripe for the formal organization of both a Methodist and Baptist church. Each member of the congregation was given an opportunity to make their denominational choices. "Part of the success of this revival may have been partly due to the earthquake (info here) which took place one night during the revival, for after the "shake" that night, there was noticeable increase in the interest of religious matter."
 
Fifteen Baptist were received under the watch care of First Baptist Church at Smithfield until the organization could be completed. Rev. W.C. Nowell, first pastor of the church, is credited with selecting the name, Sardis Baptist Church.
 
In 1887 land was donated by Mr. Iredell Godwin. The needed materials and money were donated and Sardis Baptist Church constructed their first building that same year. This original site was used for about 30 years, but because of its nearness to Bear Creek and the Methodist church and because the church had outgrown the building, the congregation decided to move to a new location.

Again, land was donated, this time by Mr. and Mrs. Russell Holt, for a new building on the present day site and construction began in the summer of 1913. The first service in the new building was in May 1914. Pews from the old building were moved to the new building. Mrs. Kittie Peterson Sanders left the church a gift of two hundred dollars in her will and the church used this money to buy new pews and paint the building.
 
Improvements have been ongoing since 1913 as the need arose and the funds were available. Electricity was installed and in 1940-41 new classrooms were added. In 1949 the vestibule was added. During 1950 new pews were installed and the interior of the building was renovated. During the following years improvements have been made as funds were available. Upstairs classrooms and bathrooms were added in the 1960s and the building was brick veneered. Stained glass memorial windows and a new steeple were also added. Central heat and air conditioning, new carpets and overhead lights were installed. Because of the church's continued growth in number and spirit, during 1970 the church was able to add a Fellowship Hall, kitchen, Pastor's study and three more classrooms. From the beginning of the first construction, the yards were continually improved and in 1974, Mr. Lunchford Creech giving the church land for additional parking. Landscaping was added along with concrete walks. Since that time, a baptistery has been added, the Fellowship Hall and kitchen enlarged. A storage building and picnic shelter have been constructed. The parking lot was paved and in 2006 the sanctuary was enlarged and completely renovated.