FOREST HILL BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY
Sunday morning, January 1, 1961, a group of interested men, women, and children gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grady Jordan, 1100 Bolt Drive, Anderson, South Carolina, for the purpose of finalizing the organization of a mission to become a Church at some future date. Reverend Woodrow Herrin, Associate Pastor of First Baptist, assumed the duties of Pastor. Forest Hill Baptist Chapel was started as a mission of First Baptist Church of Anderson.
In February, 1961, members were asked to submit possible names for the Mission. The name, Forest Hill, was submitted by Berthine Shanklin.
After that first day in the basement of the Jordan home, a steady growth was experienced, and very soon it was evident that a larger building was needed. On May 3, 1961, a store building was rented on the corner of Bolt Drive and the Belton Highway.
On June 1, 1962, Rev. Joseph R. Weber assumed the duties as the first full-time Mission Pastor.
Membership increased and a need for even larger facilities was recognized. On March 10, 1963, construction of a chapel was begun on a five-acre lot owned by First Baptist Church at the corner of Bolt Drive and Plantation Road. On August 4, 1963, the membership of Forest Hill moved into the new Chapel Building.
On October 11, 1965, Ground Breaking Ceremonies were held for a new Education Building which was completed in 1967.
On May 1, 1966, at 1:45 p.m., the Mission officially became a fully constituted Church.
In 1970 Reverend J. R. Weber resigned as pastor.
Reverend Charles W. Shacklette became pastor of Forest Hill and began his duties on April 4, 1971.
With continuous growth, on March 26, 1972, the church voted to build the sanctuary at a cost of $465,000. Construction began in September, 1972.
May 5, 1974, the membership entered the new sanctuary to begin revival services with Dr. John Howell. The highest attendance for Sunday School in the history of the church was recorded that Sunday at 555. On July 28, 1974, a service of Dedication was held as an expression of gratitude and love for Christ.
The magnificent stained glass window of the sanctuary was given by church members Linda Charping and William Chapman, Sr. in memory of their mother, Edna Chapman.
In February 1984 the fellowship hall and kitchen were enlarged to their present size.
On Sunday morning, April 1, 1984, Reverend Charles Shacklette resigned as pastor.
Rev. Don L. McCutcheon, Sr. assumed duties as pastor in July, 1984. After serving the church for 2-1/2 years, he resigned in December, 1986.
Dr. Dean M. Weaver assumed duties as pastor on November 1, 1987. On January 4, 1998, Forest Hill held a Note Burning Ceremony and HomecomingService in celebration of paying off a $465,000 indebtedness on the Sanctuary Building.
On November 1, 1998, Dr. Weaver retired after 46 years of pastoral ministry, 11 of which were served at Forest Hill.
Dn February 13, 2000, the church voted to call Rev. Paul K. Langston, Sr., as Pastor. He assumed duties April 9, 2000.
In June of 2000 Dr. Joseph R. Weber was elected Pastor Emeritus of Forest Hill. This was a unique situation as Dr. Weber was the first Pastor of the church 1961-1970, and again served the church in 1999 and 2000 as Interim Pastor. On August 6, 2000, he was presented a plaque from the church expressing appreciation for his love and faithfulness to God and His people.
On November 5, 2006, Rev. Langston left Forest Hill to become Director of Missions of the Eastern Baptist Association of North Carolina.
On January 11, 2009 the church voted to call Rev. Tom Owen as Pastor. He assumed his duties on February 1, 2009, and continues to serve as Pastor. In April of 2011 the church celebrated its 50 year anniversary and named Dr. Dean Weaver Pastor Emeritus.
Updated April 30, 2009 and Feb. 2016, this is a history of Forest Hill Baptist Church, 909 Plantation Road, Anderson, SC 29621 Phone: 864-224-8701
Sunday morning, January 1, 1961, a group of interested men, women, and children gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grady Jordan, 1100 Bolt Drive, Anderson, South Carolina, for the purpose of finalizing the organization of a mission to become a Church at some future date. Reverend Woodrow Herrin, Associate Pastor of First Baptist, assumed the duties of Pastor. Forest Hill Baptist Chapel was started as a mission of First Baptist Church of Anderson.
In February, 1961, members were asked to submit possible names for the Mission. The name, Forest Hill, was submitted by Berthine Shanklin.
After that first day in the basement of the Jordan home, a steady growth was experienced, and very soon it was evident that a larger building was needed. On May 3, 1961, a store building was rented on the corner of Bolt Drive and the Belton Highway.
On June 1, 1962, Rev. Joseph R. Weber assumed the duties as the first full-time Mission Pastor.
Membership increased and a need for even larger facilities was recognized. On March 10, 1963, construction of a chapel was begun on a five-acre lot owned by First Baptist Church at the corner of Bolt Drive and Plantation Road. On August 4, 1963, the membership of Forest Hill moved into the new Chapel Building.
On October 11, 1965, Ground Breaking Ceremonies were held for a new Education Building which was completed in 1967.
On May 1, 1966, at 1:45 p.m., the Mission officially became a fully constituted Church.
In 1970 Reverend J. R. Weber resigned as pastor.
Reverend Charles W. Shacklette became pastor of Forest Hill and began his duties on April 4, 1971.
With continuous growth, on March 26, 1972, the church voted to build the sanctuary at a cost of $465,000. Construction began in September, 1972.
May 5, 1974, the membership entered the new sanctuary to begin revival services with Dr. John Howell. The highest attendance for Sunday School in the history of the church was recorded that Sunday at 555. On July 28, 1974, a service of Dedication was held as an expression of gratitude and love for Christ.
The magnificent stained glass window of the sanctuary was given by church members Linda Charping and William Chapman, Sr. in memory of their mother, Edna Chapman.
In February 1984 the fellowship hall and kitchen were enlarged to their present size.
On Sunday morning, April 1, 1984, Reverend Charles Shacklette resigned as pastor.
Rev. Don L. McCutcheon, Sr. assumed duties as pastor in July, 1984. After serving the church for 2-1/2 years, he resigned in December, 1986.
Dr. Dean M. Weaver assumed duties as pastor on November 1, 1987. On January 4, 1998, Forest Hill held a Note Burning Ceremony and HomecomingService in celebration of paying off a $465,000 indebtedness on the Sanctuary Building.
On November 1, 1998, Dr. Weaver retired after 46 years of pastoral ministry, 11 of which were served at Forest Hill.
Dn February 13, 2000, the church voted to call Rev. Paul K. Langston, Sr., as Pastor. He assumed duties April 9, 2000.
In June of 2000 Dr. Joseph R. Weber was elected Pastor Emeritus of Forest Hill. This was a unique situation as Dr. Weber was the first Pastor of the church 1961-1970, and again served the church in 1999 and 2000 as Interim Pastor. On August 6, 2000, he was presented a plaque from the church expressing appreciation for his love and faithfulness to God and His people.
On November 5, 2006, Rev. Langston left Forest Hill to become Director of Missions of the Eastern Baptist Association of North Carolina.
On January 11, 2009 the church voted to call Rev. Tom Owen as Pastor. He assumed his duties on February 1, 2009, and continues to serve as Pastor. In April of 2011 the church celebrated its 50 year anniversary and named Dr. Dean Weaver Pastor Emeritus.
Updated April 30, 2009 and Feb. 2016, this is a history of Forest Hill Baptist Church, 909 Plantation Road, Anderson, SC 29621 Phone: 864-224-8701
