Calvary Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia had its beginning as a Sunday School. The work was first started under the leadersihp of Mrs. R.W. Thiot. She was assisted by Mr. U.Y. Lewis, a young Christian who was later to be ordained and serve as the first pastor of the small congregation. The church was organized under the name of the Belle Point Baptist church, which was its location, and there were nine charter members. The oldest written record is found in a Bible presented by Rev. Lewis to the church in 1936. Verbal Records indicate that the church was assisted by several laymen, including Brothers Pritchard, Blann, Parks, and Chapman. In 1937, an extension Sunday School was organized in the old Glynn Canning Shrimp Factory in the community known as the Old box Factory section. Shortly thereafter, the church moved to the present location and changed its name to Immanuel Baptist Church. It was later renamed Calvary Baptist Church. It was through the generosity of Mr. John W. Whittle that the lumber was donated for the building of the house of worship. To meet the challenge of a growing city, because of the opening of the ship yard, an appeal was made to the State Missions Board of the Georgia Bapist Convention for financial aid to erect a new church building and employ a full time pastor. These funds were granted. Also, the pastors and members of the First Baptist Church and the Norwich Street Baptist Church encouraged and contributed to the work of Calvary in our infant years. In July, 1953, a concrete block Educational Building was built to care for the increase in Sunday School attendance. At this time, the church was under the leadership of Rev. D.P. Ward. |
1955, a Building Committee was elected to plan the church building program for the future. The first phase of our building program was the completion of the Pastorium in February, 1956. The second phase of our building program was under the leadership of Rev. G.A. Hunter, Jr. The land for the Educational Building was completed and dedicated on February 28, 1960. On June 10, 1959, we purchased three lots in East View Subdivision for future needs. In the early part of 1967, a Sunday School was begun in Druid Oaks Trailer Park. At this time, the class was held in the park's laundry room. In the summer of 1968, a mobile home was purchased and furnished for a more permanent mission effort. The third phase of our building program was under the leadership of Rev. Ralph E. Wade. On March 12, 1969, the church voted to secure the services of Schlosser and Miller Architects to draw up plans for an interim sanctuary and educational building. On the Lord's Day of March 16, 1969, the church unanimously voted to enter into a $150,000 bond program with Providence Church Plan, Inc., to finance this building program. The Ground Breaking Service was held on July 6, 1969. A testimonial service was held November 30, 1969 in the old santuary. The first services in the new chapel were held on December 7, 1969.  |
