Clarkton First Baptist Church, 2004

The Beginning

The Clarkton Baptist Church was organized on Feb. 16, 1884 with 16 charter members, under the leadership of Rev. R.M. Hilburn, who began this work of the invitation of G.W. Hester. One acre of land was secured from Mr. J.D. Currie and his wife, A.L. Currie, on Dec. 8, 1884, upon which a church was to be built. The trustees that handled the transaction were Brethren J.W. Hester and W.T. Gooden. The line began on the railroad bank near J.W. Hester's blacksmith shop. The deed is filed in the Bladen County Register of Deeds Office.

Associational Membership

About the middle of the 17th century, Baptist churches in England initiated the practice of joining together in associations. The chief purpose was the maintain fellowship among scattered congregations. American Baptists adopted the practice.

Since 1758 most of the Baptist churches organized in North Carolina have either joined an associated or formed a new one more conveniently located.

Clarkton Baptist Church was received into the Cape Fear Association in October 1884, and remained there until the organization of the Bladen County Baptist Association in 1892, when Clarkton became one of the charter members.

Clarkton Baptist Church decided to return to the Cape Fear-Columbus Association in 1898, then rejoined the Bladen Association in 1924. Clarkton also was a charter member of the Central Union that organized in 1885. In 1926, the Central Union united with the Bladen Union and assumed its name.

On Nov. 7 1892, delegates from the churches of Bladen County met at Mt. Pleasant Church (now Lisbon Baptist Church) and organized the Bladen County Baptist Association. Clarkton Church was a charter member.

Church Buildings

The first building was begun during the first year of the church's history, 1884. In 1911, the vestible and steeple were added.

The Nov. 4, 1944 Conference records show the church voted to continue the new church building fund started by Rev. S.R. Goodman. On May 16, 1947, church members voted 30 to 5 to build a new church.

On June 6, 1947, the Building Committe reported that Dr. D.D. Clark offered a lot on Highway 701 with a frontage of 100 feet and a depth of 200 feet for $1,500.

On April 7, 1949, the church voted to build a church pastorium.

On Jan. 15, 1950, the church voted to begin work on the new church building immediately. More than 8,000 hours of labor were given by church members during the construction. The church voted to sell the old church building, which was bought by Pentecostal Holiness Church.

The first worship service was held in the new building on March 9, 1952. A dedication service was held Nov. 28, 1954, and the new building was dedicated to the glory of God.

The total cost of the building, including a conservative estimate of the value of the volunteer labor, approximately $52,000.

Pastors

A record of ministers before 1914 is not available
1914 -- A.H. Porter
1915-16 -- J.D. Howell
1917-18 -- J.H. Poteat
1921-23 -- H. Love
1926-28 -- W.O. Biggs
1929-31 -- A.L. Turner
1932 -- L.R. Ennis
1933-36 -- W.O. Biggs
1937 -- R.J. Hall
1939 -- Rev. Conoley
1940-42 -- O.R. Miller
1943 -- S. Russell Goodman
1944-46 -- Marvin Beasley
1946 -- E.E. Ulrich
1949-54 -- John A. Moore
1955-57 -- Thomas Tobey
1957-62 -- Thomas Wolfe
1962-64 -- Woodrow W. Neal
1965-72 -- J. Peyton Royal
1973-78 -- Robert T. Byrd
1978-87 -- Charles M. Hester
1989-2004 -- Dr. Michael V. Thompson
2005 -- Dr. Larry Pittman

Source: 'History of Clarkton Baptist Church, 1884-1998