History

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Spring Hill AME Church</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Arial" ><B>   </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>   </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Welcome"><U>   Welcome</U></A>   |   <B> History</B>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Leadership"><U>Our Leadership</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U>Calendar</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery"><U>Photo Gallery</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Related Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B><U>Former Pastors</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rev. Foster First Pastor</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. B.C. Cunningham (1949-1950)     </B></div> <div> <B>Rev. O.C. Dunham </B></div> <div> <B>1950-1951</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. Marlin Hendrieth 1951, 1952, because of illness was unable to complete the second year.   </B></div> <div> <B>Rev. George Reid finished the un-expired term.</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. J.W. Witherspoon 1953-1954 </B></div> <div> <B>Rev. C.C. Black</B></div> <div> <B> 1954-1964. </B></div> <div> <B>Rev. Lewis Myers </B></div> <div> <B>1964 -1966</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. C.C. McIlwain led us until the fall of 1972. </B></div> <div> <B>Rev. W.O. Wilson served a short portion of the year until his death that June</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. A. A. Amaker completed that year.  </B></div> <div> <B>Rev. L.M. Seward</B></div> <div> <B> 1973-1974 </B></div> <div> <B>Rev.Roland W. Reeves (1975-1991) died in August of 1991. </B></div> <div> <B>Elder Clark R. Hawthorne completed the unexpired term. </B></div> <div> <B>Rev Jonathan J. Baker 1991-1992</B></div> <div> <B>Rev.Robert L. Cleckley 1992-1994</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFCC80" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B><U>SPRING HILL AME CHURCH HISTORY</U></B></div> <div> <I><IMG SRC="079a33a0.jpg" border=0 width="419" height="314" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <I><U>Spring Hill AME Church Senoir Choir</U></I></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>SPRING HILL AME CHURCH HISTORY</U></B></div> <div>          </div> <div> <B>              For One hundred and forty years Spring Hill A.M.E. church has been a part of the Lexington, South Carolina religious community. The first place of worship was built with trees and brushes known as a Brush Harbor.” This served as a place of worship until a permanent structure could be erected. Soon after, a log cabin was erected. This served as place of worship for a number of years. These early pioneers, continued to want something better, so the first frame church became a reality. But this church was short lived.</B></div> <div> <B>             The next church many of us remember was begun on March 23, 1948. Mr. D. J. Taylor was the builder and Reverend A. A. Redden, pastor. The old church stood as a place of worship until the new church was ready for services. On August 22, 1958, the new church was not complete, but it was at the stage wherein we could worship in it. The first song in the new church was led by Mrs. B. V. Derrick, and the first prayer by Brother Richard Johnson.  The first sermon was delivered by Dr. Addison. Very little is known of the people who actually took part in the organization and building of the earlier churches. Nevertheless, we do know that Mr. Jess Hiller was one of the early pioneers of the church. He was for many years Sunday School Superintendent and Sexton of the church. Other members in the early church were Mr. Sol Taylor, Mr. Austin Gates.</B></div> <div> <B>          In the fourth church, some of the faithful members were Mr. Preston Norphlet, who was Sunday School Superintendent and Sexton, for many years. Mrs. Lucretia Logan also added much to the spiritual life of the church. Mr. Earl Davis, who was choir leader for a long time, was a faithful member.      Mrs. Belle V. Derrick was one of those dedicated Christian members who had the Church at heart. She held positions of trustee, steward, choir leader and others. Her service, devotion and untiring loyalty cannot be measured in words. She, along with other Christian workers, was very instrumental in planning and working for the building of this Church.  Mrs. Estell Davis, a class leader at the church worked tirelessly also in this effort. Mrs. Geneva Long, was treasurer of the missionary, and also considered as one of the strong backbones of the church.</B></div> <div> <B>          Trustee Andrew C. Gates was the builder of our beautiful new edifice Our Sunday School attendance increased tremendously as a result of its short lived-service. The addition of an educational building including a kitchen and fellowship hall in 1978 provided more space and accommodations.  Again Trustee Andrew C. Gates served his Church as builder of this addition.  Later in l984, we purchase four and two-tenths acres of land including a mobile home. Additionally, Mr. Walter P Rawls deeded to us two and five-tenths acres of adjoining property. The mobile home was sold shortly afterward. Our next goal was the paving of the parking lot. It became a reality in 1988. We acquired three-fourths of an acre of land for our road leading to the church from Windy Court. It was paved thereafter. Plans were made to re-carpet the sanctuary, pad the pews, and refurnish the pulpit and choir stands.</B></div> <div> <B>          Our goal under the leadership of Rev. Robert L. China, Jr. was to expand and remodel our fellowship hall and kitchen became a reality in October of 2000. The addition of a more spacious kitchen, church office, pastor office, and lounges for women and men was dedicated February 25, 2001 under the leadership of Bishop Henry A. Belin, Jr. and Presiding Elder Willie J. Nelson. It bears the name Reeves-Gates Multi-purpose Building in memory Rev. Roland W. Reeves and in honor of Brother Andrew C. Gates. Structurally we have improved upon our interior. We have purchased chandeliers throughout the sanctuary. We recently renovated the church school classrooms with new carpet and drywall.  The entry into the multipurpose building was dry walled and the balcony in the sanctuary was also refurbished. We are continuing with faith in God and love for our fellowman to improve upon this rich history that God has granted to us and the sainted souls gone before labored to accomplish.</B></div> <div> <B>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>