The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-10

III LII CA4Ao
The now red brick dwelling OF
the Sunset Park baptist church is
the result of the hurry and rush OF
a war torn nation.
The church was born when the
Rev. James H. Butler was sent
by the convention on April q,
1912. to conduct services OF
worship and to lead in any posi-
BILE organized work.
After several weeks OF activity
in the various communities MADE
m chiefly of defense workers, the
Rev. Mr.. Butler erected a tent at
the corner of Southern Boulevard
and Washington streets. First SER
vices were held in the tent on
Sunday afternoon, July 5, 1912,
with 4S persons present. The fol-
lowing Sabbath, regular weekly
activities we're begun, with Sunday
school and worship services.
Following a series of r e wv |
services held August 9-23, with the
Rev. Douglas M. Branch asslstlng'
those who had been Worshlphg
regularly at the tent felt the time
had come to organize a church
and build their own structure.
At a special service held on Sun
dav afternoon, September s, 1912,
those in the community who wish
ed to organize a church in Sunset
Park. met with pastor, deacons,
and members from varlou S
churches in the Wilmington Asso-
citation for the purpose OF organl-
zing the church.
Those assisting in the organlza-
ton of the church in addition to
the Rev. James H. Butler were:
Rev. J. C. Walton, Southside Bap-
fist church: Rev. H. S. Strickland,
Wrightsboro church; Rev. E a r
Bradley, Moderator of the ASSOC
alton and pastor of Calvary
church; Rev. J. Roy Clifford,
Tempt church; Rev. w. c. Francis,
Winter Park church; and the Rev.
Sankey L. Blanton, First Baptist
church.
The church was organized with
80 charter members.
The congregation continued to
worship in the tent until it was
partially destroyed by wind OF De-
cember 8, 1912. A temporary build
ing was Immediately begun and
construction was completed in -Wo
week. This building, though small,
was effectively used for more than
a year.
In January. of 1943, Miss Bonnie
Jean Ray, missionary to China on
furlough because of the war, was
sent by the Foreign Mission Board
to aid in the work of the church
for one year.
On June IA. 1913, construction
was begun on the educational unit
of the permanent church building,
but the corner stone was not laid
until March, 1914 al which time
the Rev. J. F. Herbert. pastor,
Grace Methodist church; and the
Rev. ]. Roy Clifford, pastor, Tenn
pie Baptist church; spoke before
the eager audiance CT onlookers.
The congregation neld its fir t
services in the new building on
February g., 1914.
The church in conjunction with
the Baptist State Convention, be-
gan construction of a church build
ig on Shipyard Boulevard to be
used for services in the interest of
the residents of Maffitt Village in
November, 1913.
January l, 1914, Mr.. Paul c. Nix
became assistant pastor OF the
Sunset Park Baptist church W a S
responsible for the work at e
Maffitt Village mission. First
worship services at the little mis-
sion were held on the fourth Sun
day in January, 1914.
This work continued as a mis-
sion of Sunset Park Baptist church
until October, 1914, when those
who worshipped there were orga-
nized into the Maffitt Village Bap-
fist church with the Rev. Mr. Nix
serving the pastorate of the new
ly organized church and being or
dained by the Sunset Park church.
The Rev. Mr.. Butler resigned as