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Swords Creek Community Baptist Church

3305 Kents Ridge Road
276-991-0264

The Swords Creek Community Baptist Church as it is known today, is a unique church, on which God has blessed greatly and continues to do so. This truth is apparent when you trace the different directions it has taken in its more than 100 years of existence. The first church was founded in 1880. The people worshiped in one-room log schoolhouse and at the time it was know as a Community Church. The first church building was erected a short time later on land donated by Alta Mansfield and Vicky Smith Martin. The church did not have regular pastor, but was placed on the Honaker Charge of the Methodist Church and preachers came by appointment.

The church building was badly damaged by a storm in 1950 and was later torn down. The church worshiped at the Swords Creek Elementary School during that time and in 1956 a new brick church was built. The new building had three Sunday School rooms, a sanctuary, and was heated by a pot-bellied stove. Rev. R.M. Barton came as pastor and remained until 1966. In 1967 the Honaker charge closed the circuit to the Sword Creek Church but the congregation wanted to remain a local church; so they affiliated with the Pilgrim Holiness Church. The church building was purchased from the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church for $6,700.00. Some time later the Pilgrim Holiness merged with the Wesleyan Methodist. The denomination resulting was known as the Wesleyan Church and the Swords Creek Church changed its name to the Swords Creek Wesleyan Church.

In March 1967, Reverend E.C. Price came as pastor. The church grew to 70 members and offerings were $200.00 weekly. Rev. Price stayed until 1972.

Reverend Robert Emmons came as pastor in 1973. Rev. Emmons stayed until 1974, when the ill health of his father forced him to return to Florida. The church grew both spiritually and economically during his stay.

Reverend Calvin Bradley, who had been a missionary in Africa for 20 years, came to pastor the church in 1974. He stayed until 1976.

Reverend Bob Emmons returned as pastor in 1976. Because the church had increased to 200 members, a building program started in 1978. “Bro. Bob” who, was a wonderful pastor as well as an excellent carpenter, led the men in a building program during which the sanctuary was remodeled, a foyer added and additional Sunday School rooms was built. Much of that remodeling is part of the existing church today.


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