Denison Herald
Friday, November 9, 1990

CALVARY BAPTIST TO CELEBRATE 85th ANNIVERSARY
Calvary Baptist Church of Denison is planning a 2-day celebration of its 85th anniversary Saturday and Sunday.
Albert Rector is program chairman for the Saturday activities which include a 7 p.m. meeting followed by judging of cakes baked by the men of the church at 7:30 p.m.  Fellowship with cake and punch is planned for 8 p.m.
On Sunday the church will host dinner in the fellowship hall after regular morning services.  Food will be provided by the church.  No services are scheduled for Sunday night.
In 1901 The Denison Baptist Church (now First Baptist), under leadership of Rev. A.J. Kincaid, recognized the need for another Baptist Church to serve south Denison.  A  committee of W.W. Neighbors, J.W. Pender and  L.B. Benjamin was named to organize a Sunday School in South Denison.   Neighbors became the first superintendent and Sunday School was held in residences.  A small frame building was erected at 711 S. Crockett, where Sunday afternoon school and Thursday night prayer services were held.
In the spring of 1905 Rev. J.M. Talley was called as city missionary with particular emphasis to be place on work of the mission in South Denison.    On November 15 of that year the mission was organized into Calvary Baptist Church.
Growth of the church was steady and expansion soon was eyed.   Property was purchased at 130 W. Munson and the small building was moved to the new location.  First meeting of trustees was held on July 5, 1907, and C.P. Harrison was elected president of the board.


In 1908 the South Side and Calvary Baptist churches voted to unite and the first meeting of the combined boards was held January 20, 1909, when R.R. Smart was elected President and Rev. Joseph C. Cook was called as the first pastor of the combined church and the name of Southside Calvary Baptist Church was selected.
Rev. A.J. Kincaid succeeded Cook and in 1916, upon his resignation, Rev. J.W. Hollums was called as pastor.  During Hollums' tenure the church gained a solid financial footing.
Construction began in 1921 on a new brick building and the basement was completed before the great labor crisis that year.  The basement was roofed and services began "underground."  Rev. L.R. Lamb, who has previously served as supply pastor in 1921, spent 15 years as pastor from 1927 until 1943.  In 1926 the church completed the above ground section and the auditorium was completed on May 11, 1941.  A 2-story addition was added in 1951.
In April 1929 a men's group was organized under Rev. Lamb's leadership.  It was called Calvary Caleb Club, and was a forerunner of the present Brotherhood.
The Revs. John R. Stevens, B.C. Brown, E.L. Potte now of Durant, Roy Cloudt, W.D. Lackey, Eugene H. Hoover and James E. Rogers, who presently served the church, have been pastors since Rev. Lamb.
Two churches have grown out of Calvary, the Calvary Baptist Chapel, organized in 1951, became Epting Memorial Baptist Church in 1952. Belmont Mission started August 5, 1953, became a church in 1961.
F.R. Lawhon served Calvary as Sunday School SUperintendent from 1935 until 1950.  In October 1951 the church voted to construct a 2-story addition to its building.  Then on February 10, 1954, members voted to relocate due to the expansion of Hwy. 75, which eliminated all parking.
On May 13, 1954, the present location, 300 W. Acheson, was secured, but ground breaking did not take place until July 29, 1956.  Construction began 23 days later and a little more than a year later first services were held in the new building on September 15, 1957.  In 1964 the church began a $1,000,000 completion and remodeling program.
Two parking lots have been added to the west side of the church and Calvary has added a Day Care for young children for working parents.  Three buses bring elderly or handicapped members to church and provide transportation for trips.


Calvary has 8 staff members:


Rev. Rogers


Rev. Steve Rice, associate pastor/youth minister
Glenn Moore, minister or music
Elizabeth Burk, secretary
Gloria Copley, assistant secretary"
Marilyn Johnson, organist
Kathy Randolph, pianist
and Lynn Burkhead, custodian.

Vivian Bassham, a church member since 1919, and Kenneth Williams have the longest continuous membership in the church.