History of Red Bank
July 11, 1889
“We the undersigned, being led by the Spirit of God and with no other desire but to glorify His name by holding forth His truth, have this day in the presence of each and with the aid and approval of Rev. J. B. Bringman, organized ourselves into a Baptist Church of Christ . . . “
Thus began the history of Red Bank Baptist Church one hundred years ago. These early believers met in a building shared by all Christian denominations in the community. By 1895, the church has sixty-nine members with the pastor receiving a salary of $185.80 a year. The church originally held its business meetings on Saturday evening and every male member was required to attend.
In 1922, the Baptist congregation withdrew from the Union Church, which was located in what is today the community cemetery, and erected a building on land donated by the Martel Mill Company. The church met for worship on this site for thirty-six years.
In 1952, eight acres of land near Red Bank Grammar School were purchased and two years later a parsonage was erected on the site. In 1957, the schoolhouse and land adjacent to this property were purchased. In August 1958, the church building was moved from the mill village and placed on the present site which consisted of nearly twelve acres of land.
On June 14, 1959, Raymond B. Day was ordained to the gospel ministry and served as pastor till 1995. One March 6, 1978, Robert A. “Butch” Powell was called to serve as associate pastor of Red Bank Baptist Church. He grew up in and was ordained by Red Bank Baptist Church on October 7, 1973. He was called to First Baptist Church of Gilbert, S.C., where he served as pastor until returning to his home church. Pastor Powell worked closely with Pastor Day until his retirement in 1995, at which time he was elected Senior Pastor. He continues to serve in that capacity today emphasizing the mission activities that began under Pastor Day.
Since 1978, Red Bank Baptist Church has had the privilege to sponsor or co-sponsor five missions in Lexington County that are now constituted SBC Churches. The church has also been instrumental in the start of one church in West Virginia. We are involved in mission work all over the world and have had the opportunity to build six churches in India and to assist in building two in Romania. Red Bank Baptist Church has future plans to assist in the creation of a Seminary for pastors in India. Since it’s organization the church has grown to a membership of about1400.