Hopewell Baptist Church

By Gayle Graham Duett

By a request of a number of brethren and sisters, a presbytery convened at Brand School House near Little Rock, Newton County, Mississippi, on September 10, 1898 for the purpose of constituting a Regular Baptist Church. The presbytery was composed of elders H. O. White and W. H. Rainer. Elder H. O. White was selected as moderator and James W. Smith as clerk. Hopewell was selected as the name of the new church.

Elder H. O. White was chosen as the first pastor. The time of meeting was declared as the Saturday before the first Sunday of each month.

Members who united with Hopewell at this first meeting were Brethren J. A. Smith, Sr., C. A. Holyfield (died 1931), A. L. Scott (dismissed by letter May 1913), L. S. Holyfield, James W. Smith (died September 30, 1918), T. R. Overstreet, and J. W. Grantham; also Sisters Nancy Clary (died July 1905), Liddy O. Riche, Mary J. Smith (died November 7, 1904), Mary J. Williamson, Luvy (?) Clary, Laury Scott, Malinda Spangly, Hariet Williamson, Emly Scott, Julia Smith, and Marthy Braswell.

By the end of the first year, the church membership numbered thirty-six. The church had also selected two deacons, W. J. Reece and J. F. Huddleston, the first deacon ordained by the church.

Many of the early members transferred their letters from Beulah Baptist Church or other churches in the area. The membership rolls reflect the following additional members prior to 1917:

The original church building was constructed by James Richardson, Waymon Holyfield, James W. Williams, and J. F. Huddleston shortly after the churchs formation, likely in 1899. Prior to construction of the church building, the Brand School building served as the place of worship.

The new structure served the growing membership well for many years. Its heating system was a wood stove attended by dedicated worshippers during the winter. During the summer, the windows were opened and either a palmetto or paper fan was used to cool the worshippers. A quilt, pallet, or blanket was placed in a corner aisle to provide a safe and restful nursery for infants and small children during services. Oil lamps were placed in strategic corners to give light to the reading of Gods word and the singing of hymns of praise from the shape-note hymnals. An upright piano, purchased in the 1920s, brought enthusiastic praise from worshippers, especially during the protracted meetings held yearly the first week in August, as Gods spirit moved in the harvesting of souls. Miss Fannie D. Rainer was the first pianist.

By the year 1933, the congregation had grown to 204 members.

When the neighboring Liberty Baptist Church was lost to fire, the Hopewell congregation shared its building with the Liberty congregation at an alternate time of meeting.

As Hopewell Church grew, the old building became inadequate and in a bad state of disrepair. During the pastorate of Rev. N. V. Nicholson (1950-1959), a new building was erected to provide the present sanctuary and four classrooms. Much of the raw materials came from donations of lumber, nails, and materials from members and most of the construction of the new facilities came from the donated labor of church members.

Beginning in the early 1960s, the church, under the leadership of Rev. Hulon R. Chaney, reached a membership of 240. At this point, the church agreed to move to a full-time pastorate and to also begin training union. A fellowship hall, nursery, and four additional classrooms were added.

Both church facilities and programs have continued to grow, particularly during the pastorates of Rev. Tommy Anderson (1974-1975) and Rev. Jimmy McDill (1987-Present).

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