August 16, 1895, under the leadership of Rev. Jacob Mayfield and
W. S. Taylor, Oak Hill Baptist Church was organized. Along
with 16 other charter members: William Taylor, Daniel
Phillip, J.W. New, John Cundiff, Charity New, E.J. New, Lou
Cundiff, Ida Chestnut, Noma Eads, Lisa Chestnut, Almer Chestnut,
Lara Lorton, Emmie Freeman, Annie Wilson, James W. Eads, and Lou
Ellen Eads.Shortly after, Oak Hill became organized the
church's first building program began. With the land being
donated by W.O. Newell, March 1896, our first church building,
measuring 30 X 50 X 12, was completed February of the following
year.
In 1948, the church selected a site for the new building.
The church moved into its new facilities, March 5, 1949.
In December, 1961, Oak Hill decided to start a new building
fund, for expansion of the building and the installation of rest
rooms and a nursery. After a unanimous vote in October,
1978, the church proceeded and completed new additions to the
building in January, 1979.
In July, 1982, Oak Hill called Dr. Harold Brown, who is
currently still serving, as its pastor. Shortly,
thereafter, the church ventured into its largest building
program ever. In order to accommodate the growing
congregation, the church decided to relocate the church site
across the road. The church opted to expand over a
three-phase period. With monies secured, phase one began
in the spring of 1983. In August, however, the church was
dealt a setback when the frame of the new building under
construction collapsed leaving only the foundation in-tact.
Not to be deterred, the church rebuilt the structure seeing it
completed and able for use in March, 1984.
Easter Sunday morning, 1988, phase two of the building
program, the church's new auditorium was completed. It is
still being used as our present sanctuary. In 1994, due to
the growth and faithful giving of her members, the church was
able to declare itself debt-free.
However, in May, 1994,
Oak Hill broke ground on construction of phase three. The
expansion would include a 3-story educational wing and a state
of the art Family Life Center. In May, 1995, phase three
of the building was completed. |