The idea for a new church in
the area started with the men’s group at First Church Minden, pastored
by Rev. Ira W. Flowers at that time. The first service was held at
Westside (later Stewart) Middle School on September 9, 1951. The
unnamed church was pastored by Rev. Harvey Williamson. The following
month was designated charter membership month. The church was organized
on October 7, 1951 with seventy-two charter members.
The original choice for a site
on Hwy. 80 was abandoned in favor of a site on Turner’s Pond (now Lake).
Services were moved to Eastside School, closer to the new site and the
church was named Lakeview. After Bobby Turner donated land to the
church, a parsonage was built in 1952. A building committee took
their design after a church on Mockingbird Lane, though reduced in size.
Construction was underway when the first tent revival was held in August
1953. A church bazaar held that December became an annual event.
On February 21, 1954, the new
$106,000 church was opened. Revs. Pomeroy, Flowers, and Williamson
presided over the service. Shortly thereafter an education building
was constructed, with the members donating much of the labor and materials.
It was named Faircloth Hall in memory of a member of the original planning
committee, Richard Faircloth. The hall was doubled in size while
Rev. James M. Poole was pastor (1959-62).
The parsonage was enlarged and
remodeled in 1969. |
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