Second Baptist Church, Sharpsville

	Sharpsville
	*Second Baptist Church*
-----	Second Baptist Church In 1916 Second Baptist Church which was located on Mercer Avenue in a store front owned by Ed Nelson, was organized by Mr. John Morgan, Thelma Morgan, Claude Russell, Mr. & Mrs. Moon with Rev. Johnson serving as first pastor. During the years 1916 to 1924 Claude Russell, Homer Butts & Herbert Page, Sr. served as deacons. Rev. Hall also served a term of pastorship during these years. In 1927 Second Baptist Church moved to Shenango Hill to a church donated to them by Shenango Penn Mould. The church remained at this location until 1943 with the Reverends Clopton, Crump, Walter Black, John Luther Lee and S. N. Dulaney serving as pastors. Percy Parks, Harry Johnson and I. I. Anderson were appointed to the deacon board from 1927 to 1937.	Second Baptist Church, Walnut and High Streets, Sharpsville


		Churches in Sharpsville

	In 1937 Rev. S. N. Dulaney served the memberships as pastor with Rev. John Luther Lee as assistant pastor until 1943. Deacons at this time were Herbert Page, Sr., Percy Parks, Barry Lee Halloway, Sr., William Sheppard and I. T. Anderson. Deacon Percy Parks the only surviving member of the deacon board [1974] resides on Fruit Avenue in Farrell, Pa. and is now affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Farrell, Pa. In 1943 Shenango Penn Mould cleared the company houses from the land which is now the Shenango Parking Lot and Second Baptist Church was dissolved. The membership was asked to go to any church of their choice until a new site was located and a new minister could be obtained. Sunday School was held for the children at various homes in the neighborhood. In 1944 Second Baptist Church relocated in a shanty in Bombeck’s Coal Yard with Rev. Evans as pastor, I. T. Anderson, Percy Parks and Herbert Page as deacons and Sherman Brown and James Morgan serving as trustees. In 1946 Second Baptist moved into the basement of the present location at Walnut and High Street with Rev. L. F. Golden as pastor. In 1951 the church was completed and the fifty members along with Rev. L. H. Golden, Deacons Herbert Page Sr., Percy Parks, I. T. Anderson and Trustees Sherman Brown and James Morgan moved into the new sanctuary. In 1956 the Valley Mould and Iron began to clear out the company houses which caused members to relocate again and the membership decreased. Rev. S. H. Dodson was pastor at this time and Herbert Page, Sr., Percy Parks and Raymond Johnson, Sr. were deacons with James Morgan, James Johnson and Aaron Barber as trustees. From 1959 to 1960 Rev. T. F. James was pastor. For the past 13 years Rev. Walter Gillespie has served the church as pastor. Rev. James Carothers is presently serving as assistant pastor [1974]. Raymond Johnson, Sr. and George Carter are deacons. James Johnson, James Morgan, Tinsley Johnson and Raymond Austin are trustees. Presently serving as elected officers of the church for the 1974 fiscal year are Deacon Raymond Johnson, Sunday School Superintendent; Brother Rodney Austin, Assistant Superintendent; Trustee James Morgan, church treasurer; Sister Elizabeth Lampkins, financial secretary; Sister Taretha Carothers, Assistant Financial secretary; Sister Delores Pope, church clerk; with Sister Loretta Hopkins, Assistant clerk. The church has undergone extensive remodeling within the last two and a half years, with other plans being discussed, and Shenango, Inc. has played a great part in the history of Second Baptist Church, recently donating land surrounding its present location for expansion and parking. *Sharpsville Centennial Commemorative Booklet, 1974, pages 44-45*