The History of Westside

The History of Westside Baptist

        Westside Bptist Church was organized in  1921.  It met in the old school house on the village of Cheraw Cotton Mills, Inc. (now Cheraw Yarn Mills).  In 1924 - 25, a wood church was built on the corner of Market and Claremeont Streets within the town of Cheraw.

     The land was donated by Dave Bennett Thompson, Mary Clark, and Rilla Jane Hopkins.  G.I. Jacobs was the first pastor of the church.  The congregation worshipped in this building until 1950.

     There was no air conditioning at this time and heat was very primitive. The baptismal pool was located below the platform where the pulpit was.  During baptismal, the carpet was removed from that floor portion and the boards were removed.  The pool was then filled with water and afterwards everything was removed and replaced for the next service.

     In 1947, under Joel S. Tyson, pastor, a building program was started to erect a brick worship center.  This was located to the rear of the present church and connected in order for the old church to be used for Sunday School.

     In November of 1950, Horace V. Kinney was pastor when the new building was completed.  There was still no air condition but the worship center was heated by gas space heaters.  Eventually, gas heaters were placed in classrooms.

     The church had used a house on Roby Sreet as the pastorium for many years.  In 1953, the owners needed the use of their house. Westside quickly had to find Reverend Raymond Crow and his family another place to live.