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After the Civil War, rural families, including those of former slaves, occupied the farmland and forest surrounding the area now known as Red Rock. In 1876, a group of these freedmen, led by Eliza Lockett-Ross, were inspired to start a church. Lockett-Ross opened her home to several families to organize St. James Baptist Church. The Reverend John H. Baptiste was chosen as the first minister, and he served in this capacity for seven years. Services were conducted in a pine grove under a brush arbor, a crude structure holding a ceiling to shield attendees from the elements, but no walls. A second building, a box structure, was constructed near the brush arbor.
In order to construct the third building, one acre of land was donated by Essick Lockett, Eliza Lockett-Ross’s son. This third building was of frame construction. In 1938, the fourth church building was built, under the leadership of the Reverend George Hershel Adams. Reverend Adams pastored the St. James congregation for more than 50 years. Remodeling was undertaken in the 1950s and again in the late 1960s. Construction on the fifth building, led by the board of deacons and trustees, was completed in May 1985. The church retains the original iron bell first used in the late 1800s.
Store owners, city council members, teachers, farmers, college students, nurses and others in various stages of life have called St. James their spiritual home. They have participated and led annual revivals, choir, anniversary celebrations and served the community through nursing home ministry, feeding programs, prayer breakfasts, youth empowerment and hosting county and precinct election polls. For over 150 years, St. James has been a place of healing, hope and community for the local area. (2022) |
