By Morgan Mizell

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Sixty years may sound like forever to some, but for the members of Cliff Temple Baptist Church, it’s just a start.

Last Saturday and Sunday the church held its 60th anniversary celebration. The Saturday night service included a slideshow presentation chronicling the history of the church in pictures. Church secretary, Jeanette Day spent much of the last year gathering information from members and scanning photos to compile the slideshow and history booklet for those who attended.

“We elected an anniversary committee last year in April,” Day said. “We have spent a lot of time getting information together to have a record so it will be preserved for future generations.”

The church, which sits on Spokane Road in the Kingston community, was once without a building. Charter member Myrna French said she can recall some of the earliest meetings.

“I remember when we used to meet out in Mr. Goldman’s field,” French said. “Later, we met in a little building up where the Kingston store is now.”

Other members who were around during the earlier years said they, too, remember the different location before the church came to rest where it is now. A glance through the pages of the new historical reference paints a picture of a time when land was purchased for $9 an acre and the pastor was paid $5 a week.

The first building the church officially met in was borrowed from Calvary Baptist Church. It was a one-room building which emphasizes the humble beginnings of the church.

Brother and sister, Lee Gillespie and Ann Gillespie Upton, were not necessarily church founders, but they were children during this time.

“I was looking through the history booklet, and it was interesting to see just how much has changed,” Gillespie said. “I know a lot has changed, but I am proud of my church and the members in it. We do a great deal to be a small congregation.”

Gillespie is now chairman of the deacons and Sunday school director. His long-time involvement with the church is something on which other members have come to rely.

“It may sound unimportant, but there are so many who do so much for the church that doesn’t always get noticed,” Day said. “The other day, we had a water leak and I couldn’t get anyone right away, and I called Mr. Lee and he was here in just a matter of minutes and helped me to get the situation resolved.”

Current pastor the Rev. Russell Wagoner feels Cliff Temple has been a great fit for him and he looks forward to seeing growth in the church.

“It is really what we are called to do,” Wagoner said. “The Bible tells us, ‘Go ye therefore,’ and I know there are more people in the community we could be reaching, and we are working on doing more outreach.”

The years of history have seen much change. There have been numerous pastors, ministers of music and accompanists and several different activities that have come and gone. Member Ann Gillespie Upton said one of her favorite memories involved the softball teams and gatherings at her home swimming pool.

“The fellowship is what you think about so much,” Upton said. “I loved playing softball, and we had a great team, and it wasn’t anything for me to pick up a watermelon and invite folks to the house to come swim. We used to do a lot of that.”

Although there is so much tradition and history in every pew of the church, the large flat-screen monitors and instrument-filled area behind the pulpit make clear times are changing.

“We have tried to include various styles of worship in our service,” Rev. Wagoner said. “We will never give up our hymns. They are a staple.”

The styles of worship and preaching have changed through the years but all of it has served a purpose and been in keeping with the changes of the time.

“We try to incorporate some of the more modern songs and styles of worship,” Wagoner said. “But, our mission is still about serving the Lord.”

The congregation of the church has always been happy to help others. Wagoner mentioned several families the church has helped. Missions have also played an important role in the history of the church dating back to the 1980s.

“There have been some who have gone on mission trips with us to Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay as we are teaching English,” Wagoner said. “The church, however, has a strong history of missions including helping build churches and more.”

Currently, the church is continuing to chronicle the history of its membership and growth by converting old 8mm and VHS tapes into DVDs that will be available for members in the future.

“One of our members, Jeanette Tisdale, loaned us some of her old videos to record,” Day said. “A lot of members loaned us photos to use for the slideshow. So much work went into the anniversary and so many people did so many behind the scenes things to help. It was really wonderful. We have even begun to receive thank you cards thanking us for the service.”

An anniversary service this large takes an entire team, and Day said she could not have done it without her committee which consisted of herself and Lee and Marshalene Gillespie, Kay Jenkins, Clarissa Swaggart, Ann G. Upton, and Jamie Lee, who was not officially on the committee but wanted to help. Day mentioned the other living charter member Lola Campbell was unable to attend the celebration for health reasons.

Day, who has been with the church for 20 years, was also honored during the event.

“I usually know everything going on in this church,” Day said. “They really did a good job keeping this from me and I was really shocked to have them honor me this way.”

With the memories of a well-organized and enjoyable event fresh in their minds, the members are making plans for their next big function – Vacation Bible School, which will be held July 13-17 from 6 -8 p.m.

The members extend an open invitation to anyone in the area who doesn’t have a home church to visit one of their services. Service hours are 11 a.m. Sunday and 6 p.m. Wednesday. For more information about upcoming events or the anniversary slideshow and history booklet, call the church office at 601-442-2373.