Historical Sketch
Davidson Street Baptist Church
Clinton, South Carolina
During early 1959 Calvary Baptist Church in Clinton voted
to sponsor and build a mission church
on a lot owned by Calvary Church
on Davidson Street. A decision was
made to build a one-unit building to serve
as the mission church.
Rev. J. W. Spillers was the pastor of
Calvary Baptist at the time.
Groundbreaking services were held at the
building site on May 3, 1959
with about 125 persons attending.
Taking part in the service were
Rev. Spillers, Calvary’s choir with
Mrs. Eva Land directing and Mrs. L. W. King
(Calvary’s oldest member),
who spaded the first shovel of ground.
The name Davidson Street Baptist Church was chosen
for the mission church and the first pastor,
Rev. Clyde Peterson was called.
A revival was held on October 19-24 with
Rev. Spillers and Rev. Peterson preaching on different
nights. During these revival services
112 persons united with the mission church.
On October 25, 1959 the first regular services were
held in the newly constructed first unit.
On the first Sunday in December 1959,
Calvary Baptist (the mother church)
approved the mission church’s request for
organization to a full-time,self-supporting
Southern Baptist Church. Application was made to
The Laurens Baptist Association
to become a member of the association.
That application was approved.
In 1960 two additional units were added, to be
used for educational space.
Also in 1960 the church purchased a house
on Caldwell Street to be used as a parsonage.
The parsonage was moved to 303 Shands Street
in 1992. In 1966 a 485-seat auditorium and an
additional two-story educational
building were added. Over the years other
properties have been
purchased by the church to be used for
parking, etc. and improvements
have been made as needed.
Davidson Street Baptist Church is a mission minded church,
supporting our Southern Baptist missions and also local
needs through our community missions and through our
Laurens Baptist Association Crisis Center.
“To God Be the Glory!”
