History of Second Temple Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elder J.E. Hayes founded and organized Second Temple Church in 1912. He and a small group of others we originally members of Christ Temple’s Sunday School and church. They wanted to venture out and spread the faith in other fields. This group included Brother Will M. Smith, Jack Forde, Saul Thornton, James Yarber and Jim Quarles. Along with Elder Hayes, they established a place of worship on Elm Street, between Woods Street and Railroad Avenue in a house with the partition removed. The house belonging to Mr. John Hart Asher from whom Elder Hayes worked. This little place of worship soon grew to an overflowing crowd. Others who alluded were Elder Monroe Anderson, Elder Arthur, Elder Knowly, and Brother Greenfield.

About this time, Elder Hayes married Miss Julie Bridges, also of Christ Temple Church. They move to the Georgetown neighborhood on Whitfield Mill Road and set about to locate suitable ground on which to build. In 1915, Mr. John Hart Asher offered the group a piece of ground on Brown Street where the old church stood. Very soon materials and lumber were purchased and work was soon started. Before too long, the church was completed and dedicated as Second Temple Church of Christ (Holiness) with Rev Hayes as Pastor. Our late Bishop C.P. Jones gave hearty approval and often visited feeding the flock.

Some of the women that worked untiringly to further the cause were: Sisters Julia B. Hayes, Bettie Dorsey, Minnie Silas, Elnora Seals, Laura Fobs, Mattie Hendricks, Josie Perkins, Alberta Thompson. Others also gave of their time and means to support the cause.

Other notable ministers that pastored through the years were: Elder J.L.I. Conic, Elder F.E. Williams, Elder George A. Thomas, Elder Albert Hamilton, Jr., Elder Eugene Haggans, Elder Hill, Elder Allen Myers Hill, Elder L.F. Sheriff, Elder H.R. McKinnis, Elder Willie Kendrick and Elder L.P. Camper.

In 1957, members of the church through pledges and contributions of many under the leadership of Elder L.P. Camper purchased the present lot on Lilly Street with Deacons Samuel Liddell, Arthur Graham, Eddie Anderson and Harry Hamilton, along with Trustees Frank Gant, Otha Roots, Charlie Jones, William Allen, Sr., and Rayfield May. The new church was erected, completed and dedicated on April 20, 1958.

In the year 1980, Elder L.P. Camper, the pastor for 24 years, was requested to render full time duties as Chaplain of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Upon the departure of Elder Camper, Elder Willie Jenkins, Jr. was appointed to serve until the South Central Diocese convention in July 1980, assisted by Elder Anglon Dillon. On the first Sunday, September 1980, Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr., assisted by Elder Joseph Pridgen, became the spiritual Shepherds. After the South Central Diocese Convention in the year 1981, Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr. was appointed to serve as full time pastor. In September 1994, Elder Bobby Sutton served as pastor, and in September 1996, Elder Charles Jackson, the current pastor, was appointed to lead the flock.