San Clair Missionary Baptist Church stands as a living testimony of faith, endurance, and God’s unwavering grace.

We organized in 1862 in a small prayer house.  Some of the founders of this church were: Dea. Jack Turner, Bro. Peter Gaston, Bro. Henry Robinson, Sis. Tabitha Washington, Sis. Marcella Turner and members from Old Bethel Baptist Church.  The church’s ministers from 1863 until 1880 were Rev. J.J. Kelly, Rev. John Thomas, Rev. P.E. Green, and Rev. J.J. Davis.  The church services were held under a bush harbor for a while.  Dea. Jack Turner and his son Jesse Turner along with a group of officers secured a parcel of land from Mr. Bob Calhoun.

This new site of land was about a half a mile from the bush harbor; the church was named San Clair Baptist Church (because the sand was clear) according to Ms. Florence Washington.  After church services were held in that log building for a while, the same group of officers secured another parcel of land from Mr. Calhoun.  The new site was about one mile from Old San Clair.  During the years of 1880 until 1903, the pastors were Rev. T.M. Walker, Rev. H.C. Lane, and Rev. J.W. Weaver.  The three pastors worked faithfully and did great work for our church.

During the period of 1904 to 1948, the pastors that served were Rev. A.L. Dentignac, Rev. W.A. McLeod, Rev. A. Davis, Rev. P.A. Atkins, Rev. C.B. Jones, and Rev. I.T. Table.  These pastors made improvements to the church.  In 1945 our church was destroyed by lightning.  Church services were held in the school for one year and 11 months.  Dea. E.J. Lewis and Dea. J.W. Jackson cut the logs for which this the foundation of our present church now sits.  The pastors that served during and after this disaster were Rev. O.S. Beasley, Rev. H.C. Brown, Rev. J.C. Garnder, Rev. T.M. Burton, and Rev. T. Scott. 

During the years of 1969 until 1971, San Clair was without a permanent pastor.  In 1972, we were blessed with Rev. Frank Roberts.  In June of 1984, the Willing Workers Ministry was organized with Dea. Clyde Wilson as the chairman.  In 1987, our Missionary Ministry was reorganized with Sis. Ruby Wilson as the chairperson.  San Clair now has a kitchen committee.  In 1991, improvements were made to the church.  Mr. Charles and Winder Smith donated some land to our cemetery.  On December 16, 1991, Rev. Roberts resigned as Pastor of San Clair.  He served us faithfully for 19 years.  It was during those years that he brought many souls to the Lord and several improvements to the church.  During January 1992 until November 1992, we found ourselves once again without a pastor. 

We were blessed with many great ministries.  In December 1992, we were blessed with Rev. A.C. Epps II.  Under his leadership we made great improvements to the church and added many new members.  Rev. Epps resigned in August 1998.  In April 1999, Rev. Robert C. Herrington graced our doors.  Under Rev. With Herrington's leadership our membership grew and we purchased a van and made improvements to the church.  In 2001, we added a marquee to the front of the church.  We have since had to remove it due to improvements.  We added HWY markers off of HWY1, River Road, and HWY 78.  In September 2002, Rev. Herrington resigned.  San Clair was without a pastor from September to April 2004.  On April 18, 2004 we were blessed with Rev. Derwin R. Jackson Sr.  In 2006, our church renovations were completed.  Dedication service was October 8, 2006.  Rev. Jackson served from 2006 until May 2010.  In August 2010 we were truly blessed with Pastor William J. T. Patterson.

As we look back with gratitude and forward with expectation, we celebrate all that God has done—and all He continues to do—through our church family.

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