With a firm foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Hagood Avenue Baptist Church
has experienced a rich tradition of Christian service. Initially formed as a mission of
Barnwell First Baptist Church, Hagood Avenue Baptist Church was organized on October
7, 1953, with 152 charter members and Rev. Clifton Duvall serving as the first pastor.
Current church enrollment is approximately 658 members with an average of 187 in
Sunday School. The original sanctuary was the old Joyce Branch Baptist Church building
which was moved to the present site and remodeled by Rev. R. W. Hollis of Ehrhardt. An
adjoining lot to the church was donated by Senator Edgar A. Brown which allowed for
expansion of our present facilities. The first floor of our educational building was
completed in 1955, and the second floor was added in 1966. Also in 1966 one lot was
given to Hagood Avenue by Representative Soloman Blatt as a site for a new pastorium
which was completed in 1966. In 1978, the current fellowship hall was built and dedicated
as the Coy Still Fellowship Hall. In December of 1988, Hagood Avenue was blessed with
the construction of a new sanctuary. Our former sanctuary building was removed from
the church property and was purchased by Cornerstone Baptist Church of Aiken. It has
been remodeled and continues to be used as a center of worship. In 1997, Hagood
Avenue undertook a major building and renovation. An eleven-room Children's wing was
built. It houses a new nursery and preschool area on the first floor and Sunday School
classrooms for grades 1 through 6 on the second floor. In addition, a new Choir Suite
was built. The choir suite houses separate men's and women's robing rooms with rest
room facilities. The rehearsal area will accommodate 65 choir members. Along with the
building, the Worship Center was expanded from 380 capacity to 514. The Worship
Center is a semi-circle design with faceted glass on the sides and behind the baptistry.
has experienced a rich tradition of Christian service. Initially formed as a mission of
Barnwell First Baptist Church, Hagood Avenue Baptist Church was organized on October
7, 1953, with 152 charter members and Rev. Clifton Duvall serving as the first pastor.
Current church enrollment is approximately 658 members with an average of 187 in
Sunday School. The original sanctuary was the old Joyce Branch Baptist Church building
which was moved to the present site and remodeled by Rev. R. W. Hollis of Ehrhardt. An
adjoining lot to the church was donated by Senator Edgar A. Brown which allowed for
expansion of our present facilities. The first floor of our educational building was
completed in 1955, and the second floor was added in 1966. Also in 1966 one lot was
given to Hagood Avenue by Representative Soloman Blatt as a site for a new pastorium
which was completed in 1966. In 1978, the current fellowship hall was built and dedicated
as the Coy Still Fellowship Hall. In December of 1988, Hagood Avenue was blessed with
the construction of a new sanctuary. Our former sanctuary building was removed from
the church property and was purchased by Cornerstone Baptist Church of Aiken. It has
been remodeled and continues to be used as a center of worship. In 1997, Hagood
Avenue undertook a major building and renovation. An eleven-room Children's wing was
built. It houses a new nursery and preschool area on the first floor and Sunday School
classrooms for grades 1 through 6 on the second floor. In addition, a new Choir Suite
was built. The choir suite houses separate men's and women's robing rooms with rest
room facilities. The rehearsal area will accommodate 65 choir members. Along with the
building, the Worship Center was expanded from 380 capacity to 514. The Worship
Center is a semi-circle design with faceted glass on the sides and behind the baptistry.
| Joyce Branch Church, 1953 |
| Joyce Branch Church fully bricked |
| Fellowship Hall ground breaking 1978 |
| In 1988 Hagood was ready to build a sanctuary 3 times the size of the original church Pictured above: I. B. "Buster" Lawrimore, Pastor C. W. "Budgie" Butler, and Jerry Brown |
| After only 6 years, in 1994 Hagood would experience a surge in attendance and new members. This resulted in the need for expansion. This new addition would include an expanded worship center seating 522 capacity, a new education wing that would be used for children's Sunday school and nursery facilities, and the addition of a new choir suite. |
Ground Breaking for New Additions
Pictured in order at left are:
Don Estep, 1994 Chairman of Deacons
Ann Smith, Charter member
Tim Britt, son of former pastor Rev.
Glen Britt
Dr. Kenneth Catoe, Pastor
Scott Brown, Music
Pictured in order at left are:
Don Estep, 1994 Chairman of Deacons
Ann Smith, Charter member
Tim Britt, son of former pastor Rev.
Glen Britt
Dr. Kenneth Catoe, Pastor
Scott Brown, Music
| Pictured below are the sides of the sanctuary being expanded to house 200 seats |
| Left Wing |
| Right Wing |
| New Choir Suite |
| New Children's Education Building |
| Pastors through the years |
John Ayers................ Mission Church
Clifton C. Duvall......... May 1953 - Aug. 1956
C. R. Smith............... Dec. 1956 - Jan. 1960
William A. Sandifer....... Aug. 1960 - Jan. 1965
W. G. Dove................ Aug. 1965 - Dec. 1966
Glenn Britt............... Mar. 1968 - Dec. 1979
Roger S. Head............. Apr. 1980 - Apr. 1983
C. W. Butler.............. Jun. 1983 - Apr. 1989
Don Drawdy................ Oct. 1989 - Dec. 1991
Kenneth Catoe............. Sep. 1992 - Present
Clifton C. Duvall......... May 1953 - Aug. 1956
C. R. Smith............... Dec. 1956 - Jan. 1960
William A. Sandifer....... Aug. 1960 - Jan. 1965
W. G. Dove................ Aug. 1965 - Dec. 1966
Glenn Britt............... Mar. 1968 - Dec. 1979
Roger S. Head............. Apr. 1980 - Apr. 1983
C. W. Butler.............. Jun. 1983 - Apr. 1989
Don Drawdy................ Oct. 1989 - Dec. 1991
Kenneth Catoe............. Sep. 1992 - Present
In 2003 Hagood celebrated it's 50th Birthday. Hagood had a "Gaither-like" music
reunion on October 3 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm (the longest music event ever). A total of
27 songs and 32 musicians took part in the event. It was followed the next morning by
the presence of 5 Hagood pastors: Clifton Duvall, Billy Sandifer, Roger Head, C. W.
"Budgie" Butler, and Kenneth Catoe.
reunion on October 3 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm (the longest music event ever). A total of
27 songs and 32 musicians took part in the event. It was followed the next morning by
the presence of 5 Hagood pastors: Clifton Duvall, Billy Sandifer, Roger Head, C. W.
"Budgie" Butler, and Kenneth Catoe.
Hagood Avenue Baptist Church
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| Hagood Avenue Baptist Church 1144 Hagood Avenue Barnwell, SC 29812 Office Phone: (803) 259-3261 ~ Fax: (803) 259-3261 Email Us Site Created & Maintained by Scott D. Brown |
| Church History |