Associational records can be a gold mine of information for churches and individuals, and Welsh Neck Baptist Association has proven to be just that for South Carolina Baptists. Established in 1832, its records demonstrate determination by early Baptists to spread the gospel message.
Dave Worthington, director of missions for Welsh Neck Baptist Association, and Jane Poster, history consultant for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, look at biographies of early Baptist leaders in Welsh Neck Association.Welsh Neck has done an excellent job of not only maintaining its records but also of preserving them for future generations. Associational minutes have been microfilmed, and a copy resides in the Baptist Historical Collection of the Special Collections and Archives section at the Furman University library in Greenville. In addition, they have bound copies of association newsletters and an extensive photo/slide collection. The late Ed Quattlebaum, former director of missions, was passionate about preserving the story of God’s work in Welsh Neck. His pictures and slides are all identified and catalogued. Everything is together to assist any church in the association with its history.
Organizing an archive collection can look overwhelming, but simple steps can take a willing volunteer or amateur historian a long way. The easiest way is to sort material by years. Material can be filed chronologically and by subject within the year. It is vital that records be microfilmed, with a copy of the microfilm stored away from the church or association office in case of fire. Welsh Neck realized how much valuable material it had once it was organized in a searchable format. One of the richest discoveries was a book of biographical material on early moderators. Life stories of early pastors and their work are still inspirational and show how God used them to minister in another day and age.
If you need assistance to discover your church or association history, contact South Carolina Baptist Convention Historical Services at (803) 765-0030.