Vic Campbell, a member at Mt. Lebanon Church, Greer, brought his team of horses and covered wagon to church Oct. 2 and backed up traffic in rural Blue Ridge.Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, Greer, celebrated its 175th anniversary Oct. 2.
The church was organized some time during 1836, although there are no existing records of the exact date. Since its founding, the church has had six different sanctuaries, all erected on the same site. The church began meeting in a small log building. A small, unpainted frame sanctuary was built in 1861. This building, and another similar frame building, served the congregation for 46 years until a larger frame building was erected in 1907. That structure was used for 41 years, with several additions built as additional space was required. On Jan. 15, 1948, the building and all of its furnishings were destroyed by fire.
The fifth sanctuary was a brick structure, which was dedicated on May 20, 1949. On Feb. 6, 1969, that sanctuary and education facilities were also totally destroyed by fire. Construction had already begun on the new church when groundbreaking ceremonies were held on Nov. 16, 1969. The first service in the new building was held Feb. 21, 1971.
A family life center was dedicated on March 2, 1980. In February 1999, plans were finalized to undertake a renovation of the sanctuary and education plant. The family life center was renovated the following year. As of June 2007, the Mt. Lebanon Church property includes 12 acres of land.
A membership of 44 was reported for 1870. Mt. Lebanon’s membership reached 100 for the first time in 1893, 57 years after its organization. Today the resident membership numbers 605.
W.W. Reece became Mt. Lebanon’s first full-time pastor in 1946. The church has had 34 pastors since 1870. Current pastor Mark Smith began his duties in August 1996.