The following historical information has been compiled from scrapbooks , newspaper reports, and previous church annuals and documents. The scrapbook compiled by Ary. F. Charles was a priceless resource. Where practical, the original language of the resource quoted is preserved.

      A group of people living in the section south of Winston-Salem, that had been brought by divine grace to accept the Lord Jesus Christ and willing to give themselves to him in service; being widely scattered from their home churches and through the striving of the Holy Spirit, felt the need of walking together in brotherly love as becomes the members of a Christian church.

      On January 4, 1892, they met in the old Centerville School auditorium and held a worship service. Elder Henry Sheets, pastor of New Friendship church, four miles south, preached a sermon and continued preaching on the fourth Sunday evening of each month. In the early days of Southside Baptist Church, Rev. Sheets would go out to the barn, hitch his horse up to the buggy, and drive all the way from Lexington (20 miles) to preach once a month. No paved roads existed in that day, so he had to travel the dirt road all the way, which in the winter time became almost impassible sometimes in foul, wet weather or snow. he would encounter mud up to the hub at places. To keep his feet warm, he put a lantern and some heated bricks under the wool lap robe while he was driving, but he endured those hardships for he was a man of God and his heart and soul was in his work for the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord in bringing his messages to the early Christians and other people of Southside Baptist Church. But it was good when on Sunday he would be invited out for chicken dinners prepared for him by different members of the congregation!

      Elder Sheets continued his work preaching regularly until Southside Baptist Church was constituted on Sunday, December 26, 1897. During this time, two protracted meetings were held which strengthened the cause. The mainstay of this work was that Brother J. P. Bodenhamer began and kept up a successful Sabbath school with the assistance of some faithful brothers and sisters.

      On Sunday evening, December 26, 1897, a presbytery was organized in this new meeting house at Southside composed of the following ministers and deacons:

      Pastors:
Elder H. A. Brown, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Winston, NC., Chairman
Elder S. F. Conrad of Winston, NC, Secretary
Elder Henry Sheets of Lexington, NC.
Licentiate S. B. Wilson of New Friendship Baptist Church

      Deacons:
William L. Sink of Waughtown Baptist Church
R. A. Wommack of Broad Street Baptist Church, Winston.

      By invitation of chairman Brown, the following persons with letters came forward to form a new church:

From New Friendship: J. P. Bodenheimer and wife Mista Anne Bodenheimer, Laura Swaim, Emma Yokley, Matilda Beckerdite, Thomas Thomton and wife Louise Thornton, Sallie Sink, Rufus Wrenn, G. M. Hundley, James Swaim, Claud Thornton;

From Broad Street Baptist: Robert D. Griffin and wife Martha Griffin;

From First Baptist, Winston: Florence Thornton

      The articles of Faith and Church Covenant as found in Hiscox's Baptist Church Directory were read by Elder H.A. Brown and adopted, after which on motion of Elder S. F. Conrad, the presbytery unanimously voted that they be recognized as a regular Baptist Church. By request of Chairman Brown, a charge was delivered by Elder S. F. Conrad in which he emphasized the necessity and importance of church organization from New Testament teaching and also pointed out some of the duties and obligations resting upon the church.

      The church held its first Church Conference on January 9, 1898, where Brother Robert Griffin was elected first Church Clerk., Brother J. P. Bodenhamer was elected Church Treasurer and Sunday School Superintendent, and Elder Henry Sheets of Lexington, was elected Pastor. At this meeting, the church voted to make application to State Board for $50 to help pay the pastor's salary.

      There was evidence of a growth of interest as the work advanced. The interest was such that many of God's people felt that they should have a house of worship. The necessary steps were taken, funds secured, and a church built. The meeting house was a small building, located on Monmouth Street diagonally (west) across from the present church building. It was begun in 1896 and on June 12, 1899, was formally dedicated. In earlier writings it was described as "an elegant house of worship, a thing of beauty and a perfect gem as to convenience, baptistery, acoustics and seating arrangement." This first building with its furnishings cost $1,375.00.

      On August 4, 1898, the church became a member of the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association.

      Sunday School and Missions Activities

      In 1905, under the direction of Mrs. A. L. Betts (wife of Rev. A. L. Betts), a Sunbeam Band and Women's Missionary Society was organized. This was the beginning of the women's organized missionary activities in the church. In 1906
* The women's missionary program was begun in 1910 shortly after Mr. V. M. Swaim became pastor. He and his wife worked diligently to organize the new program.
* A Brotherhood was organized in the early 1950s and by 1957 the membership had grown to 81.
* During the years Southside has looked beyond its community and sponsored four missions. Of the four, three were constituted into Baptist churches, Konnoak Hills Baptist Church in 1952, Easton Baptist Church, and Unity Baptist church in 1962. Lakeside (one of the four missions) was never constituted.
* Through love and concern for our missionaries, Southside has given financial support to Carrie Speer, Altha Satterwhite, and Mike and Jewell Childers.
* From 1898 (the year Southside joined the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association) through 1991 there have been 1,780 baptisms recorded in the association minutes for Southside.

NEW BUILDINGS:
The present sanctuary: At the church conference of May 18, 1921, Pastor Swaim stated that the deeds to the four lots on which the church plans to build a new church have been recorded.

      From church minutes dated March 19, 1923 "At one o'clock one hundred or more members and friends of the South Side Baptist Church met on the corner of Sprague and Church Streets and broke ground-for the erection of the new church. After songs and prayers the work was started".

      On Sunday afternoon October 26th, 1924, the cornerstone of the new building of the Southside Baptist Church, located at the corner of Sprague and Church Streets, was laid. The occasion was celebrated with appropriate exercises held in the present building. The service in the church was closed with the singing of "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow". After the benediction, the congregation then moved to the site of the new church where the cornerstone was placed in position.

      The present sanctuary "was ready for occupancy in December of 1925.

      Minutes of the church conference of December 9, 1925 show that the church approved the purchase of a pulpit Bible. A member who was present on moving day stated that the children picked up their own chairs and carried them to the new building. Additional furniture came in due time.

      The total cost of this building was $105,000.

      On Sunday, March 4, 1945 the debt on the church was completely liquidated. W. R. Grigg was pastor at this time and the church had a total membership of 890.

      The church purchased a beautiful pastor's home in September of 1944.

The Education Building
      From the Highlights of Southside dated January 7, 1951: "Following the morning worship service last Sunday, the congregation assembled on the site of land for the new educational building. Mrs. D. C. Rose, oldest member, broke ground for the Building. Mr. J. H. Brunt led in prayer, and the doxology was sung. A benedictory prayer of praise was offered by Lewis Ludlum , Associational Missionary. Attending this service was Mrs. Sally Weisner, one of the two living charter members. Mr. B. C. Barnes, the other, was unable to be present".

      From the Highlights dated January 20, 1952: "Last Saturday was a great day for the Intermediate and Young People's Departments of the Sunday School. They moved into the educational building on the third floor (the only floor completed as yet.)"

      From the Highlights of March 23, 1952: " We here at Southside are as proud as punch, because we are in our new Educational Building. This new addition to our church houses the Study, the Church offices, and the Young Peoples', Intermediate, Junior, Primary, Beginner, and Nursery Departments."

      The total cost of this new building was $120,000. The church borrowed $55,000 to complete the building. The loan was to be paid back at the rate of $500.00 per month.

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[From the church's website via R. L. Vaughn. Formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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