Our church history began more than sixty years ago. Since then, Calvary Baptist Church has become a spiritual home to Christian people in Trinity. It continues to be a place of growth, fellowship, and service. With Christ as our head, we have always been a people seeking to live out our lives as His disciples and according to His word, the Bible.
Church History from 1950s to 1961
On a Sunday morning of February 15, 1953, a group of Southern Baptists met in a home in Trinity for Sunday School, after which a business session was held. A new church was organized and called Calvary Baptist Church. Officers were duly elected and the doors of the church were opened and thirty (30) people joined.
On the following Sunday, worship services were held in the American Legion Building. Brother Vernon Dutrich, a seminary student, preached the first sermon. The Legion Building served as the church home until June 1954.
On March 11th, the first pulpit committee was elected. On April 15th, Calvary Baptist Church first observed the Lord’s Supper, baptized its first new converts and elected its first building committee
Rev. J. R. Barbee was the first pastor, being called on May 3, 1953. Shortly after that, two acres of land was purchased. Groundbreaking for the first building was held in March 1954, and the first service was held in the new building in June.
Since then, Calvary Baptist Church has had twelve pastors and one interim who served twice. The second pastor was Rev. Kenneth King who served from 1955-1957. Rev. Kemp Powers, Jr. was called next (1957-1958). The fourth pastor was Rev. J.C. Clark who served 1958 until 1961.
1961 to 1981
Next Rev. Wallace Palmer was called and served from 1961-1964. A new auditorium was built in 1962, and dedicated by the First pastor, Bro. Barbee.
Then Rev. David Cordell (1964-1965) followed by Bro. James McKinney who served from 1965 to 1971. Next Bro. Kenneth Eels served from 1971-1973.
Rev. Ray Fairchild was pastor 1973-1981 then left to go to the mission field in Brazil where he has served for over twenty years. It was under Bro. Fairchild that the church decided to purchase the north side of its property. As the church grew, we added a fellowship hall not only to provide a space for fellowship, but also for much needed education space.
1982 to 1999
Rev. Jerry H. Lyons was called in February 1982 and served until May 1992. It was under Bro. Lyons, that the church decided to build the present auditorium. The new auditorium, which seats 350, was dedicated March 24, 1985. It was paid for in less than three years under the Together-We-Build program.
The church had several men to fill the pulpit until a new pastor could be found to lead our people. In 1992, our church called Rev. Kelly Adkins who served until 1994.
The church called Rev. Bonner Magness as Interim Pastor until Rev. Woody Singleton came to lead our church in 1996. Under Bro. Woody’s leadership the Family Life Center was built. Bro. Woody went to be with the Lord June 14, 1999.
The 2000s to Present
Rev. Bonner Magness came back as Interim Pastor until the Pastor Search Committee with God’s help found Rev. Larry N. Bewley in 2001. Under Bro. Larry’s leadership, we helped to start a Hispanic Mission, which included a church, church property and a house; moved and made improvements on the library; and started an Awana Program. Bro. Larry served until Nov. 2003.
Bro. Randy Lowe has served our church from 2004-present.
