After an impressive dedication, the Baptists of Carrboro have moved into their new church. The building is complete except for some work that remains to be done in the basement, and the congregation are not going to let up in their efforts until that is also finished.
The church stands as a tribute to community co-operation. It cost about $45,000, of which only $15,000 has had to be borrowed. The remaining $30,000 was raised in Carrboro, almost entirely from among working people of small means.
Thirteen Sunday school rooms are in use now, and when the basement is finished, there will be 24. Six of the school rooms are so arranged—three on each side of the auditorium, connected with it by wide doors—that they can be made part of the auditorium and thus give a seating capacity of more than 800.
Recently, with the help of a group of laymen from Durham whose interest had been stimulated by the Ham-Ramsey revival there, a series of special meetings were held, and these brought many new members into the church. Twenty-two have already been baptized, and as many more baptisms are expected soon. The total membership is approaching the 400 mark.
There are more than 200 children on the Sunday school roll.
Music plays a big part in the life of the Carrboro Baptists. There are three distinct choirs, senior, intermediate, and junior. In the first are grown people; in the second young men and young women from 16 to 20 years old; and in the third, children. C.B. Andrews is in charge of the singing at the church services, and W.M. Moser conducts the Sunday school singing.
In speaking of the new church, Mr. Moser said: “We undertook this building project two years ago. It looked like a big undertaking, and it was. Our people are not well-to-do. Most of them are working folks who have to struggle to make a living. The only reason we were able to carry the job through was because everybody helped to the utmost of his or her ability.
“But in particular, we owe our success to the efforts of our pastor, Rev. J.B. Davis. I venture to say that he saved us $10,000 in the construction of the church. He drew the plans, and he made 100 trips to Raleigh, Durham and other places, to get materials and to consult builders and architects. On our heating plant alone, through the changes he suggested, he accomplished a saving of $1,500. Then, when the church was finished, he made us a present of a splendid piano.”
At the dedication ceremony the sermon was preached by Rev. J.A. Hunnicut of Landrum, S.C. Dr. Abernethy accepted the church on behalf of the whole community. W.H. Parker spoke for the Methodists, and E.P. Ellington for the Baptist people of Carrboro. Following the dedication there was a big dinner in the old church.
From the front page of the Chapel Hill Weekly, Thursday, March 6, 1924
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