Hill Street Baptist Church


Hill Street Baptist Church

Title:		Hill Street Baptist Church
Alternate Title:		Baptist Church, Hill Street
Creator - Architect:
Creator - Architectural Firm:
Building Address:		135 Hill Street
Subject - Keyword:		churches ; Hill Street Baptist Church ; Rev. Nilous M. Avery ; kindergartens ; parsonage ;
Subject - LCSH:		Church buildings -- North Carolina Church buildings -- North Carolina --Buncombe County
Description:		A pamphlet printed in 1970 for The Hill Street Baptist Church containing a church history, extensive church directory and images of prominent members within the church community.
Publisher:		UNCA
Contributor:
Date Building Constructed / Ended:		1915
Date Building Destroyed:
Building Type:		Ecclesiastical
Architectural Style:
Building Current Function:		Church
Historical Overview:		Hill Street Baptist Church was organized in 1915, and met in an old school house. In 1947 the present sanctuary was begun and was finished in 1949. In 1959, a kindergarten was established. It is licensed by the state and funded by federal funds. In May 1970, the debt-free parsonage was dedicated. One recent pastor was the Reverend Nilous M. Avery.
Tenants:		Church
Format:		image
Identifier:
Source of Item:		UNCA Special Collections
Language:		English
Related:		I
Bibliography:		is referenced by: Bound pamphlet of 10 pages in Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection
Related Images:
Coverage - Temporal:		1915 - present
Coverage - Spatial:		Asheville, NC
DC Record Type:
Rights:
Processed By:
Updated:		2005-05-28

Bound Pamphlet
page	M77.10.1				Thumbnail
	.1.1	PICTORIAL CHURCH DIRECTORY OF THE HILL STREET BAPTIST CHURCH 135 Hill Street, Asheville, North Carolina
	.1.2	[Three images of the Public Relations Committee.]
	.1.3	CHURCH HISTORY 1915-1970 "All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all that I have not seen."—Emerson. The Hill Street Baptist Church, 137 Hill Street, Asheville, North Carolina, was organized in the year 1915. This was done under the staunch and capable leadership of Reverend Moore, Mr. Richard Mills, Mr. Peter Porter, Mr. Joseph Wilson and Mr. Matthew Peterson. The first church met in an old school house. During the years that followed, the Reverends Thomas J. Davis, Kennedy, H. E. Gudger, Fred Hatchett, E. G. Miller, and C. H. Williams served as leaders of the church. In 1932, the Reverend E. W. Dixon became minister of Hill Street Baptist Church. Under his abled leadership, in 1947 the lower auditorium of the present sanctuary was begun. It was finished in 1949 at a cost of $42,000, of which $29,000 was paid by 1950. In 1950, death took from our midst the Reverend Dixon. In the following seventeen months under the spiritual leadership of Reverend J. R. Durant, our church was able to pay $3,000 on the capital indebtedness, leaving a balance of $10,000. In May of 1951, the Reverend Nilous M. Avery was called to the church. He brought with him a heart, mind, and body totally dedicated to God. Under the leadership of Reverend Avery, the church experienced renewed spiritual growth with an increase of membership and a system of systematic tithers. In this way, the church was able to liquidate the $10,000 indebtedness and to hull into the sanctuary at a cost of $39,199.97. In November of 1958, the sanctuary was completed at a total cost of $133,800.47. Approximately one year later, on November 2, 1959, the cornerstone was laid. In the fall of 1959, the church set up a kindergarten, which now includes a staff of five (5) full-time workers and serves fifty (50) children. It is licensed by the State of North Carolina and is partially supported by Federal Funds. Since 1951, our church staff has increased from one full-time worker to a total of seven (7), including the Day Care Center. In August of 1961, the church purchased an acre of land valued at $7,000, and in January of 1964, a bus, at $5,350. On November 28, 1965, the Fiftieth Anniversary was climaxed with the Morgage Burning Ceremony. On February 20, 1968, the Holloway property was purchased at a cost of $2,500, and on May 29 the church gained possession of four lots from the Asheville City Schools. Both groups of property are to be developed for recreational and parking facilities. On July 25 of that year, additional property on Chunns Cove Road was acquired at $4,000 for the erection of a new church parsonage. The debt-free parsonage was completed in May, 1970, and Dedicatory Services and Open House were held on June 7, 1970. The old parsonage will be used as a Educational Service Center with emphasis on mental, spiritual and physical development on all age levels.
	.1.4	THE CHURCH DIRECTORY HILL STREET BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THE YEAR 1970 Rev. Nilous McKinley Avery, Minister Rev. William C. Watkins, Pastoral Assistant Rev. Rufus C. Woods, Associate Pastoral Assistant Rev. Frank Jones, Associate Pastoral Assistant OFFICE SECRETARY Mrs. Lucille D. Smith, Church Clerk Deacon William H. Smith, Treasurer Deacon John H. Fair Benevolent, Treasurer
		DEACONS Deacon John H. Fair, Chairman Deacon Roosevelt Simmons, Vice Chairman Deacon Wheeler Adams Deacon Sammy Cohen Deacon Charles P. Hall Deacon Robert L. Harrell Deacon Ben Jones Deacon W. Sterling Roberts Deacon Gilbert Sligh, Sr. Deacon William H. Smith DEACONESS Mrs. Floyd R. Burgess, Chairman Mrs. Wheeler Adams, Vice Chairman Mrs. Nilous M. Avery Mrs. Sammy Cohen Mrs. Perry L. Coker Mrs. Edward W. Dixon Mrs. John H. Fair Mrs. Ben Jones Mrs. W. Sterling Roberts Mrs. Homer Saddler Mrs. Roosevelt Simmons Mrs. Gilbert Sligh, Sr. Mrs. William H. Smith Mrs. William C. Watkins Mrs. Edgar Williams Mrs. Rufus C. Woods TRUSTEES Deacon John H. Fair Deacon Gilbert Sligh, Vice Chairman Deacon Wheeler Adams Deacon Sammy Cohen Deacon Charles P. Hall Deacon Robert L. Harrell Brother John Hollow ay Brother Clifton Roland Brother William E. Roland Brother Wilbur Rone Brother Feaster Simmons Deacon Roosevelt Simmons, Sr. Deacon William H. Smith Brother Earl Thompson, Sr. Brother Arthur H. Vincent Brother Levi Wilson Brother Samuel Watkins MUSIC Organist: Mrs. Mary H. Wilson Director of Combined Choirs: Dr.Arthur Vincent Chairman: Mrs. Essie Adams Assistant Organist: Miss Rhonda Roland and Mr. Roosevelt Simmons, Jr. SENIOR CHOIR President: Mrs. Bessie Richie Associate: Deacon W. S. Roberts	MALE CHOIR President: Deacon Ben Jones MISSIONS Senior Mission: Mrs. Eliza Roland, Chairman Freeman-Koon Mission: Mrs. Mary Thompson, Chairman Junior Supervisors: Mrs. Nilous M. Avery Mrs. William H. Smith BROTHERHOOD President: Deacon Gilbert Sligh, Sr. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Sunday School: Mr. William E. Roland, Superintendent Miss Clara Miller, Assistant Supt. Baptist Training Union: Mrs. Hester Davis, Directress Mrs. Anna Roddy, Assistant Directress Day Care: Mrs. W. E. Roland, Directress Mrs. N. M. Avery, Assistant Directress Vacation Bible School: Mrs. Mary R. Sligh, Superintendent Nursery: Mrs. Margaret Littlejohn, Chairman MEDICAL COMMITTEE Dr. Arthur H. Vincent, Chairman USHERS Deacon Wheeler Adams, Supervisor Senior Usher Board: Mr. Feaster Simmons, President Junior Usher Board: Mrs. Sarah Benson, Supervisor Mrs. Ida Gist, Supervisor BUSINESS Deacon John H. Fair, Custodian and janitorial Supervisor Deacon Ben Jones, Assistant Custodian Brother Feaster Simmons, Janitor Deacon Wheeler Adams, Chairman North Circle: Mrs. Myrtle Burgass, President South Circle: Mrs. Edward Dixon, President East Circle: Mrs. Otis McDaniels, President West Circle: Mrs. Mary H, Wilson, President Family Life Council: Mrs. Mary Barksdale, President
	.1.5	COMMITTEES Men's Day: Deacon John H. Fair, Chairman Deacon Gilbert Sligh, Sr., Assistant BUILDING Deacon John H. Fair, Chairman Deacon Wheeler Adams Brother William E. Roland Deacon William H. Smith BAPTISMAL Mrs. Eliza Roland, Chairman Deacon Wheeler Adams Mrs. Perry L. Coker Deacon John H. Fair Deacon Roosevelt Simmons Deacon W. S. Roberts Mrs. Gilbert Sligh Mrs. Rufus C. Woods MEMBERSHIP Deacon Roosevelt Simmons, Chairman Mrs. John H. Fair, Secretary Mrs. Clifton Roland, Assistant Secretary Mrs. Wheeler Adams Deacon W. Sterling Roberts Deacon Charles P. Hall INVESTIGATION Deacon John H. Fair Deacon William H. Smith Deacon W.S. Roberts CHURCH BUILDING COUNCIL Dr. Arthur H. Vincent, Chairman WOMEN'S DAY Mrs. Virginia Glenn, Chairman Mrs. Mary E. Dixon, Assistant Chairman FUNERAL Deacon Roosevelt Simmons, Chairman Deacon Charles P. Hall Deacon Ben Jones Mrs. Floree Lowery Mrs. Bessie Richie Mrs. Georgia Roland Mrs. Mary H. Wilson PARSONAGE Deacon Roosevelt Simmons, Chairman Deacon Sammy Cohen Deacon Charles P. Hall Deacon William S. Roberts Deacon Wheeler Adams BUS UPKEEP Deacon Roosevelt Simmons Mr. Charles Ward Deacon Wheeler Adams		CHURCH ANNIVERSARY Mrs. Essie Adams, Chairman Miss Clara Miller Mrs. Bessie Richie Deacon William S. Roberts Mrs. Georgia Roland FOOD PREPARATION Mrs. Ruth King, Chairman Deacon Wheeler Adams, Assistant Chairman Deacon John H. Fair Deacon Gilbert Sligh, Sr. COMMITTEES Finance: Deacon John H. Fair, Chairman Deacon William H. Smith, Treasurer Deacon Wheeler Adams Deacon Sammy Cohen Deacon Robert L. Harrell Deacon William S. Roberts Deacon Roosevelt Simmons Bus Drivers: Brother Feaster Simmons Brother John M. Holloway Brother Earl Thompson, Sr. Brother Clifton Roland Deacon Gilbert Sligh, Utility Driver Stewardship Committee: Brother William E. Roland, Chairman Mrs. Essie Adams Mrs. Hester Davis Mrs. Mary E. Dixon Mrs. Arthur H. Vincent Deacon William H. Smith Deacon John H. Fair Deacon Wheeler Adams Mrs. Lyndia Brewton Mrs. Floree Lowery Deacon Robert L. Harrell Communion Vessels: Deacon Ben Jones Deacon Roosevelt Simmons Church Property: Deacon John H. Fair, Chairman Deacon Ben Jones Brother John H. Holloway Deacon Gilbert Sligh, Sr. Brother William E. Roland Brother Clifton Roland Public Relations: Deacon Robert L. Harrell, Chairman Youth Organization: Advisory Board: Mrs. Josephine Hall, Chairman Mrs. Nilous Avery, Assistant Chairman Youth Council: Miss Alvenia Burts, Chairman
	.1.6	An image of the Hill Street Baptist Church Parsonage dedicated June 7, 1970.
	.1.7	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.8	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.8	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.9	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.10	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.11	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.12	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.13	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.14	[Images of prominent church members.]
	.1.15	[Images of prominent church members.]