Our History
Sand Hill History
In 1907 our church began as Methodist Sunday School. Three men belonging to the Old Union Methodist Church are credited for beginning this Sunday School. They were Frank Zittrauer, Alton Nease and Hardy Shearouse. As the community grew, more Baptist were attending than Methodists so it was decided that it would be started as a Baptist Church.
On August 15,1909 the Sand Hill Missionary Baptist Church was organized. The first building was built on a half-acre tract of land just north of the Sand Hill (Woods) Cemetery. The land for this church was donated by L.B.Nease. In 1925, the Ogeechee River flooded its banks sending flood waters down the church aisles. Men paddled boats through the church to save the organ by placing it on the backs of the church pews.
The first pastor was Rev.S.S.Bland. The charter members were Allison and Emily Woods, L.B.Nease, Josh and Mary Woods, Zarah and Indy Davis, Mrs.Rebecca Woods, Henry and Illa Woods, Milton Woods, Benjamin Crosby and Joe Crosby. Disaster struck in 1928 when the church building was destroyed by a tornado, but it did not destroy the faithfulness of its early members. They continued to hold services in their homes until 1930 when Mrs.Harriet(Ms.Hattie)Davis gave two acres of land on which the present building now stands. Through the efforts of members and friends as well as the materials that they donated, the wooden building was constructed.
On June 11,1967,land was set aside and dedicated for the Sand Hill Baptist cemetery. On August 16,1978, it was voted to build our present sanctuary. Ground breaking services were held on September 17,1978. In October of 1980, the church purchased a tract of land, on Allison Road, for our first pastorium.
In March of 1983,we voted to transfer from the Middle Baptist Association to the Savannah Baptist Association. We were accepted in the Annual Associational Meeting in October 1983. Two more tracts of land were purchased in 1983 and 1984.
In March of 1997 plans for our new pastorium began. Construction was completed in November 1998. Currently we are entering a new building program, complete with a 375+ seat capacity sanctuary and 375+ seat educational space. God continues to truly bless Sand Hill Baptist and all the glory goes to Him.
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