Association records are a gold mine of information for churches and individuals.

Welsh Neck Baptist Association is a gold mine for South Carolina Baptists. Established in 1832, their records demonstrate determination by early Baptists to spread the gospel message.

Welsh Neck has done an excellent job of not only maintaining their records but also of preserving them for future generations. Association minutes have been microfilmed, and a copy resides in the Baptist Historical Collection at the Furman University Library, Greenville.   In addition, they have bound copies of Association newsletters and an extensive photo/slide collection. Ed Quattlebaum, former Director of Missions, was passionate about preserving the story of God’s work in Welsh Neck. His pictures and slides are all identified and catalogued. Everything is together to assist any church in the association with its history.

Organizing an archive collection can look overwhelming but simple steps can take a willing volunteer or amateur historian a long way. The easiest way is to sort material by years. Material can be filed chronologically and by subject within the year. It is vital records be microfilmed with a copy of the microfilm stored away from the church or association office in case of fire. Welsh Neck realized how much valuable material they had once it was organized in a searchable format. One of the richest discoveries was a book of biographical material on early moderators.    Life stories of early pastors and their work still inspires us as we contemplate how God used them to minister in another day and age.

If you need assistance to discover your church or association history, contact South Carolina Baptist Convention Historical Services at 803-765-0030.