History, SC, York, Flint Hill Baptist Church

                                 Our History

                               Founding History

In 1792 the Reverend JOHN ROOKER (1755-1840) and his wife, ANNA HAWKINS
ROOKER, along with 11 friends joined to found Sugar Creek Baptist Church of
Christ. It later became known as Flint Hill Baptist Church, named for the huge
outcropping of flint rock located in front.

Reverend ROOKER, a Revolutionary War veteran, had joined the church in 1782
and began to preach in Warren County, N.C. the next year. He wrote a book, An
Essay on the Sovereignty of God, published in Charleston in 1839, in which he
stated his belief in, “the sovereignty of the Triune God, His everlasting
covenant of redemption for his elect in Jesus Christ, the depravity of fallen
man, the final perseverance unto eternal glory and endless felicity.” The only
known copy of his book remains in the Baptist Seminary in Louisville,
Kentucky.

Beginning in 1793, the church made efforts to extend its ministry to the
Catawba Indians. A school was established for the Indians across Sugar Creek
on the Lancaster County side. A converted Pamunkey Indian, ROBERT MARSH,
served for many years as assistant pastor of Flint Hill and as a missionary to
the Catawbas.

By 1837 Rev. ROOKER was infirm and Rev. JAMES THOMAS [JAMES B. THOMAS] came to
assist him. But one Sunday, no pastor came to the church so people went to the
home of ROOKER. There he preached what is believed to be his last sermon,
title, “Finally, Brethren Farewell,” In all, Rev. ROOKER served Flint Hill for
48 years. The church carried out the instructions of his will, to be buried in
the northwest corner of the church’s graveyard.

                             Building and grounds

The first church building was log, replaced by a larger log building in 1811.
The land was leased from the Catawba Indians until 1840. In 1828 a frame
building encompassed the log building. The church grew and by 1855 it was
necessary to erect a larger building, a frame structure that measured 60 feet
by 40 feet. That served until the present building was completed in 1908. A
parsonage, renovation of the sanctuary and education building were added in
later years.

The large, well-kept cemetery is a point of pride. Buried there are over 200
veterans from all American wars; nearly half from the Civil War.

— by LOUISE PETTUS

https://www.flinthillbc.org/about-us/our-history/




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                     History, SC, York, Flint Hill Baptist Church




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Transcribed from original documents by Brent R. Brian & Martha M. Brian.

This document and others can be found on our website:

BMGEN

We claim COPYLEFT on the documents that we publish that are our original work.

COPYLEFT “rules” can be reviewed on the web site:

GNU Free Documentation License

In short, use what you like.       But if you use our stuff, mention us as the
source.

Brent R. Brian
Martha M. Brian
BrianMitchellGenealogy@gmail.com




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