Church History
In the early 1820’s under the leadership of Rev. John Culpepper, Rocky River Baptist Church in Anson County established the “Long Creek Arm” and began having preaching in this community several times a year. Those active in the services were enrolled as members in Rocky River Church. In 1830, Job Calloway brought a petition to Rocky River Church asking that they be constituted into a regular church. The request was granted and Kendalls became a church on Saturday before the fifth Sunday in May, 1830. A delegation came for the services from Rocky River led by Elder Ralf Freeman.
When the church was established, the local post office was Kendalls Store, hence the church name, Kendalls. Today Kendalls is the oldest Baptist church in Stanly County affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Preaching services were held one day a month, usually on Saturday, through most of the 1800’s. Sabbath Schools were established in the mid 1800’s and became a weekly event in the late 1800’s. In 1931, the church began two preaching services per month.
The Women’s Missionary Union was established in Kendalls in 1904 with 19 members, making it the first WMU in Stanly County. Under the leadership of Pastor C.J. Black, the present church building was erected in 1904 beside the older church building, which was sold at auction in 1905. In 1919 the church voted to raise money for a baptistery which was built near the edge of the present ball field. In 1932 the classrooms were added to the back of the church and the following year the first furnace was installed in the church.
The parsonage was built in 1952 and in 1954 the church voted to have a full time pastor. Rev. S.D. Baker, who was part-time became the first full time pastor. The fellowship building was built in 1954. The church sanctuary was remodeled and the baptistery added in 1957. The educational building was started in 1961 and completed in 1962.
The church started in 1830 with less than 20 members, then grew to more than 40 after the first ten years. During most of the last 1800’s the membership varied from about 60 to 90. By 1900 the membership had reached 100 and in 1906, two years after the new church was built, the membership was 164.
