St. John Baptist Church rebuilt 1911 Members of St. John Baptist Church of Hopkins, SC, culminated three days of events celebrating its 135th anniversary at 11 am worship services Sunday, February 21, 2010. The church was chartered in 1875.

In the 1870s, freedman Rev. Samuel L. Barber (1802–1891) led a campaign to start the church in the area historically identified as the Hopkins plantation land tract. The founding members initially met in a brush arbor, and Rev. Phillip Shiver served as the minister from 1872–1875. Ephraim (DeVeaux) Neal (1840– 1903), an ex–slave, donated one acre of land from the 75.5. acres he purchased through the 1872 SC Land Commission transaction.

A major storm in 1910 destroyed the original church which was built near Clarkson Road, facing the railroad and near Cedar Creek where baptisms took place until 1935. The structure was immediately rebuilt and has remained on the same property.

St. John Baptist Church built in 1944 For 135 years, St. John has had only a single two–year period where an interim minister served and only four ordained pastors: reconstruction era SC legislature member William H. Lowman (1875–1885 and 1887– 1892); Jesse W. Neal (1892–1943), Westberry H. Neal, Sr. (1943–2001 ), and Sammy L. Wade, present pastor since 2001.

Mary Barber Kirkland and Hattie Lowman served as co–chairs for the celebration under the auspices of the Board of Christian Education, Marie Barber Adams, Chair. Other events began on Thursday, February 18, 2010, and included a history museum display, health fair, youth pageant, and youth night celebration. Speakers during the week included Rev. John C. Williams, great–grandson of Rev. William Lowman, addressing the theme of “Looking Back” and Rev. Dr. John U. Kirkland, great–great grandson of Rev. Sam Barber, speaking about “Moving Forward.”

Many of the celebrants included founding family descendants who were either local residents or traveled from across the United States and included the names of Alston, Carter, Clarkson, Daniels, Jones, McRant, and Weston.

Isom Lowman, great– grandson of Rev. William H. Lowman was honored for his entrepreneurship during the Black History moment. Rev. James P. Neal Jr., great–grandson of Ephraim Neal, was the speaker for the Sunday occasion.