| The History of Greater Pleasant Branch Baptist Church 1972 - 1980 |
History from 1972 - 1980
On December 15, 1972, the church voted to purchase new pews and to begin plans to add
additional rooms to the church building. On March 9, 1973, the church voted to purchase pews at a
cost of $2,265.80. A plan for annexation was also adopted in this meeting. The board of deacons
then included: Deacon T. H. Logan, Deacon Climey Mathis, Deacon Lenton Taylor, Deacon Julius
Pierce, Deacon Robert Tillman, and Deacon Lloyd Hervey.
After nearly two years of work, in May of 1975, a final plan was agreed upon and the church
accepted a building annexation plan that was to add a larger dining room, three classrooms and a
pastor’s study in an upper level, a baptistery, an extended sanctuary, and other modernizing
features. Total cost of this plan was $21,750.61. Additional work has been done and other items
purchased that continue to make Pleasant Branch a more modern and comfortable house of
worship.
The music department was with and without a musician during this period. Andrew Balenton was
hired as musician for the church on second and fourth Sundays. In 1977, Ralph Calhoun was hired
as pianist for first and third Sundays. The individual choirs, now including, the Senior Choir, Male
Chorus, and Inspirational Youth Choir sang on assigned Sundays and as a mass group on each
fourth Sunday.
In 1979 a meeting of the various choirs was called and a decision was reached to form one choir
for the church. This choir officially became, The Mass Choir. Charter members of this choir were all
of the members of the Senior Choir, the Inspirational Choir, and Male Chorus. Lloyd Hervey
served as Minister of Music; Ralph Calhoun and Andrew Balenton shared duties as musicians.
Directors were Lloyd Hervey, Corine Smith, and Ralph Calhoun. Faye Dunevant (deceased) also
served as a director beginning in 1979.
Another youth choir was formed in 1980 under the direction of Faye Dunevant and Ralph Calhoun.
This group was later absorbed into the Mass Choir. The Mass choir continued as the official church
choir. The music ministry’s focus moved from singing to ministry during this period. The concept of
an annual concert, begun in 1976, became a standard ministry.
Back
On December 15, 1972, the church voted to purchase new pews and to begin plans to add
additional rooms to the church building. On March 9, 1973, the church voted to purchase pews at a
cost of $2,265.80. A plan for annexation was also adopted in this meeting. The board of deacons
then included: Deacon T. H. Logan, Deacon Climey Mathis, Deacon Lenton Taylor, Deacon Julius
Pierce, Deacon Robert Tillman, and Deacon Lloyd Hervey.
After nearly two years of work, in May of 1975, a final plan was agreed upon and the church
accepted a building annexation plan that was to add a larger dining room, three classrooms and a
pastor’s study in an upper level, a baptistery, an extended sanctuary, and other modernizing
features. Total cost of this plan was $21,750.61. Additional work has been done and other items
purchased that continue to make Pleasant Branch a more modern and comfortable house of
worship.
The music department was with and without a musician during this period. Andrew Balenton was
hired as musician for the church on second and fourth Sundays. In 1977, Ralph Calhoun was hired
as pianist for first and third Sundays. The individual choirs, now including, the Senior Choir, Male
Chorus, and Inspirational Youth Choir sang on assigned Sundays and as a mass group on each
fourth Sunday.
In 1979 a meeting of the various choirs was called and a decision was reached to form one choir
for the church. This choir officially became, The Mass Choir. Charter members of this choir were all
of the members of the Senior Choir, the Inspirational Choir, and Male Chorus. Lloyd Hervey
served as Minister of Music; Ralph Calhoun and Andrew Balenton shared duties as musicians.
Directors were Lloyd Hervey, Corine Smith, and Ralph Calhoun. Faye Dunevant (deceased) also
served as a director beginning in 1979.
Another youth choir was formed in 1980 under the direction of Faye Dunevant and Ralph Calhoun.
This group was later absorbed into the Mass Choir. The Mass choir continued as the official church
choir. The music ministry’s focus moved from singing to ministry during this period. The concept of
an annual concert, begun in 1976, became a standard ministry.
Back
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| 601 Spruce Street ~Conway, AR 72032 |
| "Let Every Soul, Save a Soul and Every Soul will be Saved" |
