On Sunday, April 5, 1942,  the CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH was organized with 122 charter members.  Rev. J. K. Lawton was extended a call to be the pastor.  The first deacons called to service at Calvary were Wilbur Woodward, Wilbur Norris, Marvin Slayton, John Ready and Pope Wise.  The first meeting was held in the auditorium of Graniteville Baptist Church.   The following meetings were to be held upstairs in the Hickman Hall until the new church was completed.  Calvary Baptist was accepted into the Aiken Baptist Association on October 8, 1942.  The land at the corner of Second and Rennie Street was donated on April 10, 1942 by the Graniteville Company.  By April 18, 1943, the building was finished and all debt was paid.  The building was also dedicated on that day.

The first baptismal service was held at l. E. Williams Sr's pond, located east of Graniteville.  Twelve candidates were baptized.

By October, 1943, Calvary had grown to 243 members.  By 1950, membership had grown to over 300 and the need for a new, larger auditorium was recognized.    A building fund was begun on January 29, 1950.  The new auditorium was completed and the first worship service was held the first Sunday in April, 1953. 

This is the same auditorium we worship in today.  Stained glass windows have been replaced and painting and updates have been done but the love for Christ and community has never changed.  We still worship the same God of yesterday, today and forever. 

                       (Thoughts after first service at Calvary Church by Mrs. J. K. Lawton, Sr)

Today our hearts are humble, Lord

on Thee we cast our all

We feel Thy presence all about

We hear Thy loving call.

Calvary!  How sweet the name!

It means so much to me;

My heart,  O Lord is filled with praise

For Him who paid the penalty.

O God, help us to make our church

A place where love is found;

And deep in every heart, O Lord,

May thy rich grace abound.