Baptist Bethel Church, Spartanburg County, SC Bethel Church became a 'seperate existence' on 16-Sept-1787, the date of the first record books. The organization had several branches after 1790, which with the new century opened began meeting in one meeting house, the one in Woodruff. Joseph Woodruff & Robert Page were the first deacons. Rev. Richard Shackleford accepted a call to the pastoral care of the church 20 July 1789. Rev. Shackleford was assisted by Rev. Messer, James Hill, David Lilly & John Rowland at different times he pastored the Woodruff church. In 1804, the church became the 'Baptist Bethel Church in the district of Spartanburg . 9 July 1804, Joseph Woodruff gave twelve and a half acres on a branch of the Enoree River, including the meeting house. The first two building were of logs, the third was built about 1803, was a long, low-frame building, never ceiled, had a gallery across each end. The pulpit was in the center of one side, was a high, squared-shaped box, with steps on one end. The building did have a door. The oldest gravestones in the cemetery are Anney Alexander d. 1796 & William Moon, d. 1798. Rev. Shackleford served this church from 1790-1792 with membership standing at 116-204. Assistant messengers were David Lilly, Joseph Woodruff. David Lilly served part of 1792 as head Pastor. In the middle of 1793, Rev. Richard Shackleford resumed pastoring the church with members 221 members thru 1797 with membership dropping to 171. Assistant messengers were Tyrie Glen, Joseph & John Woodruff. John Rowland & Richard Shackleford served as Ministers of the Church from 1979-1804.  Assistant messengers were Robert Page, Tyrie Glen, Joseph Woodruff, Henry Meredith, & John Dean with membership rising to 390. ( South Carolina Baptists found @ Camden Archives & Museum, Camden, SC, contributed by Jil Woodruff Pulley). Contributor Jil Woodruff Pulley adds: On the site of Woodruff, South Carolina, its history is given via a summation of Edna Westmoreland' s genealogy research.  Woodruff began as a small unincorporated town with a church erected called The Church of Christ on Jamey Creek, later known as the The Baptist Church of Christ on Jamey Creek which later became known as The Bethel Baptist Church on Jamey Creek, also called the First Baptist Church in later years.  Although this church does not stand today, a newer Baptist Church was erected about 3-5 blocks away from the original site.  According to Edna Westmoreland, the Jamey's Creek is known as 'Jimmy's Creek' today.   Woodruff became incorporated/chartered after 1874.  It was named after Thomas Woodruff, son of Joseph & Annie Linsey Woodruff.  Thomas had dreamed of making Woodruff a town, but died before it happened.  Two of Thomas' sons were instrumental in seeing this happen, Dr. Charles Pickney Woodruff & Capt. A. B. Woodruff.   He moved from Yadkin Valley, NC after the Revolutionary War, recieving 200 acres in South Carolina for service during the Revolutionary War.   These Woodruff's were/are Cousin's & Uncles to my line of Woodruff's in this area. Back to Spartanburg County, South Carolina Main Page