History

Our church was formed in 1902 as a mission of what was then known as The Elizabeth City Baptist Church.The forty nine charter members laid a foundation for mission and ministry that has continued to this day.

This young church grew rapidly and dedicated its first building at the corner of Road and Cypress Street on December 11, 1904 while under the excellent leadership of Rev. W. A. Ayres.

In less than twenty years the church literally exploded in membership. This created the happy problem of where to put all those new people. So, in 1908 and 1915 new annexes were built. This occurred during the pastorate of Rev. I. N. Loftin. During this eleven year period some 600 people were added to the fellowship.Unfortunately, his ministry was cut short by his untimely death in 1917.

There were five pastors who served in the next thirty years and the church continued to grow with a third annex being completed in the late 1920s. Things we take for granted were also taking place. In the 1930s both Sunday School and WMU were fully granted. These ministries have provided a place for ministry and growth in our relationships to God and people.

In 1949, our longest serving pastor, Dr. Robert W. Kicklighter , took Office. During his thirty year pastorate, the church undertook its last great building project. Our new educational building was dedicated in 1963 by former pastor Dr. Robert E Wall It has become a multipurpose facility which provides a fellowship hall, a kitchen. Sunday School space and Office space. In 1988 it would provide a home for a weekday preschool which continues to this day and has been used to bless the lives of hundreds of children. Sadly, Blackwell was again struck by tragedy when Dr. Kicklighter collapsed in the pulpit in February 1979 and died a few short months later. He was a wonderful representative of Blackwell in our community and his death was a significant loss.

In the ensuing 40 years we have been served by six pastors and three interim pastors. During these years there has been much introspection and evaluation of our mission and ministries as we seek to minister in the midst of a community that is changing in significant ways.

Several new ministries have taken root and taken our ministries into the community at large. One of the most noteworthy is our senior adult ministry known as the JOY Club, which celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in 2019.

We are currently led by Rev. Don Morris who began his ministry at Blackwell in January 2015. In the midst of change both inside and outside our church walls we seek to follow God’s leadership in the years ahead of us.

PASTORS

J.B. Ferebee – 1902

W.A. Ayres – 1902

Josiah Crudup – 1906

I.N. Loftin – 1906

G.W. Clark – 1917

J.H. Thayer – 1921

J.L. Carrick – 1927

J.L. White, Jr. – 1936

R.E. Wall – 1943

R.W. Kicklighter – 1949

J.H. Adams – 1979

J.H. Lambeth – 1983

W. Dennis Hill – 1986

Robert E. Crisp, Jr – 1989

Jim Clark – interim – 2006

Corey Miller – 2008

Don Carter – interim – 2013

Don Morris – 2015

Ron Parr – interim – 2020

Casey Carlton – 2022

Ron Parr – interim – 2023

Calvin S. Blackwell, for whom the Church was named, served two interims: 1917 and 1921.