This church cemetery is now known as Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery but is still known as Wiggins.



HISTORY OF MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH



In 1859 Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church was established on the site where the Richmond Court House stood, which was about 50 feet south of the present location on land donated by Stephen Wiggins. The first church was a simple, small log cabin but membership grew rapidly and soon another was built, around 1000 feet, to the west of the original building. Some of the original members helped in the physical building of the new church by cutting and rolling logs to the site. Some of the members were Dempsey Hodges, James Henry (Bud) Clark, John Armstrong and Brutus Hargrove, who was the great grandfather of Mark Byrd. Mt. Pleasant originally was a member in the Judson Association from about 1859 until 1890 when delegates W.P. Robinson and Johnny Armstrong asked permission to join the Columbia Baptist Association. The pastor at that time was Rev. R.C. Deal and membership was 140. The third structure was a two story building with the second story being used for meetings of the Woodmen of the World and many other community meetings. That building was torn down in 1926 and a new building erected. In 1958 the church voted to go to full time preaching services during Rev, A.B. Martin's pastorate. In 1970 eight Sunday School rooms and the fellowship hall were added. In 2007 a new brick Sanctuary was built with the help of members, deacons and Campers on Mission. Located directly beside the church is one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in the area. The cemetery began when a family passing through the area on a covered wagon was forced to stop due to the illness of a child. The child died and was buried here, becoming the first grave. Some of the graves show that several served in wars from the Civil War to the Korean Conflict. The church has been provided a registry of all legible markers in the cemetery.