South Carolina H 3826: St. Matthew Baptist Church 125th anniversary

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3826 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 29, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3826

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO CELEBRATE THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF THE ONE HUNDRED 
twenty-fifth ANNIVERSARY OF THE St. Matthew Baptist CHURCH AND TO CONGRATULATE 
AND HONOR Reverend Calvert r. Bradley AND THE CONGREGATION FOR THEIR YEARS OF 
DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE North Charleston COMMUNITY.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn that St. 
Matthew Baptist Church of North Charleston will celebrate its quasquicentennial 
anniversary in 2025; and

Whereas, St. Matthew 
Baptist Church was started in 1900 by Reverend Frank Guest and a group of 
baptized believers holding services on Grant Hill. A parcel of land was 
purchased at 268 Huger Street and St. Matthew Baptist Church was built; and

Whereas, after Reverend 
Guest's passing in 1927, Reverend A.W. Wright became pastor in 1928 and 
remained until his death in 1939; and

Whereas, Reverend 
Benjamin J. Whipper, Sr. was called as pastor in 1940. Numerous ministries were 
established under his pastorate including a new sanctuary with an educational 
facility, completed in 1950. The church was on the cutting edge of bold and 
relevant social and educational projects. It served as a meeting place for Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. at the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1968, 
it was the memorial place for Federal Judge J. Waites Waring, who presided the 
school desegregation case, Briggs v. Elliott in Clarendon County. St. Matthew 
housed one of the first Head Start Programs established in the early 1960's, a 
tutorial program for high school students and a GED program for adults. They 
also printed a newsletter. Boy Scout Troop 108, one of the oldest troops in the 
Charleston area, was established in 1948. In 1997, Reverand Whipper retired 
after fifty-seven years as pastor; and

Whereas, in 2000, St. 
Matthew elected Reverend Dr. Clinton Brantley to serve as pastor. During his 
pastorate, the former Charleston Heights Baptist Church was purchased and 
became the new home for St. Matthew Baptist Church. Metanoia Community 
Development Afterschool Program was organized, and space was provided for the North 
Charleston Dental Outreach Clinic and for food bank distribution. St. Matthew 
served as the host church for the Charleston County Baptist Sunday School and 
BTU Congress of Christian Education Annual Week-Long Study Sessions, Charleston 
Area Justice Ministry rallies, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual 
Commemorative concerts. Dr. Clinton Brantley retired in 2017; and

Whereas, Reverend 
Calbert R. Brantley was elected to the pastorate in 2019. In 2020, Pastor 
Brantley formed Connecting, Communicating, and Caring Ministry (CCC Ministry) 
to keep members connected during the Covid Pandemic. Virtual worship services 
and meetings were held on Zoom Video/Audio Communication, and prayer and Bible study 
were offered by conference call. In 2021, the church partnered with Palmetto 
Palace Mobile Health Unit to offer free Covid-19 testing and vaccination 
clinics. There were major renovations to the steeple, roof, and building; and

Whereas, in 2023, St. 
Matthew launched Life Group Study Sessions that took the place of traditional 
Sunday School and Wednesday Night Bible Study and offered members a rich 
opportunity to grow spiritually and in relationship with one another. Church 
services began streaming on Facebook and YouTube to reach as many people as 
possible; and 

Whereas, St. Matthew 
Baptist Church continues to be a diverse and welcoming family of believers, 
uplifting Christ and connecting with the community through faith, love for God, 
and love for one another. With a strong commitment to their community through 
the years, members of the church have served with distinction in the South 
Carolina Legislature; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives commends St. Matthew Baptist Church in North 
Charleston for a century and a half of ministry in and service to the community, 
and the members extend warmest congratulations on the occasion of the church's 
historic anniversary. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, celebrate 
the joyous occasion of the one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of St. Matthew 
Baptist Church and congratulate and honor Reverend Calbert R. Brantley and the 
congregation for their years of dedicated service to the North Charleston 
community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to Reverend Calbert R. Brantley.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 29, 2025 at 03:17 PM