Our History

In the beginning of Forest Hill Baptist Church, God created a vision and a desire in the hearts of a group of devout persons and on Sunday morning, January 1, 1961, a group of interested men, women, and children gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grady Jordan, 1100 Bolt Drive, Anderson, South Carolina, for the purpose of finalizing the organization of a mission to become a Church at some future date. Reverend Woodrow Herrin, Associate Pastor of First Bap­tist, assumed the duties of Pastor. Forest Hill Baptist Chapel was started as a mission of First Baptist Church of Anderson. In February, 1961, members were asked to submit possible names for the Mis­sion. The name, Forest Hill, was submitted by Berthine Shanklin. After that first day in the basement of the Jordan home, a steady growth was experienced, and very soon it was evident that a larger building was needed.

On May 3, 1961, a store building was rented on the corner of Bolt Drive and the Belton Highway. The loading zone, the storage room, and the cooler were transformed into Sunday School Classes.

On June 1, 1962, Rev. Joseph R. Weber assumed the duties as the first full-time Mission Pastor. Membership increased and a need for even larger facilities was recognized. On March 10, 1963, construction of a chapel was begun on a five-acre lot owned by First Baptist Church at the corner of Bolt Drive and Plantation Road. On August 4, 1963, the membership of Forest Hill moved into the new Chapel Building equipped with an auditorium, 12 class rooms, a fellowship hall, and a kitchen.

On October 11, 1965, Ground Breaking Ceremonies were held for a new Educa­tion Building which was completed in 1967.

On May 1, 1966, at 1:45 p.m., the Mission officially became a fully constituted Church.

Reverend J. R. Weber served as pastor until 1970 and Reverend Charles W. Shacklette became pastor of Forest Hill and began his duties on April 4, 1971. With continuous growth, on March 26, 1972, the church voted to build a sanctuary which began in September, 1972. 

On May 5, 1974, the membership entered the new sanctuary to begin revival ser­vices with Dr. John Howell with a record attendance of 555 in Sunday School.  A building dedication service was held On July 28, 1974. The magnificent stained glass window of the sanctuary was given by church members Linda Charping and William Chapman, Sr. in memory of their mother, Edna Chapman.

Due to continued growth, the fellowship hall and kitchen where enlarged in February 1984. 

Reverend Charles Shacklette served as pastor until April 1, 1984 and Rev. Don L. McCutcheon, Sr. accepted the call as pastor in July, 1984 until December 1986.

Dr. Dean M. Weaver became the next pastor on November 1, 1987. 

The Lord blessed the church and was able to Celebrate the pay off its building debt of its sanctuary on January 4, 1998,with a Homecoming and Note Burning Ceremony.   

On November 1, 1998, Dr. Weaver retired after 46 years of pastoral ministry, 11 of which were served at Forest Hill. 

On February 13, 2000, the church voted to call Rev. Paul K. Langston, Sr., as Pastor. He began his duties on April 9, 2000.  

In June of 2000 Dr. Joseph R. Weber was presented as  Pastor Emeritus of Forest Hill. This was a unique situation as Dr. Weber was the first Pastor of the church 1961-1970, and again served the church in 1999 and 2000 as Interim Pastor.  

On November 5, 2006, Rev. Langston left Forest Hill to become Director of Missions of the Eastern Baptist Association of North Carolina.   

On January 11, 2009 the church voted to call Rev. Tom Owen as Pastor.  His call to pastorate began on February 1, 2009, and continues to serve as Pastor.   

In April of 2011 the church celebrated its 50 year anniversary and named Dr. Dean Weaver Pastor Emeritus.

In May of 2020 the church began major renovations to the Education Building (now called the Student Center).

On August 14, 2022 the church rededicated the newly renovated Student Center.