Church History

The history of Shady Grove was first preserved in the collective memory of Brother Charlie Foster. Brother Foster then shared the church history verbally with Lovie Clipps Spears, and she wrote it down and read it at the church anniversary in 1941.

Shady Grove Baptist Church was organized in 1894 in the old Ella Brown house, and was pastored by the late Reverend George Williams. Reverend Williams and his congregation left the old Ella Brown house, to relocate at the M. Hochendel Plantation, later called Solder’s Field. Approximately two blocks from our present site across Plank Road under a grove of oak trees-our church had its beginning. The church remained under the shed of those trees, until they raised enough money to build a 16 ft. by 29 ft. building.

After several years of service Reverend Williams departed and Reverend Wesley Kelly became pastor with a very small membership who was instrumental in purchasing the land where the Old Shady Grove building was located for $25.00 on June 12, 1906 and a building was erected. The original structure was destroyed by a storm and on this land another building was erected. After a few years of service, the late Reverend Kelly relinquished his duties as pastor so that he could pastor a church in his neighborhood. After his departure, several pastors served short terms: Reverend Dees; Reverend Henry Millican; and Reverend Rivers Johnson, who served from 1913 to 1915. In 1916, Reverend John Clark was elected pastor. The membership increased tremendously and a larger building was built. This building was destroyed by fire and another buildingwas erected. After many years the building was once again destroyed by fire, one first Sunday after Communion Service. This was quite a shock to the pastor and members. But the leaders who goals were very high did not let these snares stop them. Through leadership, effort and hard work of some devoted deacons and deaconess such as J.B. Shelmire/Augustus Bryant Clark/ Ossie Clipps/ Tommy Moses/ Arthur Davis/ Freeman Rogers/ Ed Finley/ Leon Wolf/ Henry Thomas/ Lily Freeman/ Beatrice Thomas/ Elizabeth Clipps/ Susie Moses/ Lottie Clark/ Mattie James/ Rosie James and Phoebe Williams just to name a few. They decided to hold strongly to God’s unchanging hand and to put God in their plans and they rebuilt another structure. This building was the old white stone building that we worshipped in until 1984. After 51 ½ years of dedicated services, Reverend Clark went on to be with the Lord in 1967.

Three months after Reverend Clark’s death, the Lord blessed us with an outstanding leader; the late Reverend Dr. Lionel Lee, Sr. was elected pastor. He came to Shady Grove from the Evening Star Baptist Church, where he served as Assistant Pastor under the leadership of Reverend T.J. Carter.

Reverend Lee served tirelessly, and membership steadily climbed, reaching well over 400 and during these years many auxiliaries were formed. Service that used to be held twice a month, 1 st Sunday for Communion and 3 rd Sunday for “Speaking Meeting,” was now held each Sunday with prayer service once every week.

The church was incorporated on November 13, 1953 as Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church (mistakenly written on the document as “Shadyville Missionary Baptist Church”). On December 3, 1972 a resolution to change the recorded name to its original name “Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church” was filed with the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court’s Office. Then Church Secretary, Henry E. Bell, signed this certificate. It was several years later through the diligent research of Reverend Lee; he discovered that Shady Grove was the oldest Missionary Baptist Church in Baker. So our name became Shady Grove First Missionary Baptist Church.

Through Reverend Lee’s leadership, Shady Grove accomplished much and achieved many milestones. In 1973, two (2) acres of land was purchased next to the “old building”, where the present building now sits. Ground breaking for the present edifice was held on August 21, 1983 with construction beginning the following morning. On August 26, 1984 at 3:00 p.m., the present structure was dedicated. December 6, 1998 marked the full payment of a mortgage in only 14 years.

Shady Grove First Missionary Baptist Church is one of the leading churches in the Baker, Baton Rouge, Zachary communities, the state and nation in relation to missions. Shady Grove is a member of the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the National Sunday School Congress and the American Baptist Churches of the South (ABCOTS).

Reverend Lee implemented many auxiliaries, ministries, programs and budget Mission Funds to many organizations in and around the Baton Rouge community during his tenure. Reverend Lionel Lee, Sr. served Shady Grove, faithful and untiringly for 34 and one half (34½) years, until his death, July 25, 2001.

After an extensive Pastoral search, Reverend Kenneth Wayne Chandler became the eighth Pastor of this historic church. Pastor Chandler was elected September 15, 2002 and installed on October 20, 2002. He came to Shady Grove from the True Light Baptist Church where he served as Youth Pastor, under the leadership of Rev. Dennis R. Hebert Sr.

Pastor Chandler has continued to build on the foundation that has already been laid. Under His Leadership additional ministries, educational trainings, and leadership trainings have been developed to equip the saints at Shady Grove for kingdom building work. Four Deacons have been ordained. A Biblical Rules and Procedure Booklet and Leadership Booklet have been developed as a tool for the members of Shady Grove to walk in unity following God’s Master’s Plan. On-going Deacon and Deaconess Trainings, New Re-assignment of Ministry Leaders every three years, Quarterly Leadership and Prayer Meetings, Women Conferences, Youth Ministry, Youth Advisory Ministry, Youth Workshops, Youth Revival, Youth Lock-In, Youth and Adult Bible Study, an Old Fashion Outside Homecoming Service, and supportive of the Church’s Leadership decision to erect a new church outside billboard. All prior existing Ministries continue to progress greatly.

Through God’s favor, Shady Grove First Missionary Baptist Church has expanded with Outreach Ministries to enhance the spiritual growth of the membership, to recognize the importance of fellowship, and to witness Jesus Christ throughout the community.Under Pastor Chandler’s dedicated leadership the congregation continued to work diligently toward increasing their tithes and offering for the purpose of erecting a new family life/fellowship and educational facility to continue kingdom building work. The Ground Breaking service was held on May 24, 2009. The estimated cost of our building project was about $1,007,000 (One million seven thousand dollars). The Architectural Design Firm was The Map Group with Deacon Dilton Anderson developing the design and HADDAD Construction Company building our facilities.  The Dedication and Ribbon cutting Service was celebrated June 27, 2010. Our invited guest for this celebration was Pastor Conway Knighten and the Saint Mary’s Baptist Church family.

It was in the year of 2016 that the winds of change began to blow into life of this church. On August 11th, the rain began to fall. It continued to rain, and on August 13th, the flood waters enter the sanctuary and the Family Life Center of Shady Grove. Because of the massive flooding, the 2nd Sunday worship experience in August was cancelled. Yet, on August 14th, the clean-up began with a few humble servants. On the third Sunday, August 21st, God blessed us to resume worshiping him in the Family Life Center. The Shady Grove family did not let the circumstances regarding the flood stop us from PRAISING AND WORSHIPING GOD!

Four months after the flood, on January 15, 2017, we joyfully re-entered our sanctuary “with a mind to praise the LORD.  We were further blessed five months after re-entering our sanctuary, in June of 2017, to pay off the Church Expansion note.

As we reflect back to the beginning, where it was just a few handpicked servants that started this journey. We here at Shady Grove are blessed to be a part of this body of baptized believers. And as proud as we are of our church, we are constantly praying to keep humble enough to be of service to God and our fellowman, GIVING GOD ALL THE GLORY AND PRAISE.

Contributing writer of the Church History – Rev. Lois Fay Spears Le Duff