Church History
East Side Baptist Church, originally known as Middleburg Baptist, was organized on January 17, 1909, with the Reverend Little as pastor. During her first years, the members shared the sanctuary of the little white church across from the old Burlington Mill with the members of the Middleburg Methodist Church. Each church held services on alternating Sundays.
The first record of an offering given by the membership of Middleburg Baptist was that of $3 to be sent to the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Later the congregation voted to give ten percent of the total offerings to the Cooperative Program, helping to ensure the continued advancement of the Gospel at home and abroad.
Because of a growing congregation and a need for space and identity, the church voted on July 22, 1945,'to make plans to build a new Baptist church on land donated by the owners of Burlington Mills. The original plans called for a building 60 feet by 36 feet with Sunday School rooms on each side of the pulpit. Three rooms were to be added in the balcony over the pulpit, leaving the auditorium to be 45 feet by 35 feet with one aisle down the middle and aisles beside the outside walls.
By December 9, 1945, the congregation voted unanimously to borrow the necessary $800 and to begin construction. On December 16, 1945, the name was officially changed from Middleburg to East Side Baptist Church.
The first service held in East Side Baptist Church was conducted by the Rev.
J. D. Atkinson, East Side's first pastor. His text for the day was taken from II Chronicles 7: 14:
"If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will heal their lands."
East Side continues to meet in the building which was built in 1945-1946. A few of the charter members are still active members. The members of East Side still claim the promise given in the verse shared with the congregation at the first service.
