Mercy Gate Church

Bath Pentecostal Holiness Church was the second Pentecostal Holiness Church in this area having been established in 1938 with only a tent where the Bath Fire Department now stands. It was later moved and stood between Ben Kight’s home and the present Church Annex on Front Street. In the winter months the Church worshipped in the community center which was located where the present Bath United Meth

odist Church is located. Charter members were Frank Jones, Tess Widener, Deva Lovett, Sister Leila Porterfield, Ruth Watkins and Nellie Webb. Around 1940, Brother and Sister Gunter, Sister Leila Porterfield, James Lightsey and Ruth Watkins each borrowed $100 from the mill and repaid the loans back at $10 per month to start the Church. The money was used to purchase the lumber to build the first church building which consisted of a sanctuary and three Sunday School rooms. The first funeral in the church was Mrs. Sophronia Free who was the mother of Daniel Free, Billy Free, Sally Lowe and Retta Anderson. The first wedding was J. and Ann Cooper. The first bus was purchased while Brother Gunter was here and it was driven by J. Free, thus pioneering the first bus ministry of the Church. An addition was built in 1950 which consisted of Sunday School rooms and a fellowship hall. A parsonage was built in 1970. In 1989, six acres on U. Highway No. 1 was purchased from United Merchants and Manufacturers upon which to build the present Church. Construction of the new building began in April 1994, and our first service was held in the new facility on February 5, 1995 with 347 members on roll. And the Lord keeps on blessing and blessing . . .