Church History

In the late eighteen hundreds, the late Rev. Simon L.Taylor had a Godly vision, a vision that turned into reality when he bought a house from Mr. Frasier. After the major accomplishment, the assembled followers of Christ within the Union Heights Community, to form escape, built a store house to teach the will of God known as “Frasier Will Baptist Church”, named after the original owner of the house. Rev. Taylor was the founder of The Cooper River Baptist Association, BTU and the Union in 1890.  He served as Moderator of the Cooper River Association, BTU and the President of the Union. In the year of 1929 the church was remodeled with a change in the structural layout. The church now faced Meeting Street Road and the name was changed to “Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

Due to the lack of schools in the black communities, several members and neighbors recalled the good old days when Mt. Olive served as a day school for the children in the community.

Rev. Taylor’s health began to fail in the early fifties. Several ministers were called to assist with the upkeep of the church. In 1953, the deacons were led by the spirit of God to consult the Rev. Thomas E. Prioleau to fill the position because of his thirty-seven years of dedicated and outstanding performance as a Field Missionary. Knowing the need for spiritual guidance, Rev. Prioleau accepted and served for six years until the death of Rev. Taylor on Saturday, March 13, 1959. In 1960, Rev. Thomas E. Prioleau was installed as the new pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. As pastor, Rev. Prioleau delivered the message on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. In his absence, two other ministers brought uplifting sermons to the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Family. The late Rev. Ernest Washington, on the first Sunday of each month and the late Rev. Hercules Johnson on the third Sunday of each month.

When Hurricane Hugo swept through the Charleston area in 1989, Mt. Olive sustained heavy damages, leaving us no choice except to relocate our worship services to the Baptist Educational Center in N. Charleston. God’s angels blessed us during our transition as we were given a very generous donation by Queen Baptist Church in Greenville, SC to help aid in our rebuilding process.  Thus the process of rebuilding began in August 1991 and plans were finalized to build a new sanctuary. Due to the dedication, diligence, determination, knowledge and untiring efforts of the late Bro. John Singletary, Sr. and the late Dec. Joseph Hines they layed the ground work for our church. Where the church stands today is largely due to their efforts.

During the same year on May 11, 1991, we established and voted on the Constitution and Bylaws under Rev. Prioleau’s leadership.

Upon the illness of Rev. Prioleau, Rev. Jake Lee and other associate ministers conducted services. As Field Missionary for the Cooper River Baptist Association, Rev. Willis Glover, Sr. was called to preach for the church from 1991 to 1993.

After the Lord blessed us with the completion of our new sanctuary, the Mt. Olive congregation sang and walked 5 blocks from the Baptist Educational Center on Jacksonville Road to our new sanctuary. Rev. Willis Glover, Sr. was called to preach for us on the first and third Sundays and later Interim Pastor due to the illness of Rev. Prioleau.

Through the revelation of God, Rev. Prioleau retired on Sunday, December 13, 1992 because of his illness. The Pastor Search Committee came to consensus and presented the idea to the congregation to make Rev. Prioleau, Pastor Emeritus. On November 24, 1993, the Lord called his shepherd home.

On January 31, 1993, Rev. Willis Glover, Sr. was installed as the Pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and his ministry began. We celebrated for the first time in the history of our church, our 103rd Church Anniversary in 1993.

The Prince Hall Lodge #46 erected the Cornerstone of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church on December 21, 1997.

Mt. Olive Baptist Church with pride paid off the church mortgage and on July 17, 2004 held a Mortgage Burning Ceremony.

In December of 2009, it was decided that our church service was to be reorganized and go into effect January 2010. Sunday School will be held from 8 am- 9am, Morning Service will begin at 9 am.

In 2011 extensive renovations were done on the first floor which included relocating the pastor’s study, and the men and women’s bathrooms, expanding the dining and kitchen area and adding a Deacon’s room.

The Mt. Olive Church Family is like many which have built a house, dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock, and when the flood arose, the storm blew vehemently upon that house and could not shake it, for it was founded upon a Rock. That Rock is Jesus and we shall not be moved.

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