History of Samaritan Missionary Baptist Church
Samaritan Baptist church was organized under the name of Varnville Colored Baptist Church at a Sunday school meeting held in Varnville, South Carolina in 1889. A committee from the Nazarene Baptist Association Board, consisting of reverends J.C. Johnson, J. Ferguson, H.A. Bradley, and Eli Sanders, duly organized the church with fourteen members. Reverend J.C. Johnson was installed as Samaritan’s first pastor.
Through the years many pastors have served the congregation of Samaritan. They include Reverends J.C. Johnson, J.J. Grant, C.L. Anderson, L.A. Williams, Ben Grant, Joe Fields, Joe Grant, E.A. Johnson, Earl Davis, J.C. Reid, M.C. McClellan, J.W. Williams, and James Jenkins who served 24 years.
Samaritan Baptist Church is currently under the leadership of Reverend Doctor Van E. Gaines.