Shady Oaks Baptist Church

What happened to Shady Oaks Baptist Church in 1872? That was the year the church, under the leadership of former slave John Thomason, built its first dedicated structure. Shady Oaks Baptist Church is steeped in history, tracing its roots back to 1853 and the Fairview Presbyterian Church. Nineteen enslaved African Americans were listed as members of Fairview Presbyterian. These individuals were relegated to the balcony, a space known as the “galley.” The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 brought a longing for a new era of freedom, including the freedom to worship. Before they had their own church building, they worshipped in homes or a barn on the Peden farm. John Thomason, an ex-slave from Greenville County, played a pivotal role in the formation of Shady Oaks. He donated lumber and helped construct the first church building. This building was situated in the Hillside Community near Fountain Inn, under the expansive canopy of a shady oak tree – the church’s namesake. This oak tree became a spot for the community to gather, relax, and socialize in its cool shade after long days of work on the farm. The original church building was later sold and transformed into a cow barn. Shady Oaks Baptist Church, however, continued to grow, mirroring the resilience and spirit of its founders.