Church marks 80 years

Members at Clifford Memorial Presbyterian Church in Grovetown will celebrate the church's 80th anniversary today.

The celebration will be at 10 a.m. at the church at 110 E. Robinson Ave. and will feature musical performances, an audio and video presentation of the church's history, a barbecue dinner and more. Admission is free.

"For me, (the celebration) holds a special meaning," said Pat Copeland, the church's clerk of session, who has been an active member for several years. "So many of our members said that it's God's will that the doors of the church have been open."

Seven and a half years ago, Copeland said, members worried about having to close the church's doors because they were without a full-time pastor and membership was waning.

"There were times when we had less than 20 active participants," she said.

But through a connection with Morning Star Congregational Holiness Church, Copeland said, the church's prayer's were answered.

"We needed a pastor, and they needed a place to worship," she said.

She added that the Rev. Gerald McNutt - Morning Star's pastor - agreed to become pastor of the church and teach only the doctrines of the Bible instead of the canons of a certain denomination.

These days, Copeland said, there are 80 members in the joint congregation on Sundays.

"We have dedicated people," she said.