A Sunday School was started in the Cumberland School which was located near Fowler’s Fork. This Sunday School was held in the summer months only. Several years later, Mr. Josiah Smith, father of Nelson, Lewis and Wray Smith, wanted the school nearer to Bagley Swamp. Mr. W.F. White gave one-half acre for a building site. In 1905 the first building was erected on the lot which is the present church site. Those responsible for the first building were Josiah Smith, Elihu Winslow, J. Jordan and Allen Winslow. The church started on an interdenominational basis. Since the church did not have a regular pastor, different preachers from the area were called on to fill the pulpit.

Some of those who preached in the early days were: Rev. James Smith, Rev. J.W. White, Rev. Gus Baker, Rev. Walter White and Rev. Elizabeth White.

By 1913 the congregation had outgrown the original building and it was sold to Mr. A.J Jordan to make way for a new and larger building. Mr. Jordan moved the old building on his farm (now Mrs. Teressa Smith’s land, where it still stands) and was rented as a tenant house. On the old site, a new and larger building was erected, which is the sanctuary of the present building.

The group had been considering for some time the possibility of merger with an organized denomination. In September 1914, Rev. M.A. Baldwin came to Bagley Swamp to hold a tent meeting. His tent was pitched beside the church. On September 7, 1914, the Bagley Swamp Group joined the Apostolic Holiness Church under the supervision of Rev. Baldwin. Rev. James M. Smith was the pastor at the time of the merger. The name was later changed to Bagley Swamp International Holiness Church. In 1922 the church united with the Pilgrim Church, again changing the name to Bagley Swamp Pilgrim Holiness Church.

In 1948, the Sunday School rooms in the rear and the vestibule were added to the church under the leadership of Rev. Coy Saunders. In 1966, the old pews were replaced with the current pews. In 1967, the tower was removed from the vestibule, and the church was bricked. In 1968, the Pilgrim Holiness Church merged with the Wesleyan Methodist Church, thus changing the name to the present name of Bagley Swamp Wesleyan Church. The church fellowship hall was built in 1976. In 1984, two Sunday School rooms were added upstairs. In 1988, new front doors were added and in 1989 the bathrooms were renovated. In 2000 the carpet in the sanctuary was replaced. In 2002 the church purchased 17 acres across the street from the church. The land included a house that is now used for a church office, Sunday School classes and small groups. The farm land is currently being rented and holds promise for future building plans.

Pastors at Bagley Swamp:

Rev. J. M. Smith Founding Pastor in 1914
Rev. C.A. Brown Pastored in the early 1920’s
Rev. Wray J. Smith Pastored until 1937
Rev. L.E. Schendel 1937-1940
Rev. Reece Farlow 1940-1942
Rev. W.B. Walker 1942-1947
Rev. Coy S. Saunders 1947-1957
Rev. Maurice M. Holmes 1957-1960
Rev. A.E. Barefoot 1960-1963
Rev. Homer Smith 1963-1965
Rev. Verlin Busick 1965-1969
Rev. W. Fred Page 1969-1973
Rev. James Hulett 1973-1980
Rev. Daniel E. LeRoy 1980-1987
Rev. Samuel R. Swinney 1987-1996
Rev. D Stephen Saunders 1996-1999
Rev. James Spaugh 1999- present

Click here for our denomination’s history.