History

In the mid-1940s, several mission-minded sisters led by Sister Katie Johnson started a Sunday School in the Troy School House.

Sister Katie Johnson later employed Reverend Lonnie Grant to preach, and this mission became so inspiring that a few brothers and sisters urged Reverend Grant to organize a church.

Reverend Grant was ordained as a minister in 1941. He and a few members from the 8th Street Baptist Church and several of the Troy Mission brothers and sisters organized the Grant Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on the second Sunday of February 1945. Brothers Will Clark and Clarence Thomas were the first ordained deacons. Reverend Grant continued to successfully pastor Grant Chapel for two years.

In early 1946, Reverend Calvin Rector was called as pastor. During his leadership for three years, the Home Mission Society was organized.

In February 1951, Grant Chapel called Reverend Collin Davis Jr. as pastor. New members were baptized. Also, two deacons, Brothers M.C. Clark and Troy Washington were ordained and Reverend H. McBride was ordained as a preacher. In 1954, a building program was started. After four years of faithful service and a building near completion, Reverend C. Davis resigned in peace and harmony with the church.

In March 1955, Grant Chapel called Reverend N.J. Hall as its pastor. The choir was organized by pianist Sister Sherry Kezee. Grant Chapel's building was completed for worship services. Plans for the entrance services were conducted by Reverend Hall, with the former pastor, Reverend Collin Davis, Jr. preaching the entrance sermon. During the leadership of pastor Hall, Brother David Holloway and Reverend Manual Grant were ordained. Reverend Hall also organized the B. Y. P. U. Reverend Hall continued to serve as pastor for about five years.

In February 1960, Grant Chapel called Reverend Collin Davis, Jr. as pastor for the second time. Pastor Davis baptized a large number of children upon his return as pastor. 1979 a building fund was started to build an addition to the church. The church thanked God for his blessing and guidance. Pastor Davis resigned after serving 30 years on February 18, 1990, because of failing eyesight. Grant Chapel's membership was saddened but thanked God for his blessing. We continued with Prayer and Sunday School led by Deacon Will Clark. Deacon Clark encouraged the congregation to pray to God to send another Pastor.

After interviewing and listening to several ministers, the Holy Spirit led Grant Chapel to call the Reverend Matthew Wilson as our pastor and leader. On May 6th, 1990, Rev. Wilson became Pastor of Grant Chapel Baptist Church. We were an old, but young church who had been praying for a very long time for a new start. We had grown in grace with the Holy Spirit during the leadership of Pastor Wilson and his faithful and supportive wife, Joan. During Reverend Wilson's leadership, we baptized several new members and many others joined or reunited with the church.

On November 18, 1990, Reverend Wilson and Deacon Will Clark assisting, ordained Brother Robert T. Johnson, Sr. as a deacon. Brother Robert T. Johnson, Sr. professed to be a minister on April 4, 1993. Reverend Wilson accepted brother Johnson as a minister with the help of Deacon Will Clark. Reverend Johnson was presented his license and he preached his first sermon on May 16th, 1993. Brother Willie Hogan, Guy Coleman, and Clarence L. Johnson were ordained as Deacons in 1998.

During Pastor Wilson's leadership, a new church building was built and the old church building was demolished. Pastor Wilson and First Lady Joan are acknowledged for their contribution to Grant Chapel Baptist Church and the community.

On January 10, 1999 the first board of trustees was formulated and elected with Deacons Willie Hogan, Guy Coleman, James Clark, Bruce Ethridge, and Clarence L. Johnson as members. This was the first trustee board in church history. In 2000 Brothers Nevin Freeman, Travis Johnson, Aaron Evans, and Justin Johnson were ordained as Junior Deacons.

On September 9th, 2001 Brother Charles W. Johnson was ordained as a Deacon.

Brothers Jame Clark Jr. and J. W. Griffin were ordained as deacons 2003.

Grant Chapel Baptist Church joined the Bell Baptist Association as a Sister Church under First Baptist Church of Troy. Thanks to Pastor Harlan Haines and the First Baptist congregation for their support during the construction of our present facility. Through prayer and financial support of our members, we were able to purchase land for a new facility.

On August 10, 2008 Reverend Wayne Lott was ordained as a minister under Pastor Wilson. Pastor Wilson's health began to fail. In 2013 Pastor Wilson made his heavenly departure leaving the pastorship of Grant Chapel vacant by his death. Reverend Wayne Lott was called to pastor the Grant Chapel Baptist Family in 2014. Pastor Lott and First Lady Debra Lott have provided dedicated and faithful service leading the church.

Deacon Clarence Johnson is Deacon Board Chairman and responsible for monitoring the church finances. Through his and Pastor Wayne Lott's leadership, Grant Chapel paid off the church mortgage on November 14th, 2018. Sister Julia Johnson leads the Sunday School as Superintendent.

In the fall of 2016, Deacon Donald Oliver joined Grant Chapel as an experienced Deacon. In the winter of 2016, Pastor Lott directed Deacon Oliver to start a new deacons class. The new deacons class was attended by deacon candidate Terrel Hamilton and Minsters Ronnie Garland and Tommie Griffin. Terrel Hamilton was ordained as a deacon on January 15, 2017. In July 2017, Pastor Lott requested Deacon Oliver to have a new members' orientation. Deacon Oliver developed the first members' class orientation material to be used to train new members at Grant Chapel Baptist Church.