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seldom failing to meet the proposed budget and often running ahead of schedule.
By 1935» the depression a thing of the past, membership was listed at 208 and in the next five years another 100 members were added upping the 1940 count to 308. Sunday School enrollment for 1940 was way up to 246 - still, however, only 13 officers and teachers were available to work with the group, causing those who were willing to serve to have quite a difficult and demanding job. Part of this Sunday School growth can be attributed to the construction in 1936, under the pastorate of Rev. J. Early Gray, of a six-classroom annex adjoining the church. This building was later to be converted into a Fellowship Hall when more facilities were obtained.
Two property additions highlighted growth of the church during the 1940 's. The church owed a debt of thanks to A. C. Exnicious, one of its leading families, for both acquisitions. In 1944, ivir. Exnicious gave to the church a plot of land adjoining the church building; then five years later the church purchased from Mr. Exnicious a two-story building adjacent to the land given earlier and which was used for educational purposes. The Exniciouses forgave the last $1000 note of purchase. With these additions, the church grounds covered nearly all of a small city block in the downtown area next to the County Courthouse.
The decade peaked in membership in 1944 at 384, then dropped to 288 by 1950. This decrease was primarily because of the removal in 1949 of 106 members from the roll. By 1950, the pastor's salary was $3000.
No single decade has shown such a steady growth as the 1950's which saw increases in almost every phase of church life. By the start of the decade, under the pastorate of Rev. H. Bufkin Oliver, the old educational building had been renovated and enlarged to contain a Preacher's Study, a kitchen, dining room, and fellowship hall, and two dressing rooms. With new facilities and a large increase in city population, church membership by i960 stood at 422, the highest yearly figure yet at the time, as Rev. A. M. Ellison concluded five years of highly successful pastoral work. There were 283 Sunday School enrollees by i960, and teachers and officers now numbered 23. WSCS membership was