Chapel Hill First Baptist pastor J.R. Manley retiring after 65 years

CORRECTION: Due to a reporting error, the original version of this story stated the incorrect location of Hickory Grove Baptist Church. The church is located in Chapel Hill.

When J.R. Manley first came to Chapel Hill, he expected to spend three Sundays preaching at First Baptist Church — instead, he ended up serving as the church’s pastor for 65 years.

The church plans to honor the reverend, who will retire in January, at a special appreciation banquet Friday at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel.

The congregation will also host an appreciation service Sunday.

“We are hoping that this turns into an auspicious occasion for him,” said Catharyne Butler, chairwoman of the appreciation committee.

Butler said the ceremony’s theme — a lifetime of service — reflects Manley’s involvement in both the church and the community as an advocate for civil rights, education and senior citizens.

“His years of ministry here at First Baptist is reflective of a life of service to everyone because he has so freely given all his time and his talents and his energy,” said Elizabeth Davis, church secretary and a church member for 35 years.

Born in Murfreesboro, Manley arrived at First Baptist Church in September 1946 at age 19 to fill in for a pastor who moved to Atlantic City.

After the first two Sundays, Manley said the unresponsive congregation made him reluctant to return, but his third Sunday was different.

“They just shouted all over the place, and I said, ‘What in the world? What am I getting myself into?’” he said.

Manley — who also preached once a month at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte for 46 years — said he felt inspired to stay, and became First Baptist Church’s only pastor.

As pastor, Manley stressed church community involvement.

“We should do something in the community which we are part of to make a difference,” he said.

In the late 1950s, Manley practiced as he preached, becoming the first black board member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools during a time when the schools were beginning integration.

Manley also served as president of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, through which he secured a million dollar grant to fund a church-based health care program.

He also helped establish the First Baptist and Manley Estates in Chapel Hill, an apartment complex for low-income seniors.

“He has been kind of a visionary when it comes to looking toward the future,” Butler said.

Manley plans to travel and relax after retiring, and Davis said he will leave large shoes to fill.

“We will miss him but at the same time we recognize that he has given us a lifetime of his service,” Davis said.

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