On Sept. 28, 1803, men living in Burke County near Beech Branch Meeting House who were found to be in the true Baptist faith by a presbytery of Rev. Henry Hand and Rev. John Ross were constituted into one body as a Baptist church, and a church covenant was adopted. William Thompson Sr. and Stephen Murray Sr. were made deacons. Original members were Stephen Murray Sr., William Thompson Sr., Thomas Tipton, William L. Mobley, Nicholas Thomas, Jeremiah Kimbal, Jacob Taylor Jr., Jacob Hollingsworth, Ephriam Davis, Jessey Pollock, Mary Murray, Elizabeth Tillis and Ama Tipton. A new church was built on land given by William and G.W. Sapp and, in 1810, the name of the church became Sardis.