Office Hours and Staff
Dr. Bell retired effective March 1, 2022. A reception in appreciation of his and Alice’s time with us was held on February 27th.
Minister – Rev. Dr. Robert (Robby) W. Bell
Office Hours – Monday 9:00-12:00;
Wednesday 1:00-4:00; Thursday 9:00-12:00.
Appointments are recommended.
Phone – 864-226-2484
Dr. Bell’s Email
Church Secretary – Mrs. Linda Seeger
Office Hours – 9:00-1:00 Monday thru Thursday
Phone – 864-226-2484
Mrs. Seeger’s Email
Dr. Bell’s Biography
Dr. Robert (Robby) Wilson Bell was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, while his father, an Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) minister, was pastoring the Sandy Plains ARP Church near Tryon, North Carolina. His childhood years were spent at the Tirzah ARP Church in York County, South Carolina — where he came to faith in Jesus Christ — and his teen years at the Old Providence ARP Church in Spottswood, Virginia.
A 1972 graduate of Riverheads High School, Augusta County, Virginia, he attended Erskine College, graduating in 1976 with a degree in Medical Technology. He worked as a Med Tech at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Staunton, Virginia, before entering Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina, where he earned the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1982. Ordained by Virginia Presbytery in June 1982, he served as pastor of the Pressly Memorial ARP Church in Statesville, North Carolina (First Presbytery), from 1982 to 1989. He attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he earned the Th.M. (1990) and Ph.D. (1994) degrees in Psychology of Religion. His Ph.D. dissertation is entitled: “A Pastoral Care Approach to Anger in Crisis: Contending with God.”
He taught pastoral care and counseling courses at Erskine Theological Seminary from 1994 until 2015, where he also served as Dean of the Seminary for a total of seven years.
He was married to his high school sweetheart, Karen Anita Graves, from 1976 until her death in 2008. He has two married children, Richard (Lori) and Cynthia (James), and five grandchildren.
He currently is married to the former Alice Frances Perry, who attended Erskine College before transferring to the University of South Carolina to pursue a degree in nursing. She is a registered nurse (RN) and has worked for a number of years in hospice care. Alice has four adult children: Meredith (Ian), Wendy (Joe), Gordon (Jackie), and Julia, and four grandchildren.
In his spare time, Dr. Bell enjoys tinkering with old tractors, cars, and trucks. Alice enjoys flower gardening and cooking at their home near Level Land, SC.