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HISTORY OF BELLE PRAIRIE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH ARE LISTED ON THE NEXT PAGE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 20 YEARS FROM 1912-1921 AS THEY WERE NOT LISTED IN THE CHURCH MINUTES OR FROM 1866 UNTIL 1874. THANK YOU PASTORS FOR YOUR SERVICES AND DEDICATION TO THE LORD AND TO BELLE PRAIRIE BAPTIST CHURCH.

DEACONS OF BELLE PRAIRIE BAPTIST CHURCH HAVE BEEN: CLAY KENNEDY, OLIVER ROSS, GEORGE HAYS, ALF SIMPSON, GEORGE MILLENBINE, AND DAVE OSBORN.

MUCH OF THE INFORMATION ON BELLE PRAIRIE CHURCH AND BELLE CITY WAS BURNED IN A FIRE AT THE HOME OF BESSIE CLAUNCH.

THE UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH OF BELLE PRAIRIE LATER CALLED BELLE PRAIRIE MISSIONARY CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1866. THE GROUND IT SAT ON WAS NOT SOLD TO THE CHURCH UNTIL 1870 BY JAMES A. MAULDING AND SARAH J. MAULDING FOR $40.00. THE DEED WAS DRAWN UP BETWEEN JOHN SIMPSON, KINTH RAWLS, AND WILLIAM WARFIELD. THEY LATER PURCHASED THE GROUND SOUTH OF THE CHURCH KNOWN AS THE GROVE, FOR $100.00. THIS ALSO WAS PURCHASED FORM SARAH J. MAULDING AND JAMES A. MAULDING IN THE YEAR OF 1894.

IT’S SAID IN THE EARLY YEARS, PROBABLY THE LATE 1800'S OR EARLY 1900'S MEMBERSHIP WAS HIGH. DURING REVIVALS PEOPLE WOULD STAND OUTSIDE BY THE OPEN WINDOWS TO HEAR THE SINGING AND PREACHING. AROUND 1940, A PIANO WAS DONATED TO THE CHURCH BY THE RAWLS FAMILY. WE ARE TOLD THAT WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PIANO TODAY.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY HAPPY TIMES AT BELLE PRAIRIE CHURCH AND ALSO MANY CHANGES. THE OLD KEROSENE STOVE WAS REPLACED WITH A GAS FURNACE. THE WALLS WERE PANELED AND THE WINDOWS WERE DRESSED UP WITH AMBER PLEXIGLASS. WE ALSO GOT A NEW PODIUM AROUND 1974.

THE CHURCH EXPERIENCED GROWTH IN THE 1970'S AND FELT THE NEED FOR A NEW ADDITION OF CLASSROOMS, FELLOWSHIP HALL, BATHROOMS AND KITCHEN. LATER IN THE 1990'S THE OLD PART OF THE CHURCH GOT A NEW ROOF AND SIDING. AROUND 2002 OR 2003 NEW WINDOWS WERE PUT IN THE OLD PART OF THE CHURCH.

BELLE PRAIRIE HAS SEEN MANY GREAT REVIVALS AND LOTS OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY YOUNG PREACHERS START THEIR MINISTRY HERE. IT’S SAD TO SEE THE DECLINE IN MEMBERSHIP IN THESE LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCHES AND OURS IS ONE OF THEM. ATTENDANCE ON SUNDAY AVERAGES FROM 4 TO 10, BUT JESUS SAID” FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM”.

Church today

PASTORS OF BELLE PRAIRIE CHURCH

PASTOR YEARS SERVED PASTOR YEARS SERVED

NOT LISTED 1866-1872 W. M. GLOYD 1930–1932

J .L OVERSTREET 1873 EVERETT APGAR 1936

K. G. HAYS 1874-1875 HULBERT PERRY 1938-1939

J. L. OVERSTREET 1876-1878 H. F. MENKE 1940

J. B. SMITH 1879 BIRCHEL PAGE 1942

SETH W DERICK 1884 HULBERT PERRY 1943-1946

WILLIAM LOWRY 1886 F. LLOYD TROTTER 1948

B. D. ESMON 1887 HULBERT PERRY 1949

H. P. CRAVENS 1889 ORVAL OVERTURF 1951

D. L. ELLOT 1896-1899 MINOR BUTLER 1952

J. H. VOLLVA 1898, 1900-1904 RUSSELL MONROE 1953-1954

W. A. WELGANT 1905 CARROLL PHILLIPS 1957-1958

J. H. VOLLVA 1906 JIM FITZGERELLS 1961-1962

C. C. ALLEN 1907 J, H. CARR 1963-1966

CAL RICHARDSON 1908-1909 HAROLD MAYBERRY 1967-1977

O. A. BARNWELL 1911 VERNARD LIE 1978-1979

MINUTES DID NOT LIST PASTORS DONALD WILLIAMSON1980-1985

FOR 11 YEARS 1912-1921 RICHARD HUSTON 1986-1987

LAFE PERRY 1922-1923 BILL HAMPTON 1988-1989

ED KLEGER 1924-1925 DONALD WILLIAMSON1990-1992

BIRCHEL PAGE 1928-1929 ALAN MONROE 1993-1998

SCOTT WEBB 2000

DONALD WILLIAMSON2001-2006

PRESENT PASTOR, BROTHER DONALD WILLIAMSON

THE FOUR PASTORS SERVING THE CHURCH FOR THE LONGEST TIME WERE;

ALAN MONROE (7 YEARS), J. H. VOLLA (7 YEARS), HAROLD MAYBERRY

(11 YEARS), DONALD WILLIAMSON (11 YEARS)

HISTORY OF BLOOMING GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

COPIED FROM HISTORY BY MILDRED RAWLS NEAL AND ELSIE AUXIER

WITH UPDATE BY DENISE BARKER, CHURCH CLERK

BLOOMING GROVE WAS CONSTITUTED OR ORGANIZED BY THE TEN MILE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING RECORD:

“STATE OF ILLINOIS, HAMILTON COUNTY, APRIL 19, 1850. ON SATURDAY BEFORE THE THIRD LORD’S DAY IN APRIL, 1950, AFTER WORSHIP, THE BRETHREN OF THE NAME OF TEN MILE SAT IN COUNCIL AT THE SCHOOL HOUSE NEAR ANDERSON DAILY’S WHEREAS WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM TEN MILE CHURCH IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BE CONSTITUTED AN INDEPENDENT BODY. ON MOTION PROCEEDED TO CALL A PRESBYTERY TO WIT: ELDERS R LEE, C. P. PITMANN, R. SHIRLEY.

MAY MEETING 1850, BLOOMING GROVE, HAMILTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. THIS WILL CERTIFY TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN THAT ON THE 19^TH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY, THE UNDERSIGNED PRESBYTERY ATTENDED AT BLOOMING GROVE , COUNTY AND STATE AFORESAID. WHEREUPON THE BRETHREN AND SISTERS WHOSE NAME ARE HEREUNTO PRONOUNCED ORTHODOX ACCORDING TO THE FAITH AND ORDER OF THE UNITED BAPTIST DENOMINATION AND THE PRESBYTERY EXTENDED THE RIGHT OF FELLOWSHIP AND RECOMMENDING THE CHURCH TO GOD IN PRAYER. ELDER R LEE, ELDER C. P. PITMANN, RUSSELL SHIRLEY, CLERK J. T. INGRAM.

1. JOB STANDERFER 12. TABITHA BOND

2. ANDESON DAILY 13. MARY STANDERFER

3. LOFTON ECHOLS 14. DELILAH ECHOLS

4. WILLIAM REEDER 15. SARAH A REEDER

5. JOSHUA HAILE 16. NANCY HAILE

6. JOHN C COMPTON 17. LARKIN BRUMLEY

7. JOHN STANDERFER 18. SUSAN DAILY

8. JOHN W DAILY 19. MARY DAILY

9. LEVI DAILY 20. PHOEBE BRUMLEY

10. LOUIS DAILY 21. MARY BRUMLEY

11. JOSEPH M HAILE 22. ELIZABETH COMPTON

THE CHURCH MET ON SATURDAY PRECEDING THE THIRD LORD’S DAY IN JUNE,1850, AND ELECTED BROTHER JOB STANDERFER AND BROTHER JOSHUA HAILE AS CANDIDATES FOR DEACONS. THEY ALSO ELECTED ELDER C.P. PITMAN TO BE THEIR PASTOR, BUT AFTER BEING VISITED BY THE COMMITTEE BROTHER

PITMAN SAID HE COULD NOT SERVE THE CHURCH THAT YEAR. THEY ELECTED ELDER R. SHIRLEY WHO BECAME THE FIRST PASTOR OF THE CHURCH. THEY

ALSO ELECTED LOFTON ECHOLS WHO BECAME THE FIRST CHURCH CLERK.

THIS STORY WAS TOLD BY REV JOHN BAILY MAULDING.

THE FIRST CHURCH WAS ERECTED IN THE OLD CEMETERY. I AM INDEBTED TO MY GRANDFATHER FOR THE FOLLOWING STORY. HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. THE CHURCH WAS BUILT OF LOGS AND HAD A CLAPBOARD ROOF. HE WENT TO MC LEANSBORO TO SECURE NAILS FOR THE ROOF FROM A HARDWARE MAN BY THE NAME OF BAILEY. MR BAILEY OFFERED TO FURNISH THE NAILS PROVIDED HE BE PERMITTED TO NAME THE CHURCH. THIS WAS AGREED TO AND HE NAMED IT AFTER HIS HOME COMMUNITY IN KENTUCKY, BLOOMING GROVE. THE GROUND FOR THE CEMETERY AND THE FIRST CHURCH WAS DONATED BY TABITHA BOND FROM THE ESTATE OF HER HUSBAND, NASTIN. THESE ARE THE SAME BONDS WHO HAD THE BUHR STONE INCORPORATED INTO THE BELL TOWER AT THE CHURCH.

COMMITTEE ON DISCIPLINE WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE EARLY CHURCH. MEMBERS WERE EXCLUDED FOR FAILURE IN ATTENDANCE, INTOXICATION, HERESAY, IMMORAL AND UNCHRISTIAN CONDUCT, BEING DESTITUTE OF RELIGION, AND OTHER CAUSES. THEY WERE OFTEN REINSTATED. IN 1874 THE CHURCH AGREED TO WITHDRAW SENDING A COMMITTEE AND TALK PRIVATELY WITH MEMBERS. IN 1869 A MAN WAS EXCLUDED FOR TRADING OFF ANOTHER MAN’S HORSE AND NOT RETURNING THE PROPERTY. DANCING, HORSERACING AND HORSETRADING ON SUNDAY’S AS WELL AS BALL GAMES ON SUNDAY WERE OFFENSES FOR EXCLUSION OR DISCUSSION AS LATE AS 1916. CHURCH WAS ON THE THIRD LORD’S DAY OF THE MONTH WITH BUSINESS MEETINGS ON THE PRECEDING SATURDAY AT 12 0'CLOCK IN THE BEGINNING. A LATER HOUR WAS EVENTUALLY CHOSEN ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUED FOR 68 YEARS OR UNTIL CHANGED TO SATURDAY NIGHT IN 1918.

IN 1948 SATURDAY MEETINGS WERE DISCONTINUED AND BUSINESS MEETINGS BEGAN ON WEDNESDAY. THE CHURCH CONTINUED TO HAVE BUSINESS

MEETING ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, UNTIL 2003, WHEN IT BEGAN HAVING THEM ON THE SECOND SUNDAY EVENING AFTER WORSHIP SERVICES, SO MORE MEMBERS COULD ATTEND THAT TEACH ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS. IN 1944 THE FIRST SUNDAY WAS ADDED FOR PREACHING AND IN 1961 FULL TIME SERVICES BEGAN. SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGAN IN 1869.

SIGNALS FOR BELL TOLLING:

THE BELL WAS TOLLED AN HOUR BEFORE FUNERALS, NOT TOO HARD, NOT TO FAST.

FOR A CHILD IN INFANCY TO TEN YEARS OLD, IT TOLLED THREE TIMES.

FOR TEN YEARS TO TWENTY YEARS OLD IT TOLLED FIVE TIMES.

FOR A PERSON TWENTY YEARS TO FORTY YEARS IT TOLLED SEVEN TIMES.

FOR A PERSON OVER FORTY ,IT TOLLED TEN TIMES.

THE BELL WAS NEVER TO BE TOLLED UNLESS SOMEONE WAS DEAD OR SOMETHING WRONG.

BELL TOWER:

THE BUHR IN THE BELL TOWER HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MUCH INTEREST. IT IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN IN THE GRIST MILL OF MASTIN BOND, A PIONEER SETTLER, ORIGINALLY AND WAS LOCATED EAST OF THE CHURCH. IT BECAME A PART OF THE FIRST FRAME CHURCH. IT WAS RAISED AFTER THE NEWER BUILDING WAS FINISHED AND THE PARTS WERE PURCHASED BY J.D.HOOKER, W.C DAILY AND GEORGE RAWLS. THE AMOUNTS PAID ARE TOLD IN MINUTES. THE BUHR LAY IN THE LATTERS FEED LOT UNTIL SOMETIME IN THE 40'S WHEN BEFORE HIS PASSING HIS SON JAMES RAWLS BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE CHURCH YARD WHERE KIDS HAD FUN JUMPING FROM IT. THE WRITER CAN REMEMBER PLAYING TAG WITH IT, AS IT WAS ‘HOME BASE’.

IN 1905 A NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT. THE IMPRESSIVE WHITE FRAME HOUSE WITH LARGE GOTHIC WINDOWS, VAULTED CEILING AND STEEPLE WAS DEDICATED IN AUGUST 1905. THE DEBT OF THE BUILDING WAS PAID IN LESS THAN A YEAR. IT WAS USED FOR 66 YEARS. ON SATURDAY EVENING JANUARY 16 ,1971 IT BURNED TO THE GROUND. IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR MEMBERS. ON LOOKERS SAID THE BELL TOLLED AS IT FELL FROM THE BURNING BELFRY. IT IS NOW IN THE BELL TOWER AS ONE FROM BELLE CITY AND THE AFORE MENTIONED BUHR STONE. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE CHURCH BEGAN, THERE WAS NO MEETING ON THE HILL. SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED IN THE SENIOR CITIZENS IN MC LEANSBORO (WHICH IS NOW THE HAMILTON COUNTY PRESCHOOL ).

PLANS WERE IMMEDIATELY BEGUN TO REBUILD AND WITH THE COOPERATION FROM THE MEMBERS AND SEVERAL PROFESSIONALS, THE FIRST SERVICES HELD ON EASTER SUNDAY 1971. THE TREASURER OF THE BUILDING FUNDS, CECIL “PETE” MYERS, PASSED ON SUDDENLY THE SAME MONTH AND HIS FUNERAL WAS CONDUCTED THERE. THE SANCTUARY WAS FINISHED AND THE NEW BUILDING DEDICATED ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1978 A NEW WING WAS ADDED WITH SEVERAL NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOMS. IN 2002 A LARGE NEW KITCHEN WAS ADDED, ALONG WITH NEW HANDICAP-ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS. THESE NEW MODERN CONVENIENCES WERE NEEDED TO UPDATE OUR CHURCH FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, THE FOYER HAS RECENTLY BEEN REDECORATED WITH NEW CERAMIC TILE, AND NEW WALLS REPLACING THE OLD ONES. IN 2002, WE ADDED A DRIVE- UP CANOPY ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING. THIS ENABLES PEOPLE TO BE DROPPED OFF AT THE DOOR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. IT IS A VERY VALUABLE ASSET TO OUR CHURCH. THE FUNDS FOR THIS WERE MADE AVAILABLE BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS AND ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

PASTORS:

REV RUSSELL SHIRLEY 1850 J. R. KESSELL 1923

C. P. PITMAN 1855 BIRCHEL PAGE 1927

E .W. OVERSTREET 1863 M. C. HOLDER 1928

CAL ALLEN 1865,1874,1895 CHARLES HOLLAND 1939

EBINGTON DAILY 1873 LOWELL MATHENEY 1941

HENRY CRAVENS 1875,1880,1898 LEAMAN IRBY 1942

J. B. SMITH 1877 J. WILL HOWELL 1945

W. H. CARNER 1881 SAM MCCOY 1946

L. C. ESTES 1886 LUTHER UPTON 1948

P. C. ELLIOTT 1890 WM. “BILL” AUXIER 1965

G. R. HENSON 1898 EUGENE RISTER 1970

CALVIN RICHARDSON 1899 DAVID WESLEY, ASSOC SUM 1970

J. D. HOOKER 1904 JOHN LEE JR 1973

L. TUCKER 1906 KENNETH CLARK 1979

G. W. INGRAM 1908 JOHN SMITH 1982

JOE ALLEN 1909 RICHARD WEST INTERIM 1985

W. H. MCCANN 1910 GARY DAVENPORT 1986

C. E. HUNT 1913 ROGER HOBBS, INTERIM 2000

L.L.SMOOT 1915 CHRIS HORTIN 2001

BRANNON HALL 1916 LELAND WIDICK, INTERIM 2004

J. R. MCDUFFY 1917 MARK HUTSON 2005 TO PRESENT

JOHN B MAULDING 1918,1922,1944

HENRY MYERS 1924, 1926

HISTORY OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BROUGHTON, IL

1880-2006

A MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED ON MARCH 13, 1880 AT 11 A.M. AND WAS CALLED THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BROUGHTON.

THE PRESBYTERY MET, CONSISTING OF W.B. RUSSELL AS MODERATOR, W. B. RHODES CLERK, J.T. LEMAY, THOMAS A GRIMM, AARON SAUNDERS, MATILDA A REEVES, SARILDA JONES AND NANCY M DAVIS.

WORSHIP SERVICES WERE HELD AT UNION CHURCH BUILDING WHERE ALL FAITHS MET TOGETHER AND TOOK TURNS AT HAVING CHARGE OF THE SERVICE. THE LOCATION WAS LATER THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND IT WAS ONE BLOCK NORTH OF THE ORIGINAL AND PRESENT BUILDING WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED ABOUT 1891.

ONE CITY LOT WAS DONATED BY SARAH THOMPSON. IN MAY 6, 1973 ANOTHER ONE HALF LOT WAS ADDED THROUGH THE EFFORT OF MRS WAVA PENNINGTON, HER FAMILY AND DAUGHTER OF CHARLES DRAPER.

THE DIMENSIONS OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WERE 30 FEET BY 48 FEET. THERE WAS A VERY TALL STEEPLE UNTIL THE YEAR 0F 1960 WHEN IT HAD TO BE REMOVED DUE TO AGE AND DAMAGE . THE PRESENT CUPOLA WAS BUILT BY MEMBER GLENN SUTTON.

JAMES ANDERSON PORTER GAVE ALL OF THE ROUGH LUMBER FOR THE BUILDING FROM HIS SAW MILL LOCATED NORTH OF THE VILLAGE OF BROUGHTON. THE LABOR IN CONSTRUCTING THE BUILDING WAS DONATED BY MEMBERS AND OTHERS .

MRS JOSIE MCNAIL AT HER DEATH IN 1940 LEFT $1000.00 TO THE CHURCH A BASEMENT WAS ADDED, CLASSROOMS, KITCHEN, FELLOWSHIP HALL, AND CENTRAL HEAT WAS ALSO ADDED.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SIXTIES WERE ADDED TO THE AUDITORIUM, A HARD WOOD FLOOR, FLUORESCENT LIGHTING, WALL PANELING, CARPETING, NEW PEWS, CHURCH FURNITURE, PIANO, CENTRAL GAS HEATING, AND AIR

CONDITIONING, HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER, ALUMINUM SIDING, NEW

COLORED WINDOWS, STORM WINDOWS AND DOORS. ALSO NEW FOLDING TABLES AND CHAIRS FOR THE BASEMENT AND CLASSROOMS.

A NEW ORGAN WAS PURCHASED IN 1976 THROUGH THE INSPIRATION OF MRS. VIRGINIA HARDESTY AND THE AMOMA CLASS AND CLASS PRESIDENT IRENE PARTIAN.

MRS. PEARL GHOLSON KING OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS (DAUGHTER OF WM SHERMAN AND MARTHA PORTER GHOLSON) AT HER DEATH IN 1971 GAVE $1000.00 GIFT. THIS GIFT WAS PLACED IN A BUILDING FUND WITH INTEREST AND WAS USED GENEROUSLY AND LOVINGLY FOR A NEW ANNEX CONSISTING OF A NEW KITCHEN, FELLOWSHIP HALL AND REST ROOMS. CONSTRUCTION WAS BEGUN IN MAY 1977 AND COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 1977.

A DEDICATION SERVICE WAS HELD ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20, 1977. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH BY SIS. JOHN T (DEBORAH) GHOLSON, RECOGNITION OF VISITORS AND FORMER PASTORS AND MEMBERS. SPECIAL MUSIC PRESENTED BY AUDRA AND VIRGINIA HARDESTY AND THE YOUTH CHOIR AND VI GENE BARKER. PRAYERS WERE OFFERED BY SIS. DORIS MILSPAUGH, EMIL CHOISSER AND REV H.E. RISTER. THE SERMON WAS GIVEN BY THE PASTOR REV. DELMAR FEAZEL.

TWO EARLY MEMBERS SISTER EVA REEVES VANTREASE JOINED IN 1894 AND SISTER NELLA PORTER DAWES IN 1896 CONTINUED TO LIVE IN BROUGHTON AND WERE MEMBERS UNTIL THEY WERE DECEASED IN 1971 AND 1978. SISTER DAWES WAS THE CHURCH PIANIST FOR OVER FORTY YEARS

THE FAMILY OF SISTER DAWES GAVE HER PIANO FROM HER HOME TO THE CHURCH AT HER DEATH AND IT IS USED IN THE FELL0WSHIP HALL

A LADIES AID SOCIETY WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH AND CONTRIBUTED GENEROUSLY TO THE INCIDENTAL EXPENSES OF THE CHURCH

THE AMOMA CLASS IN LATER YEARS WERE ALSO GENEROUS AND CONTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCH

THE FIRST PASTOR CALLED WAS BRO GEORGE HENSON AND THE SUCCEEDING PASTORS INCLUDED MANES OF ELLIOTT, LEMONS, WRIGHT,

THORGMORTEN, STEARWELL, HOOKER, BARNWELL, RALPH DAILY, M.C.HOLDER,

W.R.EVANS, H.A.TODD, CYRUS AND JOHN MAULDING, DOUGLAS, KENNETH HALL, JONES, REX BROWN, EUGENE VICKERY, EUGENE DAILY, H.C. MITCHELL,WALKER CUTTY, SEBA E MARSHALL, (CHAPLAIN AT VA HOSPITAL, MARION IL FROM 1950 TO 1961) LEONARD WHITLOCK, DEAN ENGLISH, MARION HENSON, TED FUSON, DELMAR FEAZEL, SERVED AS PASTOR FOR 14 YEARS, TONY SWINFORD AND THE PRESENT PASTOR DAVID ANGELLY

THE DEACONS WERE BROTHERS J.T. LEMAY, DAN REEVES, FRANK REEVES, BILL REEVES, J. D. MATHIAS, JOHN IRVIN, SHERMAN PORTER, GRANT GEER, ACQUILLA OWEN, ROBERT MATHNIS, HARVEY PENNINGTON,RAY RHODES, LOWELL COX, LYMAN GEER SR, JOHN T GHOLSON, EARL OWEN AND THE PRESENT DEACON JAMES H DAVIS.

ELECTED TRUSTEES: D.A. REEVES, J.D.MATHIAS, W.S. GHOLSON, H.M. BARKER. ISAAC VANTREASE, STEVE GHOLSON, WM. SHERMAN EMIL CHOISSER, GLENN SUTTON, ROY PRINCE, H.E. RISTER TWO DIFFERENT TIMES, JOHN T GHOLSON, EARL OWEN AND PRESENT TRUSTEE JAMES H DAVIS

ELECTED CLERKS: 1895- JOSIE MC NAIL, RILEY HAMILTON,1908-W.S.GHOLSON,1924-BELLE REEDER,1926-MYRTLE HUGHES, 1935-LOTTIE EDWARDS, 1942- ESSIE PORTER GRABLE, 1945-MYRTLE MC DONALD, 1996-VIVIAN GERALDINE OWEN BARKER-PRESENT TREASURER SHIRLEY RISTER

MISS LUCY LEMAY WAS ORGANIST FOR MANY YEARS IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH. OTHER PIANISTS AND ORGANIST IN RECENT YEARS HAVE BEEN MESDAMES, NELLA DAWES, LOTTIE ACORD, ESSIE GRABLE, ISABEL DAVIS, VIRGINIA HARDESTY, ALMA KANE, RUBY RUPHARD AND RUTH ELLEN

KANE GHOLSON, THERE WERE OTHERS

THE CHURCH SERVED AS THE HOST CHURCH FOR THE ANNUAL ASSOCIATIONAL MEETINGS IN THE YEARS OF 1896,1929,1950 AND 1963.

THE PRESENT MEMBERSHIP IS 42 RESIDENT AND 38 NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS.

CUSTODIANS THAT HAVE SERVED ARE H.M.BARKER, STEVE GHOLSON, FREDA TARLTON, SARAH PORTER, SARAH GABBARD, VIVAIN GERALDINE, OWEN BARKER, IRENE PARTAIN, RUTH ELLEN GHOLSON PRESENT CUSTODIAN.

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