THE HISTORY OF SUGAR CAMP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
SUGAR CAMP MEETING HOUSE WAS ORGANIZED ON FEBRUARY 26,1842. WHERE IT WAS SOON MOTHERED BY TEN MILE BAPTIST CHURCH, AND PRONOUNCED AS A CHURCH OF THE UNITED BAPTIST OF JESUS CHRIST. BRUSH ARBOR MEETINGS WHERE HELD AND ATTENDED THERE. THE ORIGINAL CHURCH HOUSE WAS BUILT WHERE SUGAR CAMP CREEK CEMETERY STILL STANDS TODAY. THE CHURCH LATER RELEASED ITS’ RIGHTS TO THE TITLE OF SUGAR CAMP CREEK CEMETERY TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CEMETERY ON AUGUST 24, 1845.
IN SUGAR CAMPS’ EARLY MORE FORMATIVE YEARS, THERE WERE MANY INSTANCES WHERE “FOLKS’ WERE DISCIPLINED FOR CERTAIN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DANCING, DRINKING TO EXCESS AND ATTENDING SO CALLED “FROLICS”. BUT WITH REPENTANCE BEFORE THE CHURCH THEY WERE FORGIVEN. SUNDAY SCHOOL SERVICES WHERE NOT APPOINTED TO THE CHURCH UNTIL NOVEMBER 25, 1897. IN JULY OF 1844, THE CHURCH’S FIRST DELEGATES WERE APPOINTED TO THE FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION. THEN APRIL OF 1845, THE FIRST MESSENGERS WERE APPOINTED TO ATTEND THE SECTIONAL MEETINGS AT ANTIOCH. BROTHERS ED PAGE, LEVI CAPPS, HUEL AND MARSHALL CROSS ARE NAMES REMEMBERED AS BEING MEN THAT ASSISTED IN THE PROSPERING OF THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY, AND THROUGH THEIR FAMILIES THAT STILL REMAINS IMPORTANT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY.
SUGAR CAMP HAD ALREADY EXTENDED HER ARM TO THE PRAIRIE CHURCH GROUP IN THE EAST, BUT LATER BECAME INVOLVED WITHIN THE FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION. IT LATER BECAME PART OF THE FAIRFIELD ASSOCIATION AND MORE RECENTLY THE GOSHEN TRAIL ASSOCIATION. IN MID TO LATE 1970'S SUGAR CAMP BEGAN ATTENDING VARIOUS CHURCH CAMPS SUCH AS MT ZION, MYRTLE AS WELL AS WALNUT MISSISSIPPI, AND VARIOUS REVIVALS. IN MORE RECENT TIMES THEIR YOUTH BEGAN ATTENDING DIFFERENT YOUTH REVEALS AND CAMPS, INCLUDING BROADWAY BAPTIST CAMPS AND CENTRIFUGE, WHICH THROUGH ALL THE YEARS OF FELLOWSHIP HAS HELPED TO FIRE THE SPIRITUAL FLAME AND GROWTH WITHIN THE PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH. IN SUGAR CAMP’S DESIRE TO SERVE AND GROW SHE BEGAN HOLDING HER OWN “JUBILEE” SERVICES IN 1992, AND THESE SERVICES ARE STILL BEING HELD ANNUALLY.
SUGAR CAMP’S HISTORY IS RICH WITH SPECIAL EVENTS AND HOMECOMING MEMORIES, “OLD FASHION DAYS” WERE HELD ON MANY OCCASIONS. MANY YEARS, DINNER ON THE GROUNDS WAS CELEBRATED UNDER THE BIG OAK TREES. MANY PEOPLE WERE INFLUENCED BY THESE GATHERINGS. WELL KNOWN LOCAL ARTIST SARAH CAPPS COMMEMORATES THE GATHERINGS IN HER PAINTING”DINNER ON THE GROUNDS”. THE POEM “THE OLD OAK TREE” WAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE OLD OAK. WHICH STOOD IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH, AND WAS A COMMUNITY LANDMARK UNTIL IT FELL IN THE MID 1950'S.
SUGAR CAMP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH HAS AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY. INCLUDING DIFFERENT TITLES AS WELL AS DIFFERENT PASTORS. BELOW ARE A FEW TITLES OF THE PAST.
SUGAR CAMP HAS FLOWN UNDER THE BANNERS OF
THE UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH AT SUGAR CAMP
SUGAR CAMP CHURCH
THE SUGAR CAMP BAPTIST CHURCH
SUGAR CAMP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
HER PAST LOCATIONS
1842- SUGAR CAMP CREEK LOCATION
1870- BUILT AT CURRENT CHURCH LOCATION
1996 - NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL JOINED TO NEW BUILDING
PASTORS PRIOR TO 1949 WERE BIRD GREEN, ED KEIGER, B. E. PAGE, G. W. OVERSTREET, K. G. HAY, W. E. PICKARD
HISTORY OF TEN MILE MISSIONARY
BAPTIST CHURCH
1820-2006
WHEN JAMES MONROE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ABRAMAM LINCOLN WAS ELEVEN YEARS OF AGE, AND ILLINOIS HAD BEEN A STATE OF THE UNION ONLY TWO YEARS, TEN MILE UNION BAPTIST CHURCH CAME INTO BEING. IT WAS ORGANIZED IN WHITE (NOW HAMILTON) COUNTY IN THE HOME OF JEREMIAH MOORE., SEPTEMBER 2, 1820. THE PRESBYTERY CONSISTED OF ELDERS WILSON HENDERSON, JOHN WREN, AND CHESTER CARPENTER.
ORIGINALLY, TEN MILE CREEK CHURCH WAS FORM BY MEMBERS OF THE BANKSTON’S FORK CHURCH OF GALLATAIN (NOW SALINE) COUNTY. W. P. THROGMORTON, IN HIS HISTORY OF FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION UNITED BAPTIST, STATES THAT THE LOG BOOK OF TEN MILE CHURCH CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM FRANKLIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION:
DEAR BRETHERN: WE THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT BANKSTON’S SITTING IN CONFERENCE ON SATURDAY BEFORE THE SECOND LORD’S DAY IN AUGUST 1820, RECEIVE YOUR PETITION FOR DISMISSION IN ORDER THAT YOU MIGHT BECOME A CONSTITUTED BODY AND ALSO THAT WE WOULD SEND OUR MINISTERIAL HELP TO AID IN YOUR CONSTITUTION. WHICH PETITION WE GRANT AND DISMISS THE FOLLOWING BRETHEN AND SISTERS: MOSES SHIRLEY, SAMUAL VANCE, DELILA BOYD, SUSANNA MOORE, NANCY SHIRLEY, LUCY VANCE, ANDREW BOYD, SUSANNY TARLETON, AND POLLY MOORE. WE ALSO SEND WILSON HENDERSON AND CHESTER CARPENTER FOR ELDERS TO AID IN YOUR CONSTITUTION,
TO ATTEND ON SATURDAY BEFORE THE FIRST LORD’S DAY IN SEPTEMBER AT THE HOUSE OF JEREMIAH MOORE IN WHITE (NOW HAMILTON) COUNTY, AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU. FAREWELL.
THE TEN MILE CHURCH BECAME A MEMBER OF THE HARDSHELL MUDDY RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN OCTOBER, 1820. AT WHICH TIME, THE MEMBERSHIP WAS ELEVEN. NINE OF THEM CAME FROM BANKSTON’S FORK. THE RECORD OF THE MUDDY RIVER ASSOCIATION SHOWS THAT MEMBERSHIP WAS TWENTY-THREE IN 1821 AND FORTY-SIX IN 1824, BUT DROPPED TO THIRTY TWO IN 1827 BECAUSE TWENTY THREE MEMBERS LETTERED OUT. IT IS NOTED THAT CHESTER CARPENTER, DISTINGUISHED PASTOR OF TEN MILE, WAS MODERATOR OF THE MUDDY RIVER ASSOCIATION 1822 TO 1829.
THE MINUTES OF THE TEN MILE CHURCH FROM 1820 TO 1829 ARE MISSING, BUT THE RECORDS SHOW THAT IN DECEMBER 1829 THE CHURCH AGREED THAT ON THURSDAY BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING WE ATTEND, WE WOULD WORK ON THE MEETING HOUSE. IT IS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER THE MEETING HOUSE WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR IN NEED OF WINTER REPAIR. THE MEMBERS MAY HAVE MET IN THE HOME UNTIL THIS TIME BUT MINUTES ALSO SHOW THAT “DUE TO THE EXTREME COLDNESS OF THE WINTER, CHURCH WAS NOT HELD” FREQUENTLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE FIRST CHURCH THOUGHT TO BE NEAR THE CENTER OF THE OLD CEMETERY.
THE SECOND MEETING HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1838 IN THE SAME VICINITY AS THE FIRST. THE RECORD SHOWS THE DIMENSIONS WERE “24 FEET BY 26 FEET OF HEWN LOGS, A ROOF TO BE NAILED TO THE RAFTERS, AND THE ENDS TO BE GABLED WITH BOARDS NAILED ON.” THIS BUILDING SERVED WELL WITH MAJOR AND MINOR REPAIRS UNTIL 1896.
IN FEBRUARY 1896, THE TEN MILE CHURCH, AFTER SOME DELIBERATION, VOTED TO CONSTRUCT A NEW BUILDING WITHOUT DISSENTING VOTE. APPARENTLY, W. D. HARPER AND CHESTER JUDD DONATED THE ACREAGE FOR THE ERECTION OF THE NEW BUILDING, FOR THE RECORD SHOWS THAT THEY WERE VOTED “THANKS FOR THE PLOT”. TH E COST OF THE NEW BUILDING WAS $1306.00. BY DECEMBER OF 1896, ONLY 4406.00 WAS OWED ON THE BUILDING.. THE CHURCH VOTED TO INSURE THE NEW BUILDING BUT WAS UNABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY. THE DEDICATION SERVICES WAS PREACHED BY W. O. THROGMORTON.
THE EARLY CHURCH WAS VERY STRICT IN ITS DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE.MEMBERS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE CHURCH FOR “THE SIN OF INTOXICATION, “CONTEMPTUOUSLY TREATING THE CHURCH”, “DISORDERLY CONDUCT”. LIVING IN ADULTERY”, BANKRUPTCY”, ETC. ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL REASONS FOR EXCLUDING A MEMBER WAS “TRANSCENDING THE BOUNDS OF THE GOSPEL PRIVILEGES.”
THE CHURCH WAS OF A VERY FORGIVING SPIRIT. IF A PERSON WAS CHARGED WITH VIOLATING OR BREAKING OF THE CHURCH COVENANT. HE WAS ASKED TO ATTEND THE NEXT BUSINESS MEETING. SHOULD HE FAIL OR REFUSE TO REPORT TO THE CHURCH, HE WAS EXCLUDED. HOWEVER, IF HE APPEARED, CONFESSED, AND ASK FORGIVENESS, HE WAS GRACIOUSLY FORGIVEN AND RETURNED TO FULL FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH.
HISTORY INDICATES THE EARLY CHURCH WAS VERY ACTIVE. IN 1827, THE CHURCH ORDAINED CHESTER CARPENTER AND ROBERT MOORE TO THE MINISTRY, BEGINNING A PRACTICE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT TIME. ALSO THE CHURCH USED ITS LEADERSHIP TO ESTABLISH NEW CHURCHES, SOME WERE- LIBERTY, SUGAR CAMP, UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH OF MC LEANSBORO, ETC. IT IS NOTED THAT THE CHURCH WAS VERY ACTIVE IN ASSOCIATIONAL AFFAIRS AND HAD AN EVER INCREASING MEMBERSHIP. WHILE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH DID NOT REACH THE 100 MARK DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE CENTURY, THE MEMBERSHIP IN THE LATER YEARS INCREASED TO OVER 100 AND REMAINED AT THAT FIGURE UNTIL THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. THEN THE MEMBERSHIP BEGAN GROWING AND NOW TOTALS 433.
TWO MINISTERS HAVING THE LONGEST PERIOD OF SERVICE IN TEN MILE CHURCH, WAS JOHN B. MAULDING AND HOSEA VISE, ELDER HOSEA VISE WAS LICENSED TO PREACH BY TEN MILE ON 1841. IT WAS HERE HE HELD HIS MEMBERSHIP FOR 58 YEARS, TWENTY-ONE OF WHICH HE SERVED AS PASTOR. HE HELPED ORGANIZE AND SERVED AS MODERATOR OF THE FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION FOR TWENTY-ONE YEARS, WHEN THE DOCTRINAL SPLIT BETWEEN “HARDSHELL” AND “MISSIONARY” OCCURRED IN THE BETHEL ASSOCIATION, IT WAS HOSEA VICE WHO ADVOCATED: ADHERING TO PAUL’S ADVICE, “MARK THEM WHICH CAUSE DIVISION AMONG YOU AND AVOID THEM”. REV JOHN MAULDING ALSO HAD GREAT INFLUENCE UPON THE TEN MILE COMMUNITY AND SERVED AS PASTOR OF TEN MILE FOR NINETEEN YEARS. ONE OF HIS COMMENTS OF LATER YEARS WAS “I HAVE PREACHED HERE SO LONG, PEOPLE CONNECT ME WITH TEN MILE”.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BANKSTON FORK CHURCH, WHO HELPED ORGANIZE TEN MILE, THE 1989 I. B. S. A. ANNUAL SHOWS ONLY THREE CHURCHES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS THAT ARE OLDER. ELIZABETHOWN, ORGANIZED IN 1806: SHILOH, NEAR THE CITY OF MOUNDS, ORGANIZED IN 1817: JONESBORO, ORGANIZED IN 1818.
TEN MILE WAS ONE OF SEVEN TO HELP FORM THE FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION IN 1841 THEN KNOWN AS “UNION UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH ASSOCIATION” LATER NAME CHANGED TO FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION. THIS ORGANIZATION MEETING MET WITH THE EAST FORK BAPTIST CHURCH, EAST OF WEST FRANKFORT.
INTERESTING TO NOTE IS THAT TWO OF THE MESSENGERS REPRESENTING TEN MILE, ELDER HOSEA VICE, NATHANIEL HARRELSON, AND ELDER S. M. WILLIAMS, WERE ELECTED OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. ELDER S. M. WILLIAMS ELECTED AS MODERATOR AND NATHANIEL HARRELSON ELECTED AS CLERK AND ALSO APPOINTED TREASURER.
TEN MILE REMAINED IN THE FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION UNTIL IT WAS DECIDED IN MAY OF 1974 TO PETITION FOR AFFILIATION IN THE FAIRFIELD BAPTIST ASSOCIATION . AT THE 1974 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FAIRFIELD BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, TEN MILE WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE UNION WITH TWENTY FIVE OTHER CHURCHES. IN 1998, THE FAIRFIELD BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
CHANGED ITS NAME TO BECOME KNOWN AS GOSHEN TRAIL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. TEN MILE REMAINS ACTIVE IN THE GOSHEN TRAIL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION TO THIS DAY.
THE NEED FOR A NEW CHURCH BUILDING BECAME EVIDENT BY THE EARLY 1970'S. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, THE CHURCH
CONGREGATION DECIDED TO BUILD AN OCTAGON DESIGN WITH BRICK VENEER. FINANCING
THE NEW FACILITY SEEMED TO BE A LARGER PROBLEM THAN THE DECISION OF WHAT THE
BUILDING SHOULD LOOK LIKE. AFTER MUCH THOUGHT AND PRAYER, THE CONGREGATION
DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT AND DEPEND UPON THE LORD TO PROVIDE WHAT
WAS NEEDED. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1975 WITH THE FIRST SERVICES IN THE NEW
BUILDING HELD IN EARLY 1976. THREE SHORT YEARS LATER, GOD PROVIDED FOR THE
$150,000.00 NOTE FOR THE NEW BUILDING TO BE PAID IN FULL! THE CENTRAL
AUDITORIUM OF THIS FACILITY WAS SURROUNDED BY CLASSROOMS, A KITCHEN, FELLOWSHIP
HALL, AND RESTROOMS.
IN 1994, THE CHURCH HAD THE JOYFUL PROBLEM OF NEEDING MORE CLASSROOM SPACE. THE CHURCH VOTED TO BUILD A NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL AND CONVERT THE EXISTING FELLOWSHIP HALL TO CLASSROOMS. THE OCTAGON SHAPE FACILITY JOINED THE EXISTING CHURCH AND INCLUDED THE FELLOWSHIP AREA, A LARGE KITCHEN, STORAGE AREAS, AND RESTROOMS. ALTHOUGH CONSTRUCTION WAS NOT COMPLETED, THE FIRST MEAL IN THE NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL WAS HELD FEBRUARY 12, 1995.
WITH CONTINUED GROWTH IN ALL AGE GROUPS AND CLASSES. IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE CHURCH’S AUDITORIUM WAS NO LONGER ADEQUATE. ON APRIL 15, 1998, THE CONGREGATION VOTED TO CONSTRUCT A NEW, LARGER OCTAGON WORSHIP CENTER WITH CLASSROOMS AGAIN AROUND THE CENTRAL AUDITORIUM. POURING OF CONCRETE BEGAN IN MAY OF 2000 WITH APPROXIMATELY 400 YARDS OF CONCRETE POURED FOR THE FOUNDATION AND FLOOR AREA. THE FIRST STEEL OF THE STRUCTURE WAS SET IN PLACE ON JULY 14, 2000. A COMBINATION OF CONTRACTOR LABOR, DONATED MATERIALS, AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF DONATED LABOR MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE FIRST WORSHIP SERVICE IN THE NEW AUDITORIUM TO BE HELD ON JULY 29,2001.
ON MARCH 6, 2005 FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE
BEFORE US, TEN MILE CHURCH VOTED TO SPONSOR A NEW CHURCH PLANT IN TAWAS, MICHIGAN. THIS AREA IN MICHIGAN HAS NO BAPTIST WORK. THIS PARTNERSHIP INCLUDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM TEN MILE TRAVELING TO MICHIGAN OCCASIONALY TO OFFER SUPPORT.
PAST PASTORS OF TEN MILE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
JOHN SMITH J. H. ALLEN
TERRY WALTES J. U. WILLIAMS
MARK LEE J. D. HOOKER
DENNY STEED J. U. WILLIAMS
RICHARD HART G. R. HENSON
FRANK BROOKMAN J. R. ALLEN
LARRY JONES J. D. CARR
KENNETH BAIN G. R. HENSON
W. D. BERRY J. R. ALLEN
RUDOLPH L. SCHAG J. D. CARR
CLARENCE COATS G. R. HENSON
RUDOLPH L SCHLAG J. D. CARR
J. B. MAULDING G. R. HENSON
WALKER CUTTY T. V. DULANY
H. C. CROSLIN H. VISE
L. C. IRBY W. H. CARNER
J. B. MAULDING HENRY CRAVENS
CHARLES HOLLAND HOSEA VISE
M. C. HOLDER H. CRAVENS
J. B. MAULDING HOSEA VISE
J. B. HALL C. J. ALLEN
T. B. HUNT H. VISE
J. R. WAGENOR JOSEPH ALLEN
J. R. MCDUFFEY H. VISE
J. B. MAULDING S. A. MARTIN
B. O. DENBO W. P.SNEED
J. B. MAULDING H. VISE
F .F. HEDGES C. R. PITTMAN
J. B. HALL MILTON CARPENTER
O. J. BELL CHESTER CARPENTER
HISTORY OF UNION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
THE UNION UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN 1851 WITH FIVE CHARTER MEMBERS. THE COUNCIL WAS ELDERS S. S. MARTIN AND W. P. SNEED. THIS GROUP WAS RECEIVED INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FRANKLIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION AT THEIR TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING HELD WITH THE TEN MILE BAPTIST CHURCH IN HAMILTON COUNTY IN THE SUMMER OF 1852. THIS LITTLE CHURCH GREW AND PROSPERED AND AT ONE TIME THEIR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER 52, BUT BY 1867 THEIR NUMBER WAS
REDUCED TO 20. BY MUTUAL CONSENT THEY AGREED TO DISBAND. THIS CHURCH NEVER HAD A BUILDING OF IT’S OWN BUT MET IN THE SCHOOL HOUSE DURING THE SIXTEEN YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE.
AT THIS TIME THE BAPTIST CHURCHES WERE DIVIDING OVER THE QUESTION OF MISSIONS. SOME BELIEVED THAT MISSIONS WERE THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH AND THESE WERE NICKNAMED ‘MISSIONARIES’ WHILE OTHERS WERE MUCH OPPOSED TO MISSIONS, THESE WERE NICKNAME ‘HARD-SHELLS’.IN SOME CHURCHES THE HARD-SHELLS OUT NUMBER THE MISSIONARIES, WHILE IN OTHERS THE MISSIONARIES OUTNUMBER THE HARD-SHELLS. IN EITHER CASE THE MINORITY GROUP WITHDREW AND STARTED A CHURCH OF THEIR OWN. WHETHER THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE WE CANNOT BE SURE
ON NOVEMBER 23, 1870 THE UNION UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED THE SECOND TIME WITH TEN CHARTER MEMBERS. THE COUNCIL WAS ELDERS C. ALLEN AND C. Y. ALLEN. THE TEN CHARTER MEMBERS WERE: THOMAS JEFFERSON DEWITT, AMAZONIA DEWITT, GEORGE BOSTER, EMALINE BOSTER, PERMELIA BOSTER DEWILL, SARAH BOSTER MOORE, JOSEPHUS ALLEN, ROSANNA ALLEN, REUBEN DEWILL, AND SARAH E RICHARDSON PATTON. THE FIRST EIGHT CAME BY LETTER FROM TEN MILE BAPTIST CHURCH AND LAST TWO CAME BY BAPTISM. THE FIRST PASTOR WAS ELDER C. YOUNG ALLEN. THIS CHURCH WAS RECEIVED INTO FELLOWSHIP OF FRANKLIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION AT THEIR THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING HELD WITH THE COUNTY LINE BAPTIST CHURCH IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY , IN SEPT 1871. THIS LITTLE GROUP OF TEN THAT STARTED IN 1870 SEEM TO GROW AND IN 1880 THEIR NUMBER HAD GROWN TO 62.
THE FIRST HOUSE WAS BUILT IN THE SUMMER OF 1871. IT WAS MADE OF LOGS WITH A CLAPBOARD ROOF AND WAS CALLED ‘THE MEETING HOUSE’.IN SEPTEMBER 0F 1889 THE CHURCH VOTED TO PUT NEW ROOF ON THE HOUSE. NO FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS APPOINTED AS ALL THEY NEEDED WAS A SAW, AXE, FROW, TIMBER AND SOME WILLING WORKERS. BY FEB 1896 THE HOUSE WAS NEEDING SOME REPAIR TO THE FOUNDATION BUT SOME THOUGHT BEST TO BUILD A NEW HOUSE SO IN FEB 1896 THEY VOTED THAT IN MARCH 1896 THEY WOULD VOTE ON WHETHER TO BUILD A NEW HOUSE OR REPAIR THE OLD ONE. THIS WOULD GIVE THEM A MONTH TO THINK IT OVER. AT THE MARCH MEETING THEY VOTED TO BUILD A NEW HOUSE. TWO COMMITTEES WERE APPOINTED: FINANCE, SYLVESTER DEWITT, U. G. BOSTER, MORGAN T. MARSH. BUILDING: ALEX GIBBS, JACOB MOORE AND JOSEPHUS ALLEN.
AT THE AUGUST MEETING THEY VOTED TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO SOLICIT FUNDS TO BUY A BELL FOR THE NEW HOUSE. THE COMMITTEE WAS ANNA ALLEN, IDA DEWITT, SARAH MOORE, ALICE RICHARDSON, RADO GOIN, NOLA SMITH, AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING THE COMMITTEE REPORTED THAT $16.65 RAISED TO BUY THE BELL (I WONDER IF THAT WAS ENOUGH)
THE HOUSE WAS COMPLETED AND WAS DEDICATED IN OCTOBER 1896. ELDER G. W. DANBURY PREACHED THE DEDICATION SERMON. THIS SAME HOUSE IS STILL STANDING BUT HAS BEEN REMODELED.
UNION CHURCH WAS KNOWN AS THE UNITED BAPTIST UNTIL 18885 THEN THE UNITED WAS DROPPED AND LATER IT WAS KNOWN AS MISSIONARY BAPTIST.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1953 THE BUILDING WAS RAISED, THE BASEMENT DUG AND THE INSIDE REMODELED. THE BUILDING COMMITTEE WAS DELMAR BRUMMET, GEORGE SENG, AND THOMAS ANDERSON. THE TREASURER OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS HERMAN HUFFSTUTLER.
IN 1960 THE CHURCH VOTED TO REMOVE FROM FRANKLIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION AND SEEK FELLOWSHIP WITH FAIRFIELD BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. AT THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION OF FAIRFIELD ASSOCIATION IN 1960 AT BLOOMING GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN HAMILTON COUNTY THEY WERE RECEIVED INTO THIS FELLOWSHIP.
IN SEPT 1968 THE CHURCH VOTED TO BUY NEW SEATS, THE COMMITTEE WAS HERMAN HUFFSTUTLER, ROBERT JENKINS, LT OWENS, ALTA SENG, ENDA GIBBS, AND MARY ANDERSON. THE SEATS WERE BOUGHT AND INSTALLED THE FOLLOWING JANUARY.
IN 1969 THE CHURCH VOTED TO BUILD CLASSROOMS ON THE EAST SIDE OF CHURCH. THE BUILDING WAS STARTED RIGHT AWAY BUT SINCE ALMOST ALL OF THE LABOR WAS DONATED BY MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, IT WAS NOT COMPLETED UNTIL 1970. THE BUILDING COMMITTEE WAS ROY GIBBS, ROBERT JENKINS, AND THOMAS ANDERSON.
IN LATE FALL OF 1967 CHURCH REPLACED FUEL OIL FURNACE WITH GAS FURNACE AND IN 1971 ADDED AIR CONDITIONING.
IN 1972 CHURCH ADDED ROOM ONTO THE NORTH SIDE OF CHURCH, THIS ADDITION, INCLUDED A CLASS ROOM AND TWO BATHROOMS. WATER FROM REND LAKE WAS ADDED TO THE CHURCH BY HOOKING ONTO DAHLGREN WATER LINE.
IN 1974 ALUMINUM SIDING WAS PLACED ON CHURCH BUILDING, AND IN THE BASEMENT TWO CLASSROOMS AND A FURNACE ROOM WERE BUILT.
A STEEPLE WAS PLACED ON ROOF OF CHURCH IN 1976.
IN 1978 INSIDE OF CHURCH WAS COMPLETELY REMODELED NEW PANELING WAS PUT ON WALLS, CEILING LOWERED, NEW LIGHTS PUT IN, AND CARPETING PLACED ON FLOOR, AND WINDOWS REPLACED IN AUDITORIUM
IN 1981 PADDED SEAT CUSHIONS WAS ADDED TO SEATS.
IN 1982 THE CHURCH MOVED CHOIR AND ADDED BAPTISTERY. THE INSIDE OF CHURCH WAS REMODELED AROUND THIS SAME TIME TO LOOK AS IT IS TODAY.
IN 1985 KITCHEN CABINETS WITH SINK AND SERVING COUNTER WERE ADDED TO BASEMENT. COOKING RANGE, REFRIGERATOR, AND HOT WATER HEATER WERE ADDED AS WELL
IN 1989 DAUGHTER OF FORMER MEMBER DONATED HER MOTHER’S ORGAN TO THE CHURCH
IN 1995 A NEW HANDICAP RAMP WAS BUILT ON NORTH EAST SIDE OF CHURCH.
NEW WINDOWS WERE PUT I N AUDITORIUM AREA IN FEB 1999
IN 2005 CHURCH REPLACED ORGAN WITH DIFFERENT ONE
PASTORS
THE RECORDS FROM DEC. 1870 TO JAN.1883 ARE LOST
T. A. DULANEY JAN,1883 TO AUG,19884
C.YOUNG ALLEN SEPT.1884 TO AUG. 1885
R.W. LEE NOV.1885 TO SEPT 1889
JOHN C. ELLIOT NOV 1889 TO NOV. 1892
JOE H. ALLEN NOV.1892 TO DEC. 1894
K.W. INGRAM JAN.1895 TO AUG.1896
JAMES W. ALLEN SEPT 1896 TO --------
THE RECORDS FROM JUNE 1897 TO DEC 1906 HAVE BEEN LOST
CHARLIE C. ALLEN DEC. 1906 TO JULY 1907
K.W. INGRAM SEPT. 1907 TO AUG. 1908
ARTHUR BELL SEPT.1908 TO MAR. 1909
CHARLES C. ALLEN APR. 1909 TO SEPT . 1910
JOE H ALLEN OCT. 1910 TO AUG,1911
A. J. MUSGRAVES OCT. 1911 TO AUG. 1912
BIRD GREEN SEPT. 1912 TO AUG.1915
FRANK L. KARN OCT.1915 TO SEPT. 1916
JOE H ALLEN NOV.1916 TO AUG.1917
BIRD GREEN SEPT 1917 TO AUG. 1919
SID T. RICHARDSON SEPT.1919 TO AUG 1920
J. B. HALL SEPT 1920 TO AUG 1921
BIRCHEL PAGE SEPT 1921 TO AUG.1922
P.H. HARRIS SEPT.1922 TO AUG.1923
IVER E. MILLER SEPT. 1923 TO AUG 1924
PAUL RICH SEPT.1924 TO JUNE 1925
OSCAR BELL SEPT.1925 TO AUG. 1927
J.R.WAGGONER SEPT.1927 TO AUG 1928
BIRCHEL PAGE SEPT 1928 TO AUG1932
BERT DENBO SEPT.1932 TO AUG. 1934
EDD KEIGLER SEPT.1934 TO AUG. 1936
EDD CRAVENS SEPT. 1936 TO AUG.1937
BIRCHEL PAGE SEPT. 1937 TO AUG 1940
HENRY MEYERS SEPT.1940 TO JULY 1942
ALVIE DAILY SEPT.1942 TO AUG. 1944
EDD KEIGER SEPT.1944 TO AUG.1947
ROGER NEAL SEPT.1947 TO AUG,1949
DAVID GODDARD SEPT.1949 TO AUG 1950
BERYL MCCLERREN SEPT. 1950 TO FEB. 1952
EDWARD MERCER SEPT 1952 TO JUNE 1953
WAYNE YORK SEPT 1953 TO AUG.1954
BYFORD KING SEPT.1954 TO AUG1955
ARTHUR FULLERTON SEPT .1955 TO AUG.1956
