By : Wilbert J. "Bucky" McCoy ©

Ashley Baptist Church       Ashley Baptist Church came into being in 1862.       The organizing council came from Horse prairie, DuQuoin, Richview, and Pleasant Hill.       Firstt Pastor is Unknown.       The building had a steeple, two seperate front doors, a stove on each side (one side for the men, the other side for the women), a Baptistry at the front, and multi-colored window panes.       The Church records were destroyed by fire around 1885.       The Church celebrated 100 years in 1964. the sermon was by Rev. Harold Konroyd.       The longest Pastorate was of Rev. A. B. Plunkett who served from June 10, 1979 to January 2, 1994. ". . . Upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."                 Matthew 16 : 18