The following is an excerpt from Rev. J. W. Joyner's book A History of the Baptists in Butler County (1819-1957):
As was stated in the writing of the Forest Home Church history, before the War Between The States, a Baptist Church was located where what is now known as Highway Ten crosses the Butler Springs-Forest Home road. The people of the communities worshiped here for a number of years, After the war, the church became inavtive and the building was moved to Forest Home.
In the early 80's three ministers moved into Butler Springs, A. T. SIMS, A. A. SIMS, and Seaborn MOORE. There was not a house in which to worship except a small school building made of rough lumber. A number of fine families lived in this community: the SMITHs, HENDERSONs, VICKERYs, SEALs [poss. Seale], DAVISes, HIGDONs, STRINGFELLOWs, THOMPSONs. A Sunday School was organized, with Pink VICKERY as superintendent.
In that year 1890, the Rev. A. T. SIMS, who owned the land on which the church building stood, gave a deed to the land, writing out the deed in his own handwriting. Rev. A. T. SIMS was called and accepted the pastorate of the Georgiana Church, and his brother, A. A. SIMS, and Seaborn MOORE became pastors and served well. Both died while pastors of this church.
In the fall of 1896, Rev. W. J. RABB of Evergreen held a revival in the church which resulted in many conversions. He was called as pastor and served for two years. Following was Rev. HUCKABEE, of Pine Apple, who served three years. In the year 1903, Forest Home, Butler Springs, Mt. Moriah, and Pine Level, in cooperation, called as their pastor the Rev. W. J. RAY. Following is a list of pastors for a number of years: G. W. LOVELL, H. R. SCHRAMM, J. R. GRIFFITH, J. C. DUNLAP, H. R. McMILLIAN, M. I. McLEOD, and J. B. OWENS. For a few years, services were held only at intervals, but in 1952 a group of interested people met and raised the amount of $946.46, to be used to repair the building, and Rev. TRANUM became pastor. The present pastor is Rev. NEZ SELLERS, who is moderator of the Association.
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Page updated 9 Apr 2007.
