The following is an excerpt from Rev. J. W. Joyner's book, A History of the Baptists in Butler County (1819-1957):
In my research into the history of Baptist in Butler County, seeing the part they have had in moulding religious influences, in this section, I have come across many things of interest. In reading the old records of this church I found some things that gave to me a personal pride. This is one of the oldest churches in the county, having been organized in the year 1856 with seventy- one members. The first name on the record is that of William BRIGHTWELL. Others are DICKENS, PARKER, BENNETT, BUST, TURNER, BAILEY, PENNY, and HITES.
The reason for my personal interest in reading the old record is because so many of my ancestors had an active part in the building up of this church. My great-grandfather on, J. W. CLARK, and family were members, as well as were my grandfather on my mother's side, and his family. The old record shows that my mother joined this church in the year 1865. My father joined in the year 1871, and was ordained a minister in the year 1879, becoming pastor of the church that year. The minute recorded the meeting held on May 19th, 1879, showing the church sold some trees from the church lot for which they received $1.40, and 65 centes of this was given to my father on pastor's salary. Others who had a part in this church were the COOPERs, SIMS, TILLs, PERRIES [Perry], SMITHs, OWENS, NALLs, HUGHES, MAJORS, HINSONs, BRANUMs, RAINERs, CRAIG, KNIGHTs, AND BRAZELLs. The names of some of the early pastors are H. E. PARKER, Noe PARKER, R. GENTRY, LONG, LOCKHART, and B. COOPER.
Other pastors were L. B. COHRON, S. J. WILLIAMSON, W. H. JOYNER, Deck BAKER, R. L. SHELL, J. L. P. COOK, and J. W. JOYNER. At the present time the county missionary, B. L. ARMSTRONG, is preaching for the church.
This church for many years was one of the strong churches, but, because of economic conditions, now has only a few members.
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Page updated 7 Dec 2005.
