OUR 230TH ANNIVERSARY WAS
APRIL 28, 2024!!!
APRIL 28, 2024!!!
What a fun filled adventure this has been! We have been working on this historical skit for months. Today we dressed up in period clothing and each time period told the story of the 230 year old church, along with national and local history.
Pastor Josh McFarland, our preacher from 2008 - 2010, was our guest speaker, and his wife Lela sang for special music. It was standing room only! We topped it off with a car show outside and a potluck dinner! What a wonderful day to be in the House of our Lord!
Pastor Josh McFarland, our preacher from 2008 - 2010, was our guest speaker, and his wife Lela sang for special music. It was standing room only! We topped it off with a car show outside and a potluck dinner! What a wonderful day to be in the House of our Lord!
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Below are some interesting facts about our church through the years, compiled by our resident historian, Denise McClain.
Throw back to Easter 1958! According to a newspaper clipping from December 1957, "The Elk Creek Church has just completed five classrooms - the first addition to have been made since the present auditorium was erected in 1876."
Did you know? Some churches during the 1800's had "circuit preachers" who were shared between 2 churches. Because of this, many churches, including Elk Creek Baptist didn't have worship service every Sunday. According to an Aug 1885 "Register" Elk Creek Baptist had "Sunday Services" on the 1st and 2nd Sunday of the month. They did however, have Sunday School every week. This schedule (or a similar schedule) would go on until nearly 1930 when the church started having weekly Sunday worship.
Much has changed over the years! We now have worship service every Sunday morning at 11:00, Sunday School is every Sunday at 10:00, and we have Wednesday night prayer service every week at 6:00 pm.
Much has changed over the years! We now have worship service every Sunday morning at 11:00, Sunday School is every Sunday at 10:00, and we have Wednesday night prayer service every week at 6:00 pm.
To continue Elk Creek Baptist’s Story of 229 years of service to the Lord....
Since the later part of the 1800's is full of major, challenging events for the church and her congregation, we will break the 1800's into 2 parts. In this post, we will cover 1800-1860:
Feb 15, 1800 meeting minutes read - “the Church will not tolerate the making of Sugar on the Lord’s Day, nor any servile labor; only works of necessity are allowable on that holy day.”
Three members “voluntarily acknowledged their fault in going into bad company, and in some measure partaking in horse racing and permitting horses to run in a race. They asked forgiveness and promised to shun evil. The church forgave them.”
Sat, March 15, 1805 meeting minutes read -
“The sisters be allowed the same privileges in our business meetings as the male members. The motion was voted down.” There was no other business, so the meeting was adjourned.
1816 membership rolls show the church has white and “colored” members.
1837 - First split
“A new controversy racked Baptist churches in Kentucky. It had to do with missionary societies, and became known as the “anti-missionary movement.” The following action took place: “it was moved and carried by a majority of those present, that the church protest against all Societies which tend to disturb our union and fellowship, and to produce contention and strife such as state Conventions, Theological Seminaries, and all Societies which give membership for money for we believe them unscriptural.” This led to serious division in the church on June 15, 1839. The church split into “Missionary Baptist Church” and “Regular Baptist Church” The missionary church and regular church continued to share the brick building.
May 1854 -
A new brick church was built! It cost $2,500 under Pastor William G. Hobbs (picture attached!)
The Missionary Baptist Church members dwindled and eventually ceased to meet.
Civil War years - There is no direct record of what might have taken place during these years, however we can infer there was an impact on the church. The moderator, clerk, deacons, and choristers all resigned during the war and at the very next meeting, all the offices were once again filled.
Oct 9, 1858-The church has an 18 day revival under Pastor Hobbs!
Times seemed to be pretty good for the church, but there are extremely rocky, & challenging waters ahead! Stay tuned for the next part!
Since the later part of the 1800's is full of major, challenging events for the church and her congregation, we will break the 1800's into 2 parts. In this post, we will cover 1800-1860:
Feb 15, 1800 meeting minutes read - “the Church will not tolerate the making of Sugar on the Lord’s Day, nor any servile labor; only works of necessity are allowable on that holy day.”
Three members “voluntarily acknowledged their fault in going into bad company, and in some measure partaking in horse racing and permitting horses to run in a race. They asked forgiveness and promised to shun evil. The church forgave them.”
Sat, March 15, 1805 meeting minutes read -
“The sisters be allowed the same privileges in our business meetings as the male members. The motion was voted down.” There was no other business, so the meeting was adjourned.
1816 membership rolls show the church has white and “colored” members.
1837 - First split
“A new controversy racked Baptist churches in Kentucky. It had to do with missionary societies, and became known as the “anti-missionary movement.” The following action took place: “it was moved and carried by a majority of those present, that the church protest against all Societies which tend to disturb our union and fellowship, and to produce contention and strife such as state Conventions, Theological Seminaries, and all Societies which give membership for money for we believe them unscriptural.” This led to serious division in the church on June 15, 1839. The church split into “Missionary Baptist Church” and “Regular Baptist Church” The missionary church and regular church continued to share the brick building.
May 1854 -
A new brick church was built! It cost $2,500 under Pastor William G. Hobbs (picture attached!)
The Missionary Baptist Church members dwindled and eventually ceased to meet.
Civil War years - There is no direct record of what might have taken place during these years, however we can infer there was an impact on the church. The moderator, clerk, deacons, and choristers all resigned during the war and at the very next meeting, all the offices were once again filled.
Oct 9, 1858-The church has an 18 day revival under Pastor Hobbs!
Times seemed to be pretty good for the church, but there are extremely rocky, & challenging waters ahead! Stay tuned for the next part!
In honor of the church's 229 years of service to The Lord, let's go back in time.
George Washington was President...
It was 15 years after Ky joined the union as the 15th state...
15 years before Abraham Lincoln was born...
5 years before Taylorsville was founded...
27 years after Daniel Boone first explored Kentucky...
"We, Andrew Paul,
John Spencer (brother to Spear Spencer for whom this county is named),
Jacob Bilderback,
David Reid,
John Stillwell,
Michael Stillwell,
Abagail Reid,
Mary Bilderback,
Sarah Connelly,
and
Elizabeth Martin, thinking it most for the glory of God and the good of each other, after fasting and prayer, were regularly constituted into a Church of Jesus Christ, by aid of our beloved Brother, Elder Joshua Morris, on Saturday the 27th of April 1794, agreeable to a Regular Baptist Confession of Faith, as far as it agrees with the Word of God."
These members immediately organized the Church for business (it was called Buck and Elk Creek then) and elected the following:
Clerk: John Spencer
Deacon: Jacob Bilderback
Pastor: Joshua Morris
August 15, 1795 minutes read as follows:
"Brethern James Mahon and Wm. Kister were appointed a committee to select a site, draft a plan and superintend the erection of a House of Worship."
According to the 200 yr anniversary book, written in 1994 by Rebecca Lawson and Pastor Robert Don Hughes
"The first "meeting house" was "constructed of logs and covered with wood shingles. Since it was built by volunteer help of its male membership, construction took several years.....it cost much labor, but very little money."
Obviously, we do not have pictures of this first structure. The current building, the best we can tell is the 3rd structure. More to follow in a future post!
George Washington was President...
It was 15 years after Ky joined the union as the 15th state...
15 years before Abraham Lincoln was born...
5 years before Taylorsville was founded...
27 years after Daniel Boone first explored Kentucky...
"We, Andrew Paul,
John Spencer (brother to Spear Spencer for whom this county is named),
Jacob Bilderback,
David Reid,
John Stillwell,
Michael Stillwell,
Abagail Reid,
Mary Bilderback,
Sarah Connelly,
and
Elizabeth Martin, thinking it most for the glory of God and the good of each other, after fasting and prayer, were regularly constituted into a Church of Jesus Christ, by aid of our beloved Brother, Elder Joshua Morris, on Saturday the 27th of April 1794, agreeable to a Regular Baptist Confession of Faith, as far as it agrees with the Word of God."
These members immediately organized the Church for business (it was called Buck and Elk Creek then) and elected the following:
Clerk: John Spencer
Deacon: Jacob Bilderback
Pastor: Joshua Morris
August 15, 1795 minutes read as follows:
"Brethern James Mahon and Wm. Kister were appointed a committee to select a site, draft a plan and superintend the erection of a House of Worship."
According to the 200 yr anniversary book, written in 1994 by Rebecca Lawson and Pastor Robert Don Hughes
"The first "meeting house" was "constructed of logs and covered with wood shingles. Since it was built by volunteer help of its male membership, construction took several years.....it cost much labor, but very little money."
Obviously, we do not have pictures of this first structure. The current building, the best we can tell is the 3rd structure. More to follow in a future post!