Merry Hill - 1910
Powellsville Baptist -1909
Riverside Baptist - Colerain - 1913
Wakelon Baptist - Colerain - 1940
For more information, see the manuscript by John E. Tyler, written in recognition of the Bicentennial (1750-1950)
SANDY RUN BAPTIST CHURCH, Roxobel, NC Due to lack of records, the date of organization and records of organization
are not definite. One records states that Sandy Run was formed about 1740
from a branch of the Meherin Church of Hertford County and during the next
decade was closely associated with the Kehukee Church that was located across
the Roanoke River. In 1750 Sandy Run was established as an independent
church.
Like other Baptist churches established in North Carolina before 1755, Sandy
Run was originally a General Baptist Church--one that adhered to the Arminian
or Free-will doctrine.
During its early years, the members of Sandy Run seemed to have been
disorganized and often pastorless. There is no record of the first
ministers. The earliest minister of whom there is recorded evidence was
Thomas Pope, a native Virginian.
During the 1750's the General Baptists of North Carolina began to feel the
influence of the Particular Baptists, a group that adhered to the Calvinist
doctrine, a more rigid doctrine than that professed by the General Baptists.
Due to the warm missionary zeal of Robert Williams of Northampton County and
representatives of the Philadelphia Baptist, Sandy Run was re-established in
1756 under a constitution which adhered to the beliefs of the Particular
Baptists. The church in conference disbanded the organization that
previously existed and those who desired to come into the new order were
required to come under a new examination conducted with much rigidity.
In 1769, the Kehukee Association was organized with Sandy Run Church as one
of the original churches of that association.
After the death in 1772 of its pastor, James Abingdon, Sandy Run Church fell
into disorder, its membership was greatly reduced and division took place. A
few faithful members asked the Kehukee Association in 1773 to investigate the
situation. This investigation ended with Lemuel Burkitt, one of the
association's representatives and a native of Chowan County, as minister of
Sandy Run.
Under the guidance of Elder Burkitt, the church witnessed a great revival and
membership rose to 217 in 1777. A branch of Sandy Run gathered near
Potecasi, Connarista and Pleasant Grove and each unit eventually became a
separate unit.
During the Great Revival at the beginning of the nineteenth century, Elder
Burkitt preached with great acceptance at revivals in Kentucky and Tennessee
and at home in the Kehukee Association. Congregations numbering as many as
4,000 were present to hear him preach.
In 1806 all churches of the Kehukee Association that were east of the Roanoke
River were dismissed by letter to form the Chowan Baptist Association. Thus
Sandy Run was a member of the new organization. Elder Burkitt was largely
responsible for Sandy Run's becoming one of the outstanding churches during
the later 1700's and early 1800's.
Between 1803 and 1821 Sandy Run Church was moved from its first location to
Sandy Run on the Northampton - Bertie boundary about a mile from the town of
Roxobel. In 1854 it was moved to its present site in the town of Roxobel.
The year 1883 saw Sandy Run join the West Chowan Association and the Lewiston
Church cut off from Sandy Run. In 1898, 24 of the church members were
dismissed by letter to form a church at Kelford. Part of the congregation at
the Aulander Church were former members at Sandy Run.
On July 24, 1936 the fine wooden church building was struck by lightening and
burned to the ground. Work began immediately to replace it with the brick
church which now serves the congregation.
Since its dedication the church has been improved by the addition of two
large classrooms in 1954 and bathrooms in 1957. The church-owned parsonage
is located in Roxobel. Since 1961 the church has had a full time pastor."
The Baptist Archives are described in the Bibliography Section .
History
The church was originally made up of 74 members from Wiccocon (Colerain) and Cashie
churches, dated 12/10/1824.
Elder Lawrence was called as pastor and Charles Cobb was elected clerk.
Capeharts Church voted to petition the Bertie Union and the Chowan Baptist
Association for membership in these bodies in 1825. In that same year she
licensed her first native son granting to William W. Pierce authority to
preach 'in the bounds of this church and the neighboring churches if he
thinks proper.'
The first missionary society was formed in 1847. As further expression of
her missionary concern, Capeharts voted in 1849 to support a minister to
travel and preach within the old constitution, with the clerk instructed to
draw up a new one in accordance with the Confession of Faith adopted by the
Chowan Baptist Association in May, 1849.
In addition to the original meeting house, the congregation occupied two
other houses of worship throughout the years. The first was completed and
occupied in 1870. The present structure was completed and dedicated in 1918.
A Sunday School annex was built in 1927, with a wing added to this structure
in 1964.
The decision to enter into a full-time program of ministry in 1953
necessitated the construction of a parsonage. This structure was completed
in record time, with the new pastor and his family moving into the building
in November, 1953."
CASHIE BAPTIST CHURCH (1771), BERTIE CO., N.C.
RECORDS, 1791-1925. 3 vols., 12 items.
Minutes of church conferences from Apr. 2, 1791 to Jan. 15, 1924, including
membership rolls, biographical sketches, ordinations, treasurer's RECORDS,
obituaries, and Sunday School materials. Loose items include a photocopy of
the church deed (1776); church letters; correspondence, 1883; financial
papers, and membership RECORDS, 1874, 1884.
5 inch Hollinger Box.
Note: Filmed copies of these records are on CRMF 0649.
CRMS 005. Wake Forest Collection
The Bertie Ledger Advance, Windsor, NC, Spetember 28, 1972,
Section B-2: Elder Dargan was a devout Christian, a zealous minister of the gospel. He
found the people of the Windsor area ready to hear his preaching. At first,
services were held in private homes, frequently at the home of a Mr. Sowell,
or Sewell, and soon the number of members increased.
Elder Dargan was greatly persecuted by a few, as were Baptists in other
places at that time and some attempted to silence his preaching and hinder
his work.
This local opposition did, however, prevent for a time the erection of a
Baptist church house in the Town of Windsor itself, so Dargan bought an acre
of land about a mile east of Windsor, near Sandy Point, on which he erected a
house of worship about 42 feet square. Elder Dargan continued as pastor of Cashie Church until his death on December
25, 1786. After his death the church was without a regular pastor until July
6, 1794, when Aaron Spivey was ordained to the ministry and on that day
became pastor of Cashie Church.
The minutes of the conferences of this church since 1791 have been well kept
and the roll of members contains every rank of citizen and every business and
profession of this historic county. A great many strong and influential men
and women of Bertie County have been members of Cashie. For more than a half
century, in this church master and slave worshipped together.
When the Chowan Association was formed in 1806, Cashie Church became a member
of that body and remained so until the West Chowan Association was formed in
1883. The first session of the West Chowan Association was held at Cashie
Church in 1883.
For convenience, the church was moved to its present location in Windsor in
the year 1853. However, services were held occasionally out at the old
church building for several years in deference to the sentiments of the other
members of the church.
The house of worship in Windsor was not completed fully until 1854. The
building then erected served the congregation until 1910, when it was removed
and the present brick structure was erected.
Additions have been made since then to meet the growing needs, as the church
has gone forward in size and in the outreach of its ministry to the people.
In addition to the educational building, the sanctuary has been
air-conditioned and redecorated, the old educational building has been
remodeled, a carport between the two buildings has been built and a parking
lot and driveway built. Air conditioning units have been installed in the
new educational building with equipment to serve 216. The building has been
furnished throughout with new equipment and the church can accomodate 500 in
Sunday School." Sunday School membership 1909 -1910
Conaritsa
Baptist History -- 1930
Conaritsa
Baptist
Wake Forest Collection. CONNARITSA BAPTIST CHURCH, Aulander, NC The charter members of the church were few in number but firm was their
foundation in faith. In 1851 the membership had increased to 257; 62 white
male members; 140 white female members, 19 colored male members, and 36
colored female members.
In June 1852 Wiley Dunning became Connaritsa's pastor. At this time the debt
for the new meeting house was all paid.
The protracted meetings held at the church often lasted from 10 days to two
weeks. At one meeting held in 1869 seven ministers had charge of the service.
Approximately 40 people were converted during one revival meeting. Not all
the meetings were confined to the church, some were held at 'Williford's
School House' or at 'Brother Cook's Old House' during the summer.
In August 1883, some of its members left Connaritsa to join the new church at
Lewiston. In September 1886, 31 members were lost to the New Baptist Church
in Aulander.
Connaritsa Baptist Church was 100 years old in 1889. The committee for the
Centennial Celebration consisted of C.T. Jenkins, W.H. Mitchell, J.H. Evans,
W.G. Burden and A.J. Dunning.
The congregation and this celebration was estimated to number between 25 and
3,000.
In November of 1899, a building committee was appointed and after a lengthy
consultation it was resolved that they build a new house of worship. The
building committee conferred with a carpenter from Gates County, who advised
them that it would be more economical to tear down the old house and use the
same timber in the construction of the new building.
During the time the new house was being built, meetings were held in the
church grove.
The new building was completed in April 1901 and dedicated in August 1904.
In June 1905, a committee of ladies was appointed to solicit funds for
purchasing an organ. A singing school was held during the last part of July
and the first of August in 1906 with Russel Myers as song master.
During the years 1926 to 1940 the church was rebuilt. The present church
chapel has a seating capacity of 800.
Another highlight of the life of the church was the service in 1936 when all
mortgage notes were settled and burned at a public meeting."
The Bertie Ledger-Advance, (Green's Cross) Windsor, NC, September 28, 1972,
Section D-1: History of Greens Cross Baptist Church
>From January 17, 1874 to November 1, 1930
A number of members from Colerain Baptist Church who lived in the Trap area
decided to take their letters from the Colerain Church, unite with the people
who had been baptized and constitute a new Baptist Church. With the
assistance of James Delk, Thomas Hoggard and Moses L. Mizelle, a church was
organized on September 29, 1854.
The decision was to call the church the Mars Hill Baptist Church, having
chosen the name of Mars Hill from Acts 17:22.
The letters were received by the Presbytery consisting of Elders Delk,
Hoggard and Mizelle and the church was declared organized. The first
business of the newly organized church was the adoption of the rules of
Decorum and Covenant of Faith.
H.H. Byrum and John A. Green were elected deacons and ordained. B.B.
Williams was called as pastor of the church and duly ordained to the full
work of the ministry. G.N. Green was appointed clerk.
The Rev. B.B. Williams served the church as pastor until the War Between the
States. During the war Williams served as chaplain in the Confederate Army.
Without a pastor, the church failed to meet regularly, the reason for this
being that most of the men of the community were also enlisted in the
Confederate Army.
Without leadership in the church, strife, contentions and ill will crept in.
Consequently, when the war ended the church was disorganized, divided and
pastorless. However, on the 25th day of February, 1866, the people met to
reorganize the church so that it could again work in peace, union and
fellowship. B.B. Williams, Lemuel Evans and John Williamson were found to be
in full fellowship and composed the basis for reorganization.
On February 16, 1903, a destructive storm swept through the community and
greatly damaged the church building. A committee consisting of Joseph M.
Phelps, Josiah Brown and Bennie Brown was appointed to examine the building
and determine the possibilities of repairing it for purposes of worship. At
the next service, held in the Perry school house, the committee recommended
that the building be moved and a new one erected in its place. The church
accepted their recommendation with the condition that the damaged church be
repaired and used until a new one could be built.
The members of the Mars Hill Church assembled on September 29, 1904, to
dedicate their new building. The old building which had been renovated was
moved on other church lots and the house and lots were deeded to the Bertie
County School Board to be used as long as the county needed them for
educational purposes.
Tragedy struck the church again on June 26, 1940, when the building was
completely destroyed by fire.
The church, accustomed to overcoming difficulties, began immediately to erect
a modern brick building at a cost of $18.000. The building was designed by
men of the church and much of the materials and labor were donated." October 1972 issue - Town Of Aulander, N.C., History Of Aulander Compiled by
the Aulander Historical Committee for the celebration of the 250 Anniversary
of Bertie County.
This first church was located on what is now the Ahoskie-Powellsville road.
The cost of construction was, according to the records, $1,300. The church
could seat 500 persons.
Among the pioneer builders of the industrial life of the town are found many
of the same names of those constituting the first Aulander Baptist Church.
The Rev. C.W. Scarboro was the first pastor. The Rev. L.M. Curtis, from
Sampson County, served the longest.
As the town grew, the church was moved into the incorporated limits and many
of the members moved their membership back to the old Dudley Grove Church,
which is now known as Oak Grove Church on the Ahoskie highway.
In 1925 a large, new church building was erected at a cost of $55,000 and a
commodious parsonage, at an approximate cost of $7,000 was built. A large
debt was on the property for a number of years, but during the pastorates of
the Rev. Lonnie Sasser, the Rev. W.P. Milne and the Rev. Joseph Folds, it was
liquidated and the notes were burned at a public ceremony in 1946.
During the pastorate of the Rev. James O. Shurling the church was completely
renovated. Again in 1972, under the direction of the Rev. Van Modlin,
repairs were made to the church basement."
The following from Aulander Historical Booklet
The First Baptist Church, organized in 1893, was located on Rogerson Avenue
with the Rev. W.D. Early as pastor. In 1919 land was bought from R.J.
Dunning and the church was moved to its present site on South Commerce
Street. This church was damaged by fire in 1960 and since then it has been
remodeled and brick veneered. In 1909 a lot next to the Joe Burden residence
was given by Mrs. Ella Harmon Burden to the Rev. Hersey Parker on which was
built the Parker Meeting House. After the death of Rev. Parker in 1916, the
fellowship services of this church were discontinued. A few years later
Raymond S. Burden acquired this lot and built his home.
Siloam Baptist Church in Indian Woods, Township of Bertie County, as an
institution, dates from 1885, but for five or six years prior to that,
services had been
conducted by Elder Bythiel Leggett, first in his own yard, then in an old
store and finally in
the community school house. The story of the beginning of this church is
an interesting one.
In 1879, Elder Bythiel Leggett, moved with his family from the Greens
Cross section
to the old Speller Plantation, owned at that time by Mr. Walter Miller and
Dr. H. V.
Dunstan. He found a few white families in the community. The large
plantation there were
worked, for the greater part, by Negro share-croppers. These were the
ex-slaves and their
descendants. There was neither a church nor a school in the community.
Elder Leggett had moved from a community in which the church had played a
very
important part in the lives of the people. When he saw that the people in
this section fished,
hauled fertilizer, and did other work on the Lord’s Day, he became very
conscious of their
spiritual needs. He set to work at once to provide religious services for
his family and his
neighbors.
He first began to preach in his own yard to people who gathered there on
Sundays,
among these were many ex-slaves who stood on the outer edges of the cross.
As his
congregation grew, Elder Leggett, now a licensed minister, moved into an
old store located at
the junction of the Grabtown and Spellers Ferry Roads. Here a Sunday
school was
organized.
Soon after this, new families began to move in. Among these were the
Gregory’s,
Holders’, and Spencers’. Soon a new school district was formed and a
schoolhouse built on
land given by Judge James Bond. The first teacher of the new school was
Charles Blomfield
Speller whose many lineal descendants live in the community today. Church
services and
Sunday School were now held in the school building. It was located on the
Grabtown Road
near an old mill pond which provided facilities for administering baptism
rites. The first
Sunday School and Church Statistics report reads as follows:
In 1885, before the schoolhouse was moved, a series of revival services
were held
during a severe drought. Mr. George D. Leggett recorded his remembrance of
these services
as a boy. “I remember in one of these meeting which was in very dry summer
weather,
special prayers were offered to the Lord for rain. That P.M. we walked
home in the rain;
boys and girls barefoot, old men bare-headed rejoicing as they went their
way. Happy day in
these meetings. There were many converts, many of them Mothers and Fathers”.
As a result of this manifestation of Divine power, there were many
conversions. The
congregation became too large for the capacity of the school building.
Plans were made for
erecting a church. Reverend Jeremiah Bunch, Reverend Edward Pierce, and
Reverend
Bythiel Leggett were influential in setting this movement on foot.
Reverend Leggett was
called to the pastorate of the new church. A. A. Pope was elected clerk
and J. H. Skiles and
Henry Casper were elected deacons. It was not until 1889 that the building
was completed.
It was built near the site of the first school. In 1904 and again in 1922,
the building was
enlarged and repaired.
With the exception of a few years, Reverend Bythiel Leggett served as
pastor of
Siloam Baptist Church from the time of its organization until his death in
1908. Since that
time, his son, Reverend George D. Leggett also served as pastor from 1922
until 1935.
Although he is now gone to be with the Lord, his wife, Mrs. Josephine
Leggett, continues to
be faithful to this church, and is our oldest living member.
By 1929, highway 17 had been constructed and Spellers Ferry had been
abandoned.
It was thought advisable to move the church to a new site which would be
more accessible. It
was moved to a site on Grabtown Road, given by Mrs. Lee Bond. As the body
of believers at
Siloam began to grow, so did the building. Classrooms were added and
dedicated in August,
1955.
Although the building was adequate to meet the needs of the congregation,
there was
instilled in many of the members a vision of a new Sanctuary. As with any
new venture of
faith, it took a while for the vision to move through the entire
fellowship. The present
location of the building was not large enough for a new Sanctuary. Land
was donated by Mr.
Arthur Leggett and plans were drawn up to move the existing structure to a
site on Cedar
Landing Road, and build a new House of Worship. In July, 1978 the building
was moved;
all in one piece. It was the largest building ever moved by the Lilley
Brothers firm in
Washington, N.C., and received much publicity throughout the county.
As the building of the Siloam Baptist Church moved, so did their faith.
In the Spring
of 1979, ground was broken to begin building on the new Sanctuary, which
was to connect to
the original structure. Some of the work was contracted, but most of the
work has been done
by members themselves.
We have reason to praise the Lord, this day of August 2, 1981. From our
reception
into the West Chowan Baptist Association in October, 1886, to the present,
God has been
rich in blessing us, over and above our measure of faith.
Bertie Church - Sandy Run
The oldest Baptist Church in Bertie County is the Sandy Run Church now located in Roxobel. Originally it was know as the "Bertie Church" and its members came from the Baptist Church which had been founded at Meherrin. Sandy Run was about 25 miles south and a few miles from Sandy Run which flows into the Roanoke River.
Celebrates their 250th Anniversary Sept 10, 2000 !
The Bertie Ledger-Advance, Windsor, NC, September 28, 1972,
Section C-5:
Sandy Run Church, the oldest church in Bertie County, was the
fourth established church in North Carolina. Its earliest location was not
far from the town of Roxobel somewhere in the vicinity of Bishop's Mill Pond.
Taken from the Minutes of the West Chowan Baptist Association.
Wake Forest Library Holdings-Microfilm.
Sandy Run Baptist Church (founded 1740), Roxobel, NC
Records, 1773-1804, 1821 (Broken series). 1 vol.
(Manuscript).
CRMS 059.
Sandy Run Baptist Church (founded 1740), Roxobel, NC
Records, 1773-1804. (Broken series). 1 vol.
(Microfilm).
CRMF 811.Wake Forest Collection.
Capehart's Baptist Church
Photo from Neil Baker
Photo from Bill and Dee Miller
Membership Lists - Bk 1 and Bk 2 Bk 2b
Minutes
The following churches branched off from Capeharts.
Lawrence Baptist Church 1874
Merry Hill Baptist Church in 1910
Mt Gould organized Sept 6, 1913 --later changed name to Riverside Baptist Church "CAPEHARTS BAPTIST CHURCH - Merry Hill
The Bertie Ledger-Advance, Windsor, NC, September 28, 1972,
Section D-9:Used with permission of Harry Thompson
Capeharts Baptist Church, located in White's Township, was
organized and constituted on December 10, 1824, with 74 charter members who
had taken letters of dismission from the Wiccacon and Cashie Baptist
churches. Of these 74, 64 were white and 10 colored. The constituting
presbytery consisted of Elders A. Biggs, Reuben Lawrence and William I.
Newbern.
Cashie Baptist Church
Another Baptist congregation was the "Cashie Church" which was established in the
Windsor area. For information see: The Baptist Church at Cashie (1770-1970)
by Raymond Hargus Taylor. Contains history as well as membership lists which contain
early Negro members as well.
The history of the Cashie Baptist Church dates back over almost 200
years of growth and service. In the year 1770, the Elder Jeremiah Dargan and
his wife, Anne Moore, with small beginnings and great faith, organized Cashie
Baptist Church.
Here the people came to worship. It was called Cashie, taken from the name
of the river that flows by Windsor.
The first educational building was started in October, 1949 and completed in
July of the following year. Shortly afterwards, the church was renovated in
the interior and a new carpet laid over the auditorium floor. The
educational building was dedicated on May 4, 1952.
In 1950 the church built a new parsonage on the lot where the old parsonage
stood directly behind the church. In 1959 under the leadership of the Rev.
Charles Duling the church launched an intensive campaign to raise funds for a
second educational building. By the end of 1960 there was approximately
$20,000 in the building fund.
With the coming of the Rev. E. Len Weston as pastor, a building committee was
elected and plans secured to erect the proposed building. Construction was
started in April of 1961 and the building was completed and occupied on the
first Sunday in October of the same year.
Colerain Baptist Church
Photo from David Miller
A Obituary of Rev. Nowell-pastor 1836-1857
Connaritsa Baptist Church
Conaritsa
Baptist 100th Anniversary
200th Anniversary
(founded 1797/98), Aulander, NC
Records, 1851-1876.
CRMF 673.
Connaritsa Church records burned about 1850. A very few of the records,
which were not in the church still survive. They were able to get bits and
peices of the Church's history prior to that fire from other Church records.
The Republican Church grew out of the Connaritsa Church. Connaritsa is an active church today.
The Bertie Ledger-Advance, Windsor, NC, September 28, 1972,
Section D-1:
The Connaritsa Baptist Church was constituted in 1789 from part of
the Sandy Run Baptist Church in Roxobel. It is located on the State Highway
leading from Aulander to Windsor, at a crossroads about four miles south of
Aulander.
This was not the original site of the church. The first structure, a log
one, was located a mile farther south up in a field.
Notation: Taken from the Minutes of the West Chowan Baptist Association.
Greens Cross Roads
Greens Cross Baptist Church (founded 1874), north of Windsor, NC on Hwy 17 going east.
Records, 1879-1974.
CRMF 674.Wake Forest Collection.
In the community of Greens Cross, then called Oakie Woods,
people lived too far from their churches to walk and go very often. Some,
whose memberships were at Cashie, Ross and Capeharts, started having
community prayer meeting in the homes. Then they started Sunday Meeting in a
log house near Blueridge Swamp. They built a small building at the cross
roads and the Sunday meeting went on. Saturday, January 14, 1874, a church
was organized with 25 members. They named it 'Greens Cross' in memory of
Uncle Billie Green, who once lived there.
The next day, Joseph W. White was ordained to the ministry and was the first
pastor with a salary of 40 dollars a year. He served until 1883.
Jessie R. Matthews was taking the work of pastoring at the same salary as the
previous pastor. During his ministry in 1885, the second house of worship, a
larger and better building, was built. The Rev. Matthews served until
January, 1889.
Brother Barnes entered the work in January, 1919, and in March of the same
year plans were made and work soon started to build the present church
building which was completed and dedicated on November 29, 1923.
The Rev. N.J. Todd preached the dedication sermon.
The fifth Sunday in December, 1922 Dancy S. Dempsey was ordained to the full
ministry of the gospel. During his stay Mrs. J.H. Barnes organized the first
Sunbeam Band.
The Rev. Finch came in 1924, left in 1929. The summer of 1926 the first
Baptist Young People's Union was formed. H.G. Bryant came but stayed only 15
months leaving in 1929. During the time of the BYPU was brought up to
standard and Riverside dropped out of the field.
Thanksgiving night, 1921, Mrs. D.L. Cobb gave the church a lot for a
parsonage. December 8, 1936, the structure was built and dedicated. Mrs.
Burch organized the first Girls' Auxiliary.
J.O. Walton was called and entered the work the first of July, 1934. The
church bought its first piano and got rural electricity. He resigned
December 31, 1938.
A tornado struck the community February 21, 1939. It damaged the parsonage.
Many homes were completely gone or damaged. Three people were killed, others
hurt.
June 10, 1952, the Rev. J.O. Walton, started to work. Under his ministry a
deep well was drilled at the parsonage, a new floor was put in the church
with new carpet and on the third Sunday in November, dedicated the new
educational plant. He served one year leaving June 10, 1953.
The Rev. Maurice McLain is the present pastor at Greens Cross."
By Mr. G. W. Castelloe
After having prayer meeting and Sunday School in a small one-room
building in the cross roads, near where the present building now
stands, conducted by the late Joseph W. White and others, a
conversation between brothers Miles Mizelle and Bytha Leggett, in the
fall of 1873 voiced the desire that a church be built, and from these
remarks the good went forth.
On January 17, 1874 twenty-five members from Cashie and Capehart and
Ross Baptist Churches met for the purpose of organizing Greens Cross
Roads Baptist Church. Elder Edward Pierce, B. F. Barber, and Joseph
W. White composed the Presbytery, with G. W. Cobb as secretary. The
sermon was preached by Rev. Edward Pierce. At this meeting the church
rules and covenant were read and adopted. On the next day, Sunday,
January 18, the same presbytery met to ordain Joseph W. White, to the
full work of gospel ministry. The ordination sermon was preached by
Elder B. F. Barber, the Bible was presented by Elder Edward Pierce,
and benediction by the new candidate, Joseph W. White.
At the above meeting the church called Joseph W. White for its first
pastor, at a salary of $40.00 per year which he accepted. Also at this
meeting they decided to call the church Greens Cross Roads, a name
chosen in honor of Mr. Billie Green, who lived near the cross roads.
>From this meeting in January 1874, we have no records until March
1879, but by tradition we learn that brethren W. H. Pierce, Eli T.
Mizell, Bytha Legget, Z. W. White, Alonzo Asbell were its first
deacons and Z.W. White the first clerk. We find in January meeting in
1880 that there was a written permit given Bro. Bytha Legget to preach
the gospel.
After nine years of pastorate of Joseph W. White, the church called
Bro. Jessey R. Matthews, who was at that time a member of Connarista
Baptist Church. He accepted the call and was to receive the same
salary of $40.00 per year, and served until January, 1889 and
resigned. Then Brother Bytha Legget served six months, and in July
the same year the church called Rev. S. F. Bristoe of Lewiston, N. C.,
and took the work in September 1889 at a salary of $75.00, but in 1890
the salary was raised to $80.00. In December 1893, Rev. S. F. Bristoe
resigned, and Brother Geo. W. White, of Chowan county was called and
accepted the work in February, 1894. In October 1894 he was ordained
to the full work of the gospel ministry, with D. Cale, and Joseph
Tinch as presbytery. In November, 1896, Bro. S. B. Barnes was called
to the pastorate and took up the work in January, 1897 and served
until December, 1898 and resigned. The church then called Rev. E. S.
Pierce of Gates county and he began the work in January, 1899 and
served until December 1901 and resigned the work to pursue studies at
Louisville Seminary. The church then called W. P. Jordan, at a salary
of $125.00, and accepted the work in January, 1902, and served until
December, 1905, when health failed him. In February, 1906 the church
called Rev. C. E. Edwards, and he entered upon his work as pastor the
following March and served until December, 1907, at which time the
church called R. D. Stevenson, who entered upon his new work January
1908 and served until March, 1909 and resigned. Rev. M. A. Adams of
Ahoskie, N. C. was called to succeed him, and began his work in April
of the same year and served until September, 1910, at a salary of
$150.00, and J. R. Pace supplied the remainder of the year. In
October, Rev. T. T. Speight of Bertie Co. was called and accepted the
work and entered as pastor January, 1911 and served until December,
1914. The church then called Bro. N. J. Todd, a student in high
school at Winterville, N. C., and took the work in February the same
year and served until September, 1918, when he resigned to enter Wake
Forest College.
At the close of the ministry of Brother N. J. Todd, the church went
into a field with Capehart, Riverside, and Ross, and called Rev. J. H.
Barnes of Raleigh as their pastor. He served for five years for a
salary of $350.00. The church then called Rev. A. Finch of
Spartanburg, S. C., and he also served five years at a salary of
$406.25. Rev. H. G. Bryant, of Clarksville, Va. was then called and he
served for fifteen months at the same salary. Rev. G. W. Burch, of
Charlotte, N. C., the present pastor was called and entered upon the
work as pastor, June, 1930.
The church has had nine clerks as follows: Z. W. White, served for
seven years; H. T. Cobb, served four years: J. R. Castellow served for
four years; M. W. White, served for six years; W. T. Asbell, served
for three years; M. W. White, second term of one year; G. A. Conner,
served for two years; G. W. Castellow, second term, served for
seventeen years; then the present clerk, R. L. Mizelle was elected.
The church has had three houses for worship. The second building was
built in 1885, under the pastorate of J. R. Matthews, and with minor
repairing this building was used until 1919. At the February meeting
in 1919, there was a building committee appointed, consisting of J. A.
Mizelle, A. D. Cale, to draw plans and look after building and new
church. The work was soon begun which resulted in the present
building being dedicated to the Lord on Thanksgiving Day, November 28,
1923. The dedication sermon by the former pastor N. J. Todd, subject:
Christ or Modernism. This being the ministry of the Rev. J. H.
Barnes.
Greens Cross Baptist Church has ordained three ministers to the full
work of the Gospel ministry as follows: Joseph W. White at its
organization in 1874; George W. White was ordained on the fourth
Sunday in September, 1894 by Dancy Cale, Joseph Tinch. D. Cale
preaching the sermon and Joseph Tinch presenting the Bible. Dancy
Spurgeon Dempsey, one of its home boys, then a student at Wake Forest
College was ordained in December, 1922. S. F. Bristow, R. B.
Lineberry, L. E. Daily, G. D. Legget, as presbytery. The sermon was
preached by L. E. Dailey, and some remarks by Pastor J. H. Barnes.
The first W. M. S. was organized in November, 1896, with Mrs. Martha
E. Castellow, president; and Miss Victoria Castellow, secretary. From
this beginning there has been a great progress made, and at present
there is a large, active society.
As you will notice in the outset of this paper that the Sunday School
had a large part in the beginning of this church. And as the church
grew the Sunday School carried its part of the load. Also we know that
most all of the country Sunday Schools at that day went into winter
quarters, until about 1900. Since the year 1900 we have had an
evergreen Sunday School, and in 1928 it was fully graded, and in 1930
went on the standard approved list.
We are glad to note that the spirit of Missions has been in the
church from its beginning.
The first report from the association was made in conference June,
1879 by Z. W. White and Wm. H. Pierce, then known as the Chowan
Association. In 1882 delegates were sent to the association at
Harrellsville in the favor of dividing the association, which was
done.
The West Chowan Association met in its first session in the fall of
1883 at Cashie Baptist Church, and since that time Greens Cross Roads
Baptist Church has been represented at every Association.
Greens Cross Roads Baptist Church is located in Bertie County, being
the tenth Baptist Church organized in the county and the twenty-third
in the West Chowan Association. The church is situated on the national
highway leading from Windsor to Edenton, and is four miles from
Windsor, the county seat of Bertie County.
On Thanksgiving night, 1931, at the close of the service our pastor
stated to the church that Mrs. D. L. Cobb had offered to give a lot to
the church on which to build a pastor's home. The church accepted the
gift and in a few days a committee was appointed to lay plans to
build a parsonage. In a few days lumber was hauled on the ground and
the work began. In about sixty days Pastor Burch moved into a
seven-room parsonage home. At church conference in January, 1932, the
church appointed G. W. Castelloe, G. E. Lawrence and W. W. Mizelle
trustees to have a deed drawn up for the lot in March, 1934. Rev G. W.
Burch resigned in June, 1934. Rev J. O. Walton was called and came on
the field in July, 1934. The church was painted in the fall of 1935.
On the third Sunday in December, 1935, the parsonage debt was paid off
and the note burned. Rev. G. W. Burch preached the sermon.
A new Bible was bought for the pulpit in September, 1936, costing
$20.00. In the summer of 1937, four new classrooms were built to the
church, and the church connected light with the light line from
Windsor to light the church and parsonage.
Rev. J. O. Walton resigned in October, 1938.
Rev. W. O. Andrews was extended a call and accepted the call and
began work January, 1939. In a few weeks after he had moved into the
parsonage on February 21, 1939 at about ^ o’clock in the afternoon the
community was visited with a severe tornado that destroyed about 21
homes, tearing the top up on the parsonage and wrecking the back in of
the church.
The Red Cross put the top back on the parsonage. The tornado killed
two of the church members, Mrs. G. R. Lawrence and Mrs. J. B. Mizelle,
but the church went on in a great way.
Brother W. O. Andrews served the church in a great way for two and
one-half years and resigned. Rev. M. R. Brown supplied for a few
months.
The church called Rev. E. R. Stewart our present pastor. He accepted
the call and came on the field to serve Greens Cross, Ross, Elm Grove
and Capeharts Churches, January 1, 1942.
At this time the church installed water works in the parsonage at the
cost of $350.00. In August, 1943 the church was repaired and painted
inside and outside at a cost of $400.00. One hundred new song books
were purchased. Five pecan trees were set out in the spring of 1943.
In September the church installed a service plaque at a cost of
$47.50.
The B. Y. P. W. work began in 1926, being organized by Rev. H. G.
Bryant from Murfreesboro. From this small beginning the B. Y. P. W.
has grown to large proportions in the church. At the coming of the
Rev. E. R. Stewart a Baptist Training Union was organized with
departments for Story Hour, Junior, Intermediate, Senior and the
Baptist Adult Union, meeting each Sunday night.
Eleven former pastors have passed on to their reward as follow:
Reverends J. W. White, Jessie R. Matthews, Bytha Leggett, S. F.
Bristoe, Geo. W. White, W. P. Jordon, E. S. Pierce, T. T. Speight, S.
B. Barnes, M. A. Adams, N. J. Todd. We will never forget to cherish
their memory. From a small struggling band of faithful, God-fearing,
consecrated men and women, the old church has been carrying on in the
name of Christ, until its present membership is 339. May the torch of
celestial fire handed us by this faithful band, which has been a light
unto the pathway, and a lamp to the feet of many who have passed
through the sacred walls, and who have bowed at her sacred shrine,
never be allowed to go out.
Provided by Daisy M. White. Typed and Contributed by Neil Baker
Lawrence Baptist Church
(founded 1874), Windsor, NC. Exists today - 6 miles south east of Windsor on the Cooper Hill
Rd. Records, 1874-1992. 18 vols. 1 folder.
CRMF 974.Wake Forest Collection.
Mars Hill Baptist Church - (Trap)
(founded 1854), Colerain, NC
Records, 1854-1978.
CRMF 675.Wake Forest Collection.
The Bertie Ledger-Advance, Windsor, NC, September 28, 1972,
Section D-11:
In 1853, in a little village near what is now Trap, there was a
meeting of the residents in a school house about one-half mile from the
present site of the Mars Hill Baptist Church. These prayer meetings lasted
for 12 days under the leadership of the Rev. B.B. Williams. Following the
meetings there was a baptismal service in which the Rev. John Nowell
administered the ordinance of baptism.
Notation: Originally taken from the Minutes of the West Chowan Baptist
Association.
Aulander
1885-1995 Aulander's Centennial, History of Aulander, NC Compiled by the
Historical Committee for the Centennial Celebration of the Town of Aulander -
Mrs. Edward Blanchard, Co-Chairman, Mrs. Sarah Mitchell, Co-Chairman - (and
list 27 other people who contributed to the publication) - Centennial
Committee Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson, Co-Chairman, Mrs. Artie Tayloe, Co-Chairman
and (13 other names of people who contributed effort to this publication)
In 1886 a group of members from Connaritsa and Dudley's Grove (now Oak Grove) Baptist
Churches joined together and established the Aulander Baptist Church. AULANDER BAPTIST CHURCH, BERTIE COUNTY, NC
The Bertie Ledger-Advance, Windsor, NC, September 28, 1972,
Section D-2:
The first Baptist Church in Aulander was instituted in 1886, with
the members from the old Dudley's Grove--two miles distant--and other
neighboring churches joining with the Aulander people.
The
first location of this church was on the corner of Pine Drive and East Main
Street (now Powellsville Road). According to records the cost of construction of this church, with a
seating capacity of 500, was $1,300. The first pastor was the Rev. C.W.
Scarboro. The Rev. L.M. Curtis
of Sampson County served longest. When the church was moved inside the corporate limits to the
corner of Harmon and Canal Streets, a few members returned to the Dudley's
Grove Church. The present church was erected on the same location in 1926 at
a cost of $55,000 and a parsonage at a const of $7,000. It wasn't until 1946
that this debt was liquidated and the notes burned at a public ceremony.
Siloam Baptist Church
AUGUST 2, 1981 - author unknown
Sunday School Report
Superintendent -- D. P. Holder
Officers and Teachers -- 8
Average Attendance -- 5
Scholars -- 32
Average Attendance -- 21
Conversions -- 0
Contributions -- $3.44
Church Statistics
Sabbaths of Preaching 2
Received by Baptism 2
Received by Letter 6
Restored 12
White Males 10
White Females 8
Total Whites 18
Pastor -- B. Leggett
Clerk -- Charles Bond
Bertie County Page last updated: