Post by David Sechrest on Mar 25, 2007 4:33:55 GMT -5
From the History Of Bartholomew County:
Pioneers, as they ever have been, the M. E. Church was one of the first religious dominations to establish itself within Bartholomew County and early wielded a mural and religious influence which is felt and recognized to this day.
Rev. George K. Hester was the first Methodist preacher who came to this county for the purpose of organizing and establishing churches of this domination and formed three or four organizations within the county in the year 1821. Services were held at private houses, and were continued until the ability and membership of the different congregations warranted them in building churches. There are, at this time (1879), 23 churches within the county, having a membership of 1,536, and 22 Sabbath schools, comprising 1,609 scholars. The total value of church property is $21,100.
In 1825, the first Methodist organization was formed in Haw Creek Township. It consisted of 8 members, and their first meeting was held at the house of Abraham Zeigler.
In 1838, the first house of religious worship was built at St. Louis, northwest of Hope. In 1850, a new building was built.
In 1854, the first M. E. Church was formed in the town of Hope, and was a branch of the St. Louis church. 16 members constituted the organization. Rev. Ephraim Wright was their Pastor. George W. Norman was leader.
The Presbyterian Church of Columbus was organized July 3, 1824, by Rev. J. M. dickey, father of Rev. N. S. Dickey, who was for many years Pastor of the Church.
Columbus had the reputation in these early days of being a hard place. Father Havens, a widely known Presiding Elder of the M. E. Church used to say, "The devil has a bill of sale of Columbus." This reputation probably arose from the character of a few "hard cases" who were widely known. The large body of her citizens have always been a law-abiding people, and there has been a good proportion of Christian men and women, especially the latter. But the Presbyterian Church has always had a struggle for existence and growth. For many years, they had only occasional and very irregular services. Often there would be two or three years without a Pastor, and no Pastor remained more than two years, until Rev. N. S. Dickey took the charge. The first building in which worship was held was an old church and schoolhouse which stood across the street from where the residence of Dr. Lenton now stands (location unknown).
The first building erected by the Church was the old frame opposite the Bissell Hotel, now owned by B. B. Jones and used as an agricultural warehouse. The church was begun in 1844 or 1845 and completed in 1846 or 1847. Rev. B. M. Nyee was then supplying the Pulpit.
The present building (ne corner of 7th and Franklin) was begun in 1873. Owing to change and disasters which need not be recounted (!), the work of finishing has been delayed. The church struggled for some years under a heavy load of debt, which has at last, very happily, been removed. It is hoped that it will be written in history that this building was completed in 1879.
The Society Of Friends was organized in 1824 at the house of Isaac Parker, in Section 27, in Sand Creek Township, and was comprised of several families; the families of the Newsoms and Parkers. Soon after, a rude log house was constructed near by and was used for educational and religious purposes. John S. Chawner was the first (or about the first) minister who had services at this point.
In 1859, the Society built a new house on the same locality, suited to their growing wants, 35x60 feet, in which they continue to meet for worship twice a week.
Socially and morally, they have from their advent into this community, exercised and controlled an influence for good. As a society, men and women are on an equality, and here, more than in any other community, are the rights of women recognized, morally and socially.
Since this organization was formed, another church of this denomination was established at Azailia in 1876. They erected a good substantial brick building, 40x60 feet, and capable of seating 450 persons.
The Baptists, as a denomination, before the organization of the county, held their meetings at private residence, and were frequently visited by itinerant ministers. The first regular organized church of which we have any accurate knowledge was at Columbus in 1825. It is possible that the Hope Baptist Church, five miles north of Columbus, was established at an earlier period. It was located on or near the present site of the New Hope Church. Here the domination continued to hold its services until 1832, when the church organization was abandoned. It had, at one time, a membership of 150. Its disorganization was largely attributed to the reformation under the leadership of Re. Joseph Fassett. There was a Baptist Church established in Flat Rock, and they still continue to hold regular services with a membership of 50.
Old Friendship Church (the exact date of its organization not known) is located near Jesse Hunter's in Sand Creek Township.
Sharon Baptist Church is located 5 miles southwest of Hope, and is one of the oldest churches in the county.
Bethel Church was founded in 1833 and now has a membership of 120, with a prosperous Sunday school, with an average attendance of 100 scholars. Subsequently, a church was founded at Jonesville, designated the New Friendship Church. After a few years, the organization was abandoned.
Haw Creek Baptist Church, three miles northeast of Hope, was early established, and is one of the most prosperous in the county with a membership of 120.
Columbus Baptist Church was organized in 1852.
The first church organized and built was on Nathaniel Owen's farm in Flat Rock township, near Clifford. The first ministers were Uriah McQueen and Martin Laymon.
Part One
Methodist Episcopal Church
Pioneers, as they ever have been, the M. E. Church was one of the first religious dominations to establish itself within Bartholomew County and early wielded a mural and religious influence which is felt and recognized to this day.
Rev. George K. Hester was the first Methodist preacher who came to this county for the purpose of organizing and establishing churches of this domination and formed three or four organizations within the county in the year 1821. Services were held at private houses, and were continued until the ability and membership of the different congregations warranted them in building churches. There are, at this time (1879), 23 churches within the county, having a membership of 1,536, and 22 Sabbath schools, comprising 1,609 scholars. The total value of church property is $21,100.
In 1825, the first Methodist organization was formed in Haw Creek Township. It consisted of 8 members, and their first meeting was held at the house of Abraham Zeigler.
In 1838, the first house of religious worship was built at St. Louis, northwest of Hope. In 1850, a new building was built.
In 1854, the first M. E. Church was formed in the town of Hope, and was a branch of the St. Louis church. 16 members constituted the organization. Rev. Ephraim Wright was their Pastor. George W. Norman was leader.
The Presbyterian Church of Columbus was organized July 3, 1824, by Rev. J. M. dickey, father of Rev. N. S. Dickey, who was for many years Pastor of the Church.
Presbyterian Church
Columbus had the reputation in these early days of being a hard place. Father Havens, a widely known Presiding Elder of the M. E. Church used to say, "The devil has a bill of sale of Columbus." This reputation probably arose from the character of a few "hard cases" who were widely known. The large body of her citizens have always been a law-abiding people, and there has been a good proportion of Christian men and women, especially the latter. But the Presbyterian Church has always had a struggle for existence and growth. For many years, they had only occasional and very irregular services. Often there would be two or three years without a Pastor, and no Pastor remained more than two years, until Rev. N. S. Dickey took the charge. The first building in which worship was held was an old church and schoolhouse which stood across the street from where the residence of Dr. Lenton now stands (location unknown).
The first building erected by the Church was the old frame opposite the Bissell Hotel, now owned by B. B. Jones and used as an agricultural warehouse. The church was begun in 1844 or 1845 and completed in 1846 or 1847. Rev. B. M. Nyee was then supplying the Pulpit.
The present building (ne corner of 7th and Franklin) was begun in 1873. Owing to change and disasters which need not be recounted (!), the work of finishing has been delayed. The church struggled for some years under a heavy load of debt, which has at last, very happily, been removed. It is hoped that it will be written in history that this building was completed in 1879.
Society Of Friends
The Society Of Friends was organized in 1824 at the house of Isaac Parker, in Section 27, in Sand Creek Township, and was comprised of several families; the families of the Newsoms and Parkers. Soon after, a rude log house was constructed near by and was used for educational and religious purposes. John S. Chawner was the first (or about the first) minister who had services at this point.
In 1859, the Society built a new house on the same locality, suited to their growing wants, 35x60 feet, in which they continue to meet for worship twice a week.
Socially and morally, they have from their advent into this community, exercised and controlled an influence for good. As a society, men and women are on an equality, and here, more than in any other community, are the rights of women recognized, morally and socially.
Since this organization was formed, another church of this denomination was established at Azailia in 1876. They erected a good substantial brick building, 40x60 feet, and capable of seating 450 persons.
Baptist Church
The Baptists, as a denomination, before the organization of the county, held their meetings at private residence, and were frequently visited by itinerant ministers. The first regular organized church of which we have any accurate knowledge was at Columbus in 1825. It is possible that the Hope Baptist Church, five miles north of Columbus, was established at an earlier period. It was located on or near the present site of the New Hope Church. Here the domination continued to hold its services until 1832, when the church organization was abandoned. It had, at one time, a membership of 150. Its disorganization was largely attributed to the reformation under the leadership of Re. Joseph Fassett. There was a Baptist Church established in Flat Rock, and they still continue to hold regular services with a membership of 50.
Old Friendship Church
Old Friendship Church (the exact date of its organization not known) is located near Jesse Hunter's in Sand Creek Township.
Sharon Baptist Church is located 5 miles southwest of Hope, and is one of the oldest churches in the county.
Bethel Church was founded in 1833 and now has a membership of 120, with a prosperous Sunday school, with an average attendance of 100 scholars. Subsequently, a church was founded at Jonesville, designated the New Friendship Church. After a few years, the organization was abandoned.
Haw Creek Baptist Church, three miles northeast of Hope, was early established, and is one of the most prosperous in the county with a membership of 120.
Columbus Baptist Church was organized in 1852.
The first church organized and built was on Nathaniel Owen's farm in Flat Rock township, near Clifford. The first ministers were Uriah McQueen and Martin Laymon.
End Of Part One