Bethabara Baptist Church
Location History
- 1825-1832: Log Building & Tribbel Schoolhouse about 3/4mi West of Current Location
- 1833-1854: Hewn-Log Building with Shingle Roof on Cemetery Property
- 1854-Current: The Current Clay/Brick Building
- 1885: Addition/Expansion
- 1939: Added 7 new Sunday School Rooms
Organization
This historic and influential Church was organized on October 5, 1825, in a log house built by the citizens of the neighborhood to be used for a school house and house of worship, and free for all the different denominations then existing around them. It stood three quarters of a mile west of where Bethabara Church currently stands. Called Tribbel’s School House, it was named for the first teacher, Jack Tribbel. At that time the building stood on the east end of Tribbel’s farm. The building operated as both a school and church until its occupants outgrew the building, prompting them to construct a new one in 1832 in the current cemetery. At this point, Panther Creek was the nearest Baptist Church, had kept up regular services for some time, styling it as the "Arm in the Forks of Panther Creek, Daviess County, Ky.," and in 1825 dismissed some members by letter to form a church there.
First Members
These members, with a few others, met in the log house on October 5th, and with the assistance of Elders Ancil Hall, James H. L. Moorman, William Moorman, and David J. Kelley, organized Bethabara Church
with ten constituent members. The names of these members were:
| Nancy Crofford | William Miller | Fleming Miller |
| Bettie Crofford | Peggie Miller | Preston Talbert |
| Warner Crofford | Susan Maddox | Emma Talbert |
| Joseph M. Martin |
|
The next day Elizabeth Martin and Pally Stout were baptized by Elder Hall, who had been chosen as the first pastor. Mrs. Martin outlived all the other constituent members and on July 20, 1878, at the age of 83, wishing to show her devotion to the Church presented a beautiful communion set to the Church.
For two years the Church continued to build up under the leadership of Elder Hall. He then resigned and Elder Jasper Bristow was called to the pastorate. He served but a short time as some trouble arose over the subject of missions and he resigned. He later cast his lot with the anti-missionary Baptists.
Preston Talbert, the first clerk, moved away, leaving only two male members of the Church, one being the Moderator, Joseph M. Martin. The prospects now looked gloomy, no pastor, no clerk, and no member willing to act as clerk, and the Church was on the verge of dissolution. At this point Polly Stout arose and remarked, "We cannot give up the ship," volunteering to act as clerk. Her proposition was accepted and she acted as Clerk for a time, during which Elder William Downs was called to the pastorate. He was a man of unusual ability and was especially fond of debating. Something is said of him in the sketches of the founding fathers.
The neighboring Churches at this time were Old Panther Creek, Rock Spring (Yelvington), Green Brier, and Little Flock (Bell's Run). The records show numerous instances when a friendly letter was read from one of the Churches, or when Bethabara wrote to one or sometimes all of them, requesting the sending of delegates, or "helps," as they were called, to aid in settling some difficulty that had arisen in the Church. The Church grew under the ministrations of Elder Downs and had frequent meetings, often at the homes of the members. About this time Elder Reuben Cottrell moved into the neighborhood and became a very active member, supplementmg the work of Elder Downs. He was a very firm believer in missionary work but bitterly opposed all organizations other than the Church.
New Meeting House
On November 17, 1832, plans were made for a new meeting house was to be built on the northeast corner of Brother Cottrell's farm, on the site now occupied by the Church Cemetery. This new house of worship was to be a one-story building thirty-six feet long and thirty feet wide built of hewn logs and having a shingle roof. Elder Cottrell and Brethren Enoch Stone and Thomas Taylor were the committee to superintend the new building. As no mention is made of the cost it is to be inferred that both material and labor were, for the most part, donated by the members of the Church and their neighbors. The house was soon finished and the first services held in it on July 17, 1833, eight months to the day from the time the matter was taken up and nearly eight years after the organization of the Church.
Twice during that year the Church met at the home of Brother Joe Martin and observed the ordinances of foot washing, the only instance recorded when this was done. The doctrine of foot washing remained a part of the Articles of Faith until the year 1852. It was also in the year 1833 that a part of the land given to the Church was selected as a cemetery.
Pastors
Since the organization of the Church the following brethren have served the Church as pastor:
| Pastor | Years |
|---|---|
| Ancill Hall | 1825-1826 |
| Jasper Bristow | 1827 |
| William Downs | 1828-1835 |
| Reuben Cottrell | 1835-1842 |
| B. F. Mitchell | 1843 |
| No Pastor for two years with Elder K. G. Hay acting as supply part of that time |
|
| Reuben Cottrell | 1845-1849 |
| J. P. Ellis | 1850-1857 |
| J. B. Haynes | 1857-1860 |
| J. P. Ellis | 1860-1863 |
| J. M. Dawson | 1863-1872 |
| J. P. Ellis | 1872-1874 |
| J. D. Arnold | 1875-1881 |
| R. S. Fleming | 1882 |
| A. J. Miller | 1883-1884 |
| B. F. Swindler | 1884-1889 |
| L. H. Voyles | 1889 |
| J. N. Jarnagin | 1890-1896 |
| E. W. Coakley | 1896-1900 |
| W. B. Rutledge | 1901 |
| W. H. Dawson | 1902-1903 |
| J. J. Cloar | 1904 1909 |
| P. E. Gatlin | 1909-1912 |
| I. B. Timberlake | 1912-1913 |
| A. S. Pettie | 1914-1919 |
| 0. M. Shultz | 1919-1921 |
| J. Norris Palmer | 1922 |
| Russell Walker | 1923-1926 |
| Sankey L. Blanton | 1927-1928 |
| E. L. Spivey | 1928-1929 |
| J. W. Kincheloe | 1930-1934 |
| J. B. Leavell | 1935-1938 |
| Carl E. Bates | 1938-1941 |
| Kelley Barnett | 1942 |
| Howard Olive | 1942-1943 |
Clerks
This Church has been served by the following Clerks during her more than one hundred and seventeen years of history (as of 1943):
| Clerk | Years |
|---|---|
| Preston Talbert | 1825-1827 |
| Polly Stout | 1828 |
| John Taylor | 1829-time unknown |
| J. M. Dawson | 1844 or earlier to 1850 |
| Elijah Griffin | 1851-1857 |
| J. M. Holmes | 1858-1861 |
| W. M. Harrison | 1862-1863 |
| Phocian Harris | 1864-1868 |
| N. B. Barnhill | 1869 |
| Oliver Bryant | 1870 |
| J. M. Holmes | 1871 |
| J. M. Gordon | 1872-1873 |
| Oliver Bryant | 1874 |
| J. F. Camp | 1875-1876 |
| J. W. Barnhill | 1877-1878 |
| J. F. Camp | 1879 |
| J. W. Barnhill | 1880 |
| J. F. Camp | 1881-1884 |
| J. T. Dawson | 1885-1894 |
| N. J. Cook | 1895-1900 |
| Oscar L. camp | 1901-1925 |
| Emmett Jones | 1926-1928 |
| Oscar L. Camp | 1929- |
Bethabara Church became a member of the Goshen Association in the year 1826. Up to the year 1844, the Church was represented almost annually in the gatherings of that body. In accordance with previous arrangements, messengers from the following Churches met with the Bethabara Church on November 1-3 1844 to organize the Daviess Count Baptist Association: Owensboro (First), Rock Spring (Yelvington), Buck Creek, Pleasant Grove, Bell's Run, Mt. Liberty, Green Briar, and Fredonia (extinct). The 50th session of the Association met with Bethabara in the year 1893 and plans are now on foot for the 100th session to be held at the same place in 1943. In the meantime, this Church has entertained the sessions of the Association in the years 1854, 1879, 1909, and 1931. This coming session will mark the 6th time the Association met with the Church.
Daughter Churches
This church has been a mother to other churches. She has furnished members in a whole or in part for the following daughter churches: Macedonia(1849), Sugar Grove(1860), Karn's Grove, Hopewell(1885), Friendship(1890), and Dawson. The origin of Macedonia Baptist Church came about because of two factions that had arisen within the membership of Bethabara Church the feelings grew so intense that finally the pastor, Elder Rueben Cottrell, and 21 members were excluded from the fellowship of the church. Later, however, on the advice of a committee called in to help the church in her difficulties, these brethren and and sisters were restored to fellowship and granted letters of dismission for the purpose of organizing a new church. They received the sum of $116.66, half the estimated value of the Church property, to aid them in building a new house of worship. Elder Cottrell, in turn, gave Bethabara a deed to the Church property. The mother and daughter Church have maintained the best of feelings for one another since that time and at present, have the same pastor. This has been true on another occasion.
New Location and New Brick Building
By the year 1852, the old log church had been a grown by the church and the brother and set on foot and a planned to erect a new house of worship. At the present site at the time was considered too small a committee of five, therefore, secured the present location any rectitude a brick house 40 x 50 feet. The clay from which the brakes were made was secured from the same hill on which the church was organized. This new house of worship was first used in November 1854, and was completed at a cost of $1,134.19. Many who were not members of the church or denomination made gifts for this work. By the year 1885, plans were made to enlarge and improve the house of worship. The house was made 12 feet longer, 4 feet higher, a new slate roof was put on, as well as other necessary improvements. This work cost about $2,500. The bell which still calls the people to worship was installed at that time. During the year 1939, the church completed seven new Sunday School rooms on the inside of the building. This has proved to be a valuable asset to the church's work. Besides her own houses of worship, the church also gave the old house of worship to the colored members to be used as their own house of worship after 1854. The colored members were also given permission to put a new roof on this building. The Church, with the assistance of the Whitesville, Macedonia, and South Hampton Churches, erected a mission chapel in the Hopewell community which later became Hopewell Baptist Church. In like manner she cooperated with Bell's Run, Sugar Grove, Whitesville, Macedonia, and Owensboro First Churches in erecting a mission chapel at Laffoon which is now the Friendship Church.
Not only has this Church been a mother of Churches but many of her members have been licensed and ordained to the work of the ministry. In this number is a colored brother. They have been as follows: Hardin H. Ellis, licensed on December 19, 1840, and ordained in July, 1841; Nelson, a colored man, licensed early in 1857 and ordained in October of the same year; Isaiah Wheeler, licensed in 1857; James W. Bristow, licensed in 1886; Myron Gordon, licensed in 1886; Reet Jones, licensed in 1897; and Bunyan Bristow, a grandson of Elder Jasper Bristow, licensed in 1900.
This Church in her early history was very strict in disciplinary measures. Three brethren were appointed as peacemakers, whose duty it was to report to the Church any difficulties between members, or an unbecoming conduct on the part of any member. That these officers did their duty nobly is attested by the fact that scarcely a meeting was held without reports of discord or misconduct. Exclusions were frequent and were without regard to race, wealth, social standing or church position of the one excluded. At least one deacon and one minister were excluded and charges were preferred against another minister. Even one of the peacemakers was later excluded. The Church dealt with members for having committed such offenses as threatening to sue one another, wanting to fight, slandering their neighbors, being punished in a court of law, absenting themselves from more than two business meetings of the Church without good reason, leaving the house during business sessions without the consent of the Moderator, separation from husband or wife, contempt of the Church, refusing to heed the call of the Church and many other similar acts, not to mention the grosser crimes such as dancing, swearing, gambling, rioting, drinking ardent spirits to excess, selling liquor, etc. The office of peacemaker was abolished in 1842. Nevertheless the Church continued to call for "the peace of the Church" at the opening of each business session. A large majority of those excluded were later restored to fellowship after they had manifested a spirit of repentance.
As has already been noticed, the Church had many colored members as a number of the white members were slave owners. These were later given permission to hold their own worship services superintended by a committee of the white brethren to see that the services were conducted in an orderly way. After the Civil War, the colored members were freed to pursue their own ways.
During the pastorate of Brother E. W. Coakley, the Church held a summer Bible School for the children. This practice was followed for some time only to be abandoned. it was a forerunner of the modern Vacation Bible School. The Sunday School has been in existence since April, 1846, and has been a credit to the Church life. The Church has also been missionary during all her history even though she had two pastors in her early days who were popularly known as "Hardshell" Baptists. The W. M. S. has functioned since the year 1912.
No record is on hand of the number of fine men who have served the Church in the office of deacon. They have been the best the Church has had in her membership and have acquitted themselves in a commendable way in this important office. Among this number have been the following: Enoch Stone, Elijah Griffin, J. M. Martin, J. M. Dawson, B. T. Dawson;, J. C. Miller, Fleming Miller, Joe King, J. W. Barnhill, J. S. Coots, Otis Hazelrigg, Otis Kirk, Miller H. Taylor, Rollie Chapman, and others whom we do not know.
This Church celebrated one hundred years of history on October 4, 1925. At that time, Brethren E. W. Coakley and W. B. Rutledge returned and preached to the large congregation gathered for the occasion. Bro. Russell Walker, the pastor at the time, gave the welcome address. The history of the Church for one hundred years was lead by Bro. Otis Hazelrigg. The sketch had been prepared by a committee and was later published in pamphlet form. This history has been used extensively without quotation marks by the author. Bro. J. P. Ellis wrote a sketch history of the Church and the same was read before the Association in 1882 and published in the minutes for that year. An account is also given in the History of Daviess County, published in 1883. Incidentally, the Hon. Wiley B. Rutledge, who was recently appointed to the Supreme Court by President Roosevelt, is a son of the Bro. Rutledge who spoke on the centennial program and was at one time pastor of the Church. Two sons of former pastors who were present that day also. Rev. Martin Miller, son of Elder A. J. Miller and Dr. William Arnold, son of Elder J. D. Arnold.
Since about the year 1896, the Church has had twice-a-month preaching and has been very liberal in the matter of pastoral support. She has paid better than the average in this matter. Perhaps no Church in the entire Associations has excelled this Church in the pastoral talent which she has secured. As a result, the membership of this Church has been above average in Christian intelligence and labors. For many years she was the largest rural Church in the Association. The second century of activity has been entered into and the prospects are bright for a very useful future.
Source: A History of the Daviess-McLean Baptist Association in Kentucky, 1844-1943. Wendell H. Rone, Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, 1944.
Deed Information - 1815-1964
| Year | Grantee | Grantor | Deed Record | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | Bethabara Baptist Church | Rueben Cottrell | I-572 | 1.5ac Panther Creek |
| 1886 | Bethabara Baptist Church | John M Glass | 44-151 | 5/6ac O'boro |
| 1890 | Bethabara Baptist Church | Daviess Co Board of Education | 55-334 | 1ac Habit |
| 1913 | Bethabara Cemetery | J B Hite | 96-53 | 1ac Habit |
| 1952 | Bethabara Baptist Church | Habit Library Association | 219-380 | Lot Habit |
| 1890 | Fred Habit | Bethabara Baptist Church | 55-554 | 1/6ac Habit |
| 1890 | H C Miller Jr | Bethabara Baptist Church | 53-336 | 1/4ac Habit |
| 1890 | R F Crady | Bethabara Baptist Church | 53-322 | 2/3ac Habit |
| 1932 | Southern Bell Telephone | Bethabara Baptist Church | 128-556 | Right of Way |
| 1937 | Green River Rural Electric | Bethabara Baptist Church | 142-411 | Right of Way |
| 1938 | A Kirk | Bethabara Baptist Church | 143-24 | 1/4ac Millers Mill Rd |
| 1951 | Edward C Rummage et al | Bethabara Baptist Church | 212-546 | 1.22ac Millers Mill Rd |
| 1955 | Robert E Camp | Bethabara Baptist Church | 243-427 | 2 Lots Habit |