Early Churches

This interesting article about some of Marion's early churches was published in a special edition of The Crittenden Press on April 24, 1958.  

Churches came into Crittenden County as fast as the settlers came, many times a church was organized in a home of a devout Christian  and continued to meet there until the membership was able to have their own building.

In 1797 Rev. Terah Templin helped to organize the First Presbyterian Church in Old Centerville.  This church lived only so long as the town existed.

In the year 1803 the Rev. Wm. Dickey organized the Bethany Presbyterian Church, which was more commonly called "The Old Log Cabin Church" on Crooked Creek at Cross Keys, and it is back to this church that the First Presbyterian Church of Marion traces its history.

When the County Seat was moved to Marion, this church with all of its membership also moved.  

Their first building was erected in what is now known as the Old Cemetery on the South side of town.  In 1854 this church organized the first Sunday School in the county. 

 The location of the church has changed several times since, but in 1881 it was moved to its present location on the corner of Bellville and College Street in Marion.

Possible the oldest Baptist Church in the county with a continuous record in the Union Baptist, which is a branch of the "Old Salem" Church and met in the Fulkerson home until they could build in 1810, and in 1812 Union Church joined the Little River Association of  United Baptist.

Another Baptist church was established at Deer Creek in 1823.  Since that date the Baptists have grown rapidly in membership.

The earliest Methodist records take us back to the 1830's when a Circuit was formed with Caldwell and Livingston Counties, included: Princeton, Hurricane, Salem and Tolu forming the circuit.

In 1853 there were 47 names listed as being members of the Marion Methodist Church.  In 1873 their first building was erected in Marion on Salem St., which is now West Bellville.  This was a frame building and was destroyed by a storm in 1890 but was soon replaced with a brick structure which is still standing and at present is being used by the Christian Church.

In 1910 the Methodists purchased a lot on the corner of College and Carlisle Streets and built a new church, which is still in use and in 1954 an Education Building was added.