This article first appeared in The Crittenden Press, January 7, 1955. The information was traced through the church minutes and from a copy of the Centennial Celebration.
History of the Union Church.
In the early 1800's, there was only one Missionary Baptist Church in all the country. This was Old Salem Baptist, The Mother Church.
In those early times, there were no railroads, steamboats or steam-mills, for steam had not, as yet, been harnessed. The settlements were few and far between. Wild beasts and Indians prowled the forests and endangered the settlers. Wagons, buggies and farm machinery had not, as yet, been introduced. The flatboat, the horse mill, the ox cart, the tan-yard, and the ripsaw were the great inventions of that conquering civilization.
Public free schools, mail routes, post offices, and newspapers, were far away luxuries of which the wondrous wise told around the cabin fireside. The astonished listeners wondered: How can these things be? But by faith in God, hope and love, man advanced in civilization.
In August 1806 members from Old Salem Church and Rev. Daniel Brown, their Pastor met at the home of Frederick Fulkerson (in 1955 this property was owned by John and Bennett Alvis), to observe the Lord's Supper. The Fulkersons were members of Old Salem Church. Their home became a branch church of Old Salem.
Records show meetings were frequently held at the Fulkersons home until 1810. Tradition tells us a small group of devout men and women went to gather in the grove on the rocks near old Fulkerson Spring, some four hundred yards from where we worship today, here the church was organized.
Services continued and in the year of 1812 we find from Spenser's "History of Kentucky Baptists," that Union Church joined the Little River Association of United Baptists in that same year. Perhaps here is the reason it was called Union Church (United Baptists) or Missionary Baptist.
In 1823 Union entertained the Little River Association. May 1826 Union Church petitioned Old Salem for Brother and Sister Swan to be their Deacon and Deaconess. In answer Salem said, "We think the request reasonable and leave it entirely with Brother and Sister Swan."
The exact date of the first Church building isn't known, but it was located in the lower section of the present Cemetery and remained there until 1839.
Salem Church and Union were closely allied from 1805 to 1835. Our first Pastor was probably William Buckley, as his name appears in the Old Church minutes. In 1836 Rev. Willis Champion appears as our next Pastor.
In 1837 our second Church building was completed, a hewn-log building, gabled, floored, and sealed with whipsawed lumber. It was located in the cemetery near the first building. The old building was torn down two years later.
James W. Mansfield served as Pastor from 1837 to 1841. In December 1841 a committee of Union Church met at Mt. Pleasant, near Berry's Ferry and received 14 members into our Church. The following year in April these and others were given letters of dismissal to organize a Church of their own.
In 1842 Rev. Joel E. Grace was the Pastor, there were 87 white people and 35 Negro slaves members of Union Church. The following are the Union Pastors from 1844 to 1866: Rev. Collin Hodge; Joel E. Grace; Willis Champion and Isaac McMurry.
In 1860 it was learned that Union Church didn't have a clear title to the Church property. Lewis Fulkerson, L. L. Ashby, Bard, Franklin and Riese made the necessary property transfers.
Isaac McMurry served as Pastor from 1866 to 1872.
The third Church building was completed in 1872. Built of brick and wood, 50 feet long, 38 feet wide and 14 feet between flour and ceiling. The brick were made near the church on the Fulkerson property. (This building was used until 1965. At that time, the present modern building was erected with a baptistery, education department, and fully equipped dining hall.)
In 1872, the same year the third building was completed, Rev. Collin Hodge accepted the pastoral care of the church and continued until February 1881. It was then the church reluctantly accepts his resignation due to failing health.
In 1883 Rev. T. C. Carter was ordained and accepted the pastoral care of the church until 1891 when Rev. E. B. Blackburn accepted the care of the church and continued four years.
In 1892 our church bell was erected in the top of a large black oak tree standing in the church yard. In later years the bell was removed from the tree and mounted on wood posts and is still remaining in excellent condition.
During the years of 1894 and 1896, Rev. G. S. Summers and Rev. R. A. LaRue were ordained in our church. Union pastors from 1896 through 1910 were: Rev. J. S. Henry, T. A. Conway, W. R. Gibbs and T. C. Carter.
Union Church Centennial Celebration was May 29, 1910. A brief history was prepared by Rev. R. A. LaRue for the celebration, and it was published in The Crittenden Press.
Our church laws in those days were very strict; people were excluded for swearing, dancing, fighting, non-attendance without cause, for attending services of other denominations when they should have been attending services at their own church.
At one time two members were questioned by a committee representing the church about their dancing. The lady admitted she had done wrong and was very sorry and asked the church to forgive her and she would never dance again.
She was forgiven and restored in full fellowship of the church. The man when questioned replied that he saw no harm in dancing and if he was ever at another dance he would dance again. He was excluded from the church roll.
The pastors of Union from 1910 to 1955 were: Rev. W. R. Gibbs; T. C. Carter, Herman, Y. E. Holland, Rev. Anderson, Barnes Maryman, M. M. Pollard, Rev. McGee and R. F. Thurman.
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