Bullock County AlArchives Church Records.....Sardis Baptist Church ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: John H. Adams johms@bellsouth.net July 2, 2008, 12:45 pm Sardis Baptist Church (The Sardis Baptist church is located approximately 4 miles south of Union Springs, Alabama, on State Highway 223, at the intersection of Bullock County road 22. This presentation was read, by a direct descendant of the Doziers, at the unveiling of the Church’s Alabama State Historical Marker, October 13, 2002. The statement has been edited to remove certain personal references to living individuals) This 1850’s-era church building was recognized in 1991 by the Alabama Historical Commission as a “significant landmark” and added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. In November, 2001, the United States Department of the Interior cited this building as a “landmark contributing to a deeper understanding of our American heritage,” and entered it on the National Register of Historical Places. This year, the Bullock County Historical Society added the church to the County Register of Historical Homes and Places. So what is it that these local, state, and national historical societies find significant about this place? Why should anybody care about keeping this building on this site and maintaining it through the years since the 1850’s? The Alabama Historical Commission states that “the Sardis Baptist church is one of the oldest Baptist church buildings still standing in Alabama.” Robert S. Gamble, Architectural Historian of the Alabama Historical Commission, in 1989, stated “the Sardis church is one of the most important” and described the church as an “exceptionally fine example of rural church architecture following the Greek Revival style.” It is noteworthy that this present building, except for the addition of a metal roof, concrete steps and the replacement of the original stone underpinnings with brick pillars, has remained substantially unaltered since its construction in the 1850’s. Significant original architectural features to notice include the ceiling of wide hand-planed boards, the plaster-on-lath walls, trimmed by chair rails, with a single wide horizontal hand-planed board wainscot, a wide hand-planed baseboard and base molding. The floor is hand-planed planks. The framing is constructed with mortise and tenon joints, and significant original exterior features include most of the original window glass; the original shutters; and exterior siding of horizontal, lapped weatherboard, fastened with square nails. The front gable is decorated with original hand-made, individual-piece molding. In addition to the architectural significance, we need to consider how and why this church was established here. The Cusseta Treaty of 1832, between the U.S. government and the Creek Indians, opened this area for pioneer settlement. Homesteads and farms began to be established out of the wilderness in the mid 1830’s. Local settlers came primarily from South Carolina, many from Edgefield District, just across the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia. Early settlers near Sardis included Martins, Hooks, Crawleys, Foremans, Sledges, and John A. Bowling, after whom Bowling Creek is named. The graves of many of these early pioneers are located in this church’s cemetery. These settlers organized the Sardis Baptist Church on June 10, 1837. John M. Dozier and Amy Jane Youngblood Dozier had already lived here for two years. They had purchased from the Government Land Office 200 acres located right here at Sardis, including this very spot, which was a part of Macon County until Bullock County was formed in 1866. In June of 1841, the Doziers deeded this site to the church for a church building and a cemetery. The price was $6.62 ½ for 4 ½ acres. The first church building was a log structure which probably served until the 1850’s, when the present building was erected. The early records of this church have been lost, but other sources of early church information have revealed that in 1843 Mrs. Eliza C. Wood, at age 17, joined the church. In 1860, James Fears Martin was the church treasurer. John H. and Lucinda Crawley and W. A. and Nancy Strom Martin were members. In 1870, the Sunday School Superintendent, W. A. Martin, reported five officers and teachers and forty scholars. In 1880, Sardis Church was a member of the Baptist Centennial Association. Located near the church, starting in the 19th Century, was a community school. Newspaper articles indicate this school was operating in 1861 and 1870. In 1919, Bootsie Shaw, Stiff Shaw, and Bill Martin were among those attending the 1st and 2nd grades at this school. The teachers were Vivian Grove and Ruby Gray. After the school closed, perhaps in the 1920’s, the old four-room log building was moved to become the home of the Livingston Paulk family. Records also show that in 1867 the Buena Vista Masonic Lodge #169 was located on or near the church property. On November 26, 1912, the wedding of Vela Ruth Lovelace and James Washington Shaw was performed in the church. The minutes of the Bullock County Centennial Baptist Association reveal that Mrs. W. C. Hubbard was a messenger to the meeting in 1916. In 1917, J. W. Shaw and Miss Jean Youngblood served as messengers, and, in that year, the church had twenty-three active members. At the 100th year homecoming celebration in 1937, the testimonial and musical program included a violin solo presented by Miss Louise Shaw, accompanied by Mrs. Pauline Martin. The selection was Sweet Hour of Prayer. Dinner on the grounds followed the program. Some major repairs to the church, including a new roof, were made in 1940- 41, encouraged by the Home Demonstration Club of Sardis, in recognition that the church had for so long been a significant part of the community's life. After that, Sunday afternoon services were held only occasionally, and the church became inactive in the 1950’s. Between the 1950’s and the 1980’s, the building suffered tremendously from neglect. It became a county polling place. The doors were left unlocked and open. The building deteriorated, inside and out, and furnishings were removed. The very existence of the church on this site was in jeopardy. A few individuals in Sardis became alarmed at the condition of the church and notified others hoping to create interest which would lead to saving the church and the return of the interior furnishings. In the early 1980’s, these individuals began to make local contacts in the attempt to learn of any interest in the preservation of the church. They sought and received advice on how best to preserve the church building on this site. Helpful agencies were Alabama Historical Commission, Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, Baptist Foundation of Alabama, and Samford University. Many local individuals expressed interest, and special help and advice was provided by the presiding District Court Judge and bank officials. As a result of these discussions, in 1989, the Sardis Baptist Church Building Fund was established for the purpose of receiving donations and providing for repair and maintenance of the church building. Work began that year on the repairs, which included improvements to the underpinnings, patching the roof and floor, repair of the plaster walls, and painting all surfaces. All the shutters were removed, completely renovated and re-hung on repaired hinges. All the dead and overgrown shrubbery was removed and replaced with nandina and azaleas. Many talented neighbors and other friends of the church came forward to help with financial donations and work on the building and grounds. There have been two weddings at the church since then. One in 1990, on the porch, and in 1993, after most of the repair work had been done, a wedding was held inside the church. The grooms in those weddings are both direct descendants of John M. and Amy Youngblood Dozier. So, in closing, we need to consider the overall significance of this church, cemetery, school, and lodge. They represent the desires of pioneer families to establish a community in the newly opened part of the state. The church also symbolizes our ancestors’ bravery and willingness to experience hardship, as they labored to establish a new life for themselves, their families, and their descendants. This settlement represented the traditions which we honor today: the desire for a religious, educational and social life. We see in other communities involvement in the preservation of significant old buildings. The Sardis community has a nationally recognized treasure here in this building, and we must encourage and assist those who are willing to attempt to find a way to save the building and to find appropriate uses for it in the future. Would you join me in showing appreciation to the Bullock County Historical Society for their efforts and funding to provide the historical marker we are unveiling today. Join me also in showing appreciation to the Sardis Church Building Fund Committee members, for all they have done to preserve the church. 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