East Chapman Baptist Church - Butler Co., AL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ALGenWeb File Manager - Lygia Dawkins Cutts ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Fri, 13 Nov 1998 02:03:43 EST East Chapman Baptist Church - Butler Co., AL The following is an excerpt from Rev. J. W. Joyner's book, A History of the Baptists in Butler County ( 1819-1957). Surnames have been capitolized for easier visualization. Mildred Stinson Brown Gatesville, Texas PS: I would like to know who the husband and his family are of Mrs. J. D. Brown listed here. Could this name be Jordan Davis Brown, a descendant of Jordan Davis Brown and Victoria Alice Damon? My husband is researching this line. We know that they were married in Butler County about 1872. ------------------------------------ EAST CHAPMAN BAPTIST CHURCH In Chapter One will be found an extensive account of the activities of the "Chapman Church" that was organized in 1890. This was the Bpatist Church for the progressive "saw mill town" until the year 1926, when the East Chapman Baptist Church was organized. The reason for organizing the East Chapman Church was because the mill company owned the building that had provided a place of worship for all religious faiths of the town. The Baptist people desired to have a full-time service, with a minister linving on the Field, and in 1926 this desire was accomplished. The W. T. SMITH Lumber Company aided in the building. Mr. W. M. McGOWIN, who was a member of the Baptist Church, gave all the lumber necessary to ceil the church building. This church building is located in the east part of town on Old Highway 31, which makes it easy to reach from parts of the county, and many of the county- wide meetings are held here. The presbytery in charge of the organizing was Rev. C. V. McMURPHY, and the following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. R. S. WALLER, Mrs. J. G. McLAIN, Mrs. Matt WILSON, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. GAFFORD, Nina GAFFORD, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. GREEN, Mr. and Mrs. John MATHEWS, Mrs. V. T. NELSON, J. P. GAFFORD, Mrs. Lucile SHELL, Misses Clyde and Magdeline WALLER, Mrs. William WALLER, and Mrs. and Mrs. W. A. ROBERTS. The following pastors have served: Rev. C. V. McMURPHY, Rev. D. F. HICKAMN, Rev. Ralph MULLINS, Rev. Fred BROWN, Rev. E. P. ROBBINS, Rev. O. D. CARGILLE, Rev. Hugh CHAMBLISS, Rev. Ben WINDHAM, and the present pastor is Rev. Burl McMILLAN. This church has a fine Sunday School, Training Union, and Woman's Missionary Union. The present Associational W.M.U. president, Mrs. J. D. BROWN, is a member of this church as is the present Associational Training Union director, Homer JONES. As you will see by the picture, Est Chapman has a beautiful building, with Sunday School rooms to take care of all classes. One of the members of the church advised the writer that the W. T. SMITH Lumber Company gave $1,000.00 when the building was remodeled five years ago. Tow young men have been ordained by this church -- Arby GREEN and Howard OLIVE.