Gravel Hill 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 13:21:25 EST Gravel Hill 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 ------------------------------------ GRAVEL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH This church was organized in the year 1890. Dr. B. H. CRUMPTON, who was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Greenville at that time, and W. R. MARTIN and W. FELTER were the presbytery in charge. A full list of the charter members cannot be ortained, but the names the follow were in the organizing: Sister Ann RHODES, J. A. RHODES, M. M. WEST, J. B. SMITH, W. M. JAY, J. M. HAWKINS, Kate HAWKINS, and J. F. FREEMAN. In the early years of the church we do not know the pastors, but for the last forty years the following pastors have served: Rev. Charley PERRY, Rev. J. L. P. COOK, Rev. Bennie OWENS, Rev. W. J. BARRINGTON, Rev. L. R. TINDAL, Rev. G. D. EVERETT, Rev. C. A. EILAND, and the present pastor is Rev. GUYTON. Two fine young men heard God's call for the ministry and were ordained by this church, Rev. Has HALFORD and Rev. Ray CROWLEY. The church has a Sunday School and Training Union, but does not have a Woman's Missionary Union. The writer remembers with pleasure aiding Rev. C. L. PERRY in a revival in this church forty years ago. On Sunday morning and night we had large crowds to attend, but a the elever o'clock service Monday only a few were present. The pastor advised that a number of the members had gone off for a fishing trip, but they returned for the night service. That night I used a text John 21:3: "Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a'fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee... and that night they caught nothing." After my sermon we had no more fishing that week! Before each service I told the children a story. At the clost of the meeting I asked them to write me a letter. They did. One little boy enclosed a dime with his note, "Dear Bro. Joyner, I promise you to be a good little boy and meet you in heaven." I'm sure he will be there!