Mt Pisgah 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 14:32:49 EST Mt Pisgah 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 ------------------------------------ MT. PISGAH BAPTIST CHURCH Mrs. John SELLERS, who is the mother of the present moderator of the Butler Count Association, Rev. Nez SELLERS, and is nearing her eightieth birthday, wrote the following history of this church. Mrs. SELLARS is a faithfull member of this church, had been for years, and knows the history of the Mt. Pisgah Church and community, and I am publishing the information just as she wrote it out in her own handwriting: "Away back in the 70's there wasnt' any church in what is called Mt. Pisgah Community, so the people had preaching services in an old vacant house just a few yards west of where the church now stands, using an old goods box for a pulpit, and at times they would have meetings under brush arbor, with the Rev. Seaborn MOORE of Forest Home doing most of the preaching. In 1879 or 1880 the few Baptist peole in the community decided to organize a Baptist Church, which they named "Mt. Pisgah." Mrs. R. C. MOORE gave the land for the building and a large bilding was erected out of pine logs. The church was organized with the Rev. Seaborn MORRE as pastor, J. C. POWELL and J. R. E. SELLERS as deacons, and H. C. PARKER as church clerk. The members were Mrs. R. C. MOORE, Mrs. Sarah HARWELL, J. W. POWELL, Mrs. M. A. OWENS, J. R. STINSON, Mrs. Senie STINSON, Mrs. Elizabeth DEAN, Miss Fannie POUNDS, R. S. POUNDS, H. C. PARKER, Mrs. Rebecca STINSON, J. R. E. SELLERS, Mrs. N. A. SELLERS. "In Stepember, 1883, the Rev. A. A. SIMS carried a petition to the Pine Barren Association from Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church for membership wit that body, and was accepted. "The pastors who have served are Seaborn MOORE, J. HOLLY, A. T. SIMS, A. A. SIMS, George MIZE, L. B. COHRON, W. M. RABB, E. L. HUGHES, E. G. CLAYTON, J. B. BYRD, F. M. FLETCHER, A. C. SHELL, J. M. COOK, J. L. P. COOK, J. E. D. MATHEWS, M. I. McLEOD, W. W. LEVERITT, W. L. SPEARS, T. L. LEE, M. C. GRIFFINS, and N. E. SELLERS. "The Rev. Seaborn MOORE, A. T. SIMS and A. A. SIMS served as pasotrs many different times, more than any others have served. A. A. SIMS was pastor of this church when he died in 1895. "Those serving as deacons were J. W. POWELL, J. R. E. SELLERS, R. E. POUNDS, J. T. DEAN, J. C. SELLERS, W. M. HARWELL, W. C .JACOBS, H. H. FREEMAN. In the early fall of 1897, the old church building was torn down and the present building erected. The Flowers Mill Company at Bolling, and some of the business men of Georgiana, and a good many others gave materials to help build the new building at this time. In May, 1898, the new church was dedicated, with the Rev. W. M. MURRAY of Georgiana preaching the dedication sermon. Rev. Seaborn MOORE was the pastor. In 1940 there was three Sunday School rooms added to the church building."