Clay County AlArchives Church Records.....The First 100 years of Bethel Baptist Church [Delta] Copyright Date 2022
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 November 15, 2022, 8:50 pm

Township 18, Range 9, Section 3
Delta, Clay County Alabama.

Bethel Baptist Church was established on June 22, 1840, by Rev. Samuel Moore.
In later years the presbytery Revs. Mancel Garrett Sr., Jordan Williams, Joseph 
C. Beverly, John Teague and Wm C. Witt were a large part of the establishment of 
Bethel Baptist Church. 

Who donated the land for the Bethel Baptist church and cemetery is unknown.
In 1837 Rev. Benjamin Jowers, Josiah M. Kennedy and Wm L. Wallace in 1849
James S. Smith in 1851 Wadsworth Clardy and Hansel Hunt all patented land in 
that TS, Sect and Range. 

On the hillside is the oldest part of the cemetery. There are many unmarked
graves in that area. It is said there are slaves buried in that section.

Several of the Charter members:
Elliott, Mary 
Hurst, Nancy
Hurst, W.M.
Lambert, Margaret 
Moore, Anna [Wife of Samuel Moore, died after 1881 Clay County AL]
Moore, Mariah [She married Wm T. Smith, they are buried in the Old Lineville 
Cemetery Clay County AL]
Scruggs, James

A good many members of Shiloh-Delta Primitive Baptist Church moved their letters
to Bethel Baptist Church.

In 1847 Bethel Baptist Church was a member Tallasshetchy Baptist Association.
Rev. Samuel Moore and Mancel Garrett are listed as the pastor of Bethel Baptist
Church. In 1847 the church had 56 members. After the Civil War Bethel Baptist 
Church was admitted to the Boiling Spring Baptist Association, where she 
remained until the Assocation disbanded. 

Early Pastor of the Church:
Samuel Moore
Mansel Garrett
Joseph C. Beverly 
J.D. Jenkins 
M.J. Sorrell
F.M. Campbell
W.T. Davis
W.M. Garrett
W.H. Preston
T.J. Preston

Rev. Joseph C. Beverly baptized his son Champion at Bethel Baptist Church. 
Champion Beverly would later die in 1862 during the Civil War. 

Early Church Clerks:
U.E. Humphries
J.W. McClintock 
N.T. Leverett
W.E. Reagan
W.G. Slaughter
E.H. Armstrong
L.W. Miller
A.M. Smith
J.M. Leverett

Early Deacons:
Wadsworth Clardy
Henry Armstrong

Early surnames of members:
Armstrong
Clardy
Daniel
Davis
Echols 
Evans 
Harris
Hatton
Higgins
Hooton
Howell
Hubbard
Johnson
Jones 
Kennedy
Leverett
McClintock 
Miller
Morrison
McCollough
Payne
Peoples
Phillips
Reagan
Slaughter
Smith

Cleburne County News 1940:
The Bethel Baptist church, located in Clay County, will celebrate its 100th 
anniversary, on Sunday, Sept 29. All members and former pastors are invited to 
attend this celebration. 
We are expecting many of the oldest members living to be present. All singers 
and visitors are invited to come. D. L. Johnson, Church Clerk.

Today the current Bethel Baptist Church building is around 140 years old 
herself.


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