Dale County AlArchives Photo place.....Historic Marker ( Peniel Baptist Church) June 23 2004 ************************************************ 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: Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 July 13, 2004, 1:51 pm Source: The Southern Star Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/photos/gph513historic.jpg Image file size: 75.7 Kb Peniel Baptist Marks 152nd Anniversary THE SOUTHERN STAR JUNE 23,2004—1A-2A A historic marker was dedicated at Peniel Baptist Church Sunday, June 13,commemorating 152 years of existence by the Missionary Baptist Church located near Skipperville. The program began with recognition of special guests by Pastor Tim McCraney. These guests included Chattahoochee Historical Commission chairman, Mary Stewart; Dale Baptist Associational Missionary, Rev. Kenneth Hale; Alabama Baptist Historical Commission Executive Director, Dr. Frances D. Hamilton. A special message was brought by Rev. Michael Helms, great grandson of Rev. Fletcher Shirah, an early pastor of Peniel Baptist. Rev. Fletcher Shirah served Peniel over 28 years and Rev. Reason B. Arnold served Peniel over 25 years. Rev. Helms is pastor of Trinity Baptit Church in Moultrie, Ga. Peniel Baptist Church, a white frame church with stained glass windows is Continued on Page 2A Peniel Baptist- Continued from Page 1A located at the intersection of county roads 68 and 41 in the northeast corner of Dale County. The church cemetery lies directly across the road in front of the church and contains hundreds of tombstones that mark the graves of ancestors and friends who are buried there. This Missionary Baptist Church and its cemetery have served a congregation of worshippers at this same location for more than 150 years. The name Peniel comes from the name of the place where Jacob wrestled with God. Genesis 32:30 says, "So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: 'For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.'" Rev. Hale led the dedication service for the historical marker. On one side of the marker it states: "Peniel Baptist Church, 1852-2004. Listed below are the known pastors of Peniel Baptist Church since its establishment about 1852. Middleton Brooks, S. Hargrove, W. A. Cumbie, Ranson C. Deal, Sr., R. Cass Deal, R. B. Arnold, J. W. Phillips, F. M. Shirah, M. A. Smith, A. J. Renfroe, A. M. Glover, B. J. Marshall, J. E. Plant, M. J. Walding, Charles C. Baker. Gary Carter, L. D. Woodham, Sr., Bobby Andrews, A. T. Arnold, W. A. Baker, John Payne, Bruce Cooper, and John W. Helton, Jr., Ray Wren, and Timothy McCraney. Erected by the Historic Chattahoochee commission and Peniel Baptist Church, June 13, 2004." On the back side of the marker it states: "On June 13, 1854, William A. Stanford deeded land to the Missionary Baptist Church at Peniel. The deed was granted to Starkey Stuckey, the deacon authorized to represent the church for this transaction. According to the original deed, a lightwood stake, near the graves, marked the eastern boundary of the property consisting of one acre, and ninety-nine 23/25 hundredths of an acre. The first split-log church was built at a cost of $50. A third church was built in 1901. M. J. Walding was the pastor when the present church was built in 1954, using lumber and materials salvaged from the 1901 church building." A story in the Feb. 18, 1954 issue of The Southern Star, told of the construction of the current church building. The story follows: "Over on the northeastern tip of Dale County residents of the Penile Community are doing double duty these days. "They're plowing, planting, tending their livestock - hammering, sawing and nailing - practically at the same time! For a new and modern church building is rapidly taking shape on the lofty hillside where Penile's Baptist churches have stood for a full century. "The construction labor is being done in its entirety by members of the congregation. Lumber was donated by a church member, and a local mill processed it for a minimum charge. Comer Key, one of the deacons, is construction foreman. "It's not only the men who are working, either. Penile's women are finding time away from their homes to pull nails out of timbers from the old church and to salvage every bit of material they can. Furthermore, both men and women appear to be having a good time! "The original church, built in December 1901, according to Alfred Mizell, an elderly spokesman for the group, was torn down about five weeks ago. Construction of the new building, which will consist of a main auditorium and several Sunday School rooms separated by folding partitions, appears to be progressing well. "We just work at it as we can," Mizell said. "Some days don't see much done on it. Other times more of us are able to come out." "Members estimate the structure will be worth around $6,000 or $7,000 when completed, but "won't cost near that much since we're doing all the work our- selves and had our lumber given to us." This will be the fourth Baptist church building on the hilltop site since the original deed was issued in October 1854. "The Rev. Marion Walding is pastor of the church, Clyde Simmons is treasurer, and deacons are W. A. Baker, Travis Turner, Junie Mizell, James Mizell, Comer Key, Clyde Simmons and Lenson Mathis. "During this construction period the faithful congregation which numbers about 100 - although "lots of them are scattered all over the country" - holds services at the Methodist Church located nearby." In a history of Peniel Baptist Church, a segment states, "In researching and writing the History of Peniel Baptist Church, the writer has found factual information that was not embedded in the memories and recollections of local church family ancestors. Although the exact date of organization can no longer be documented, a deed, dated June 13, 1854, contains several items that help establish a close, approximate date of organization. The measurement in the deed, dated June 13, 1854, uses "graves" as a marker for a reference. Also, the deed references the property being deeded to the "Church at Peniel" This indicates that some type of church or brush arbor was established prior to the land purchase from William A. Stanford by Starkey Stuckey. Why would graves be used as a reference unless this location had been an established burial ground previously? "Therefore, we can assume that some type of worship had taken place prior to the recorded establishment of Peniel Baptist Church. An accurate history of the church is almost impossible since some of the earliest records were lost when the home where the records were kept was destroyed by fire. But with the help of good recollection and memories of some of the older members, and by checking various family records, a fairly accurate oral history was assembled several years ago. "Recently, the writing of a formal church history from the time of its inception to the present became part of the preparation for the 150th Anniversary celebration. While conducting research for the project, this writer found factual information that suggested an earlier date than 1854 which was embedded in the memories and recollections of local church family ancestors. An early official record of a church at "Pennial" in Dale County was found in the Samford University Historical Special Collection Library in Birmingham, Alabama. Dated 1852, this brief excerpt from the Judson Missionary Baptist Association Minutes listed Middleton Brooks, as the preacher at "Pennial." As explained in the Historical Background, the Salem Missionary Baptist Association had been formed after several churches broke with the Conecuh River Baptist Association in late 1839 over the issue of "missions." Then Baptist Churches from Dale, Henry and Coffee Counties withdrew from the Salem Association in November 1850, and formed the Judson Missionary Baptist Association. "According to the Judson Association records, the first official mention of Peniel Baptist Church was listed in the 1852 Association minutes- Middleton Brooks was listed as Pastor and Starkey Stuckey as the Church Clerk. Services were held on the first Sunday of each month. The church had given $2.00 to Home Missions and had paid $1.00 for a copy of the Minutes. The church had 15 members- one received by baptism, one by letter, and one member had died. [Perhaps that member was the first to be buried in Peniel Church Cemetery!] Delegates from "Pennial" to the Association were Starkey Stuckey, Elijah Hickey, and A. Whigham. Considering this new information, a church called "Pennial," now spelled "Peniel," has served as a Beacon for Christ in this rural community of northeast Dale County for over 152 years! "As noted above Starkey Stuckey was very much a part of the organization of Peniel Baptist Church. He was born in South Carolina around 1792. He married Martha Bateman of Midland City in Dale County, Alabama- Starkey moved his family into Northeast Dale County and farmed. It is believed that he farmed in Dale and Barbour Counties. In 1851, the Judson Baptist Association was composed of five counties. "Included in this Association at this time was "Pennial" Baptist Church in Dale County, with Middleton Brooks serving as Pastor and Starkey Stuckey as Clerk and Deacon. We know that Starkey Stuckey remained in this area for sometime because in 1854, he was authorized to sign the deed for the land purchase in which the first church at Peniel was built. According to old records, in later years, Starkey Stuckey moved to Arkansas and died there. However, Brother Starkey Stuckey was very instrumental in the establishment of Peniel Baptist Church, which 152 years later, the past and present members owe a vast debt of gratitude." The 150th Anniversary celebration committee for Peniel Baptist Church included Wayne Davis, chairman; Pastor Tim McCraney, Margaret Jenkins, Jean Walker, Jerry Spivey, and Frankie Davis. The historic marker was erected by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission and Peniel Baptist Church. 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