Randolph County AlArchives Church Records.....The First 80 years of Rocky Branch Baptist Church Copyright Date 2022
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 October 30, 2022, 1:35 am

Township 20, Range 12, Section 4 
Randolph County Alabama. 

Rocky Branch Baptist Church was organized on Jul 11, 1857, by Rev. Thomas Camp 
the first pastor of the church, Mr. Isaac Smith and Mr. Henry Boone. [Church 
clerk for many years] 
The first meeting was held in a brush arbor that was located where the old Rocky 
Branch Baptist church cemetery is now. A log church was built in the following 
year in the same location. In 1860 Rocky Branch Baptist church was admitted to 
the Arbacoochee Baptist Association. In the 1870's Rocky Branch Baptist church 
was dismissed by the Arcbacoochee Baptist Association and was admitted to the 
Rock Mills Baptist Association. After the Rock Mills Baptist Association 
dissolved Rocky Branch Baptist church joined the Randolph County Baptist 
Association in 1900. 

In 1888 the church had 77 members, by 1898 the church had 102 members.

There have been four church buildings. The original building stood in the center 
of what is now the old cemetery. The remains of one pastor and his wife rest by 
beneath the old pulpit site. Rev. Thomas A. Camp requested to be buried there. 
The second building, stood across the road from the last third building that was 
destroyed by the storm on April 5, 1937. Most of the records for the church are 
said to have been lost or destroyed in the storm. 

Roanoke Leader September 21, 1910: 
Rev. J. M. Yates assisted Rev. A. J. Gross and the deacons in an ordination 
service last Saturday at Rocky Branch. Dr. C. M. Gross and Elijah Rollins were 
ordained and added to the board of deacons Rev. Mr. Landers, of Heflin, was 
called as pastor.

Roanoke Leader April 21, 1937:
The storms which visited this part of the state on April 5th, damaging many 
houses, blew down the building of the Rocky Branch Baptist Church. This was a 
commodious edifice which housed one of the strongest rural churches in the 
county. Rocky Branch congregation, through the years, has played a large and 
noble part in the moral and religious welfare of the community and county. The 
house will be rebuilt in time. The lurcher is nearly all intact. The pews and 
piano were saved. Necessarily, however, at this busy season of the year, it will 
not be practicable to rebuild at once. 
In this unfortunate situation a kindly neighboring church, Noon Day, of another 
denomination, came forward with an invitation to the pastor and members of Rocky 
Branch to use the building of the Noon Day congregation, located at New Hope. 
This thoughtful and beautiful courtesy will be applauded by all who appreciate 
those higher and holier virtues which flower from the Christian religion, making 
all of life sweeter and happier for those who come within its winsome spell.

Roanoke Leader October 13, 1937:
Rev. C. S. Heard, pastor, has furnished us with the program for the dedication 
of the new Rocky Branch church. Sunday, October 17, is the day set for the 
dedication. The program follows: Sunday school at 9 o'clock. Song, Give of Your 
Best. Prayer, Rev. C. S. Heard. Classes. Song, Amazing Grace. Five-minute talks 
by Brothers Fincher, Amason, Hicks, John Green, and George Yarbrough. Song 
Service. Talk, Bro. J. G. Daniel. Special Song, Rev. Otis Fincher. Prayer. 
Dedication sermon, Rev. Capers Stitt. Dinner on the grounds. Afternoon singing, 
Ellis Matthews in charge. 

Some of the Pastors from 1857-1937:
Thomas A. Camp, W.H. Wright, I.N. Daniel, H.M. Moore, Rev. C. Culpepper, Rev. 
T.H. Landers, J.L. Hicks, J.L. Hughes, Rev. Hammonds, J.M. Cook, G.L. Hicks, 
W.T. Overton, W.A. Warmack, Charles S. Heard. [Great-grandson of Thomas A. Camp]

The Homecoming is the third Sunday in May. The rival was the 3rd week in August 
starting on Sunday night and running through Friday night. 



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