Randolph County AlArchives Church Records.....The First 50 years of Mt. Prospect Baptist Church Copyright Date 2022 ************************************************ 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: Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 November 11, 2022, 4:08 pm Township 19, Range 10, Section 33 Ofelia, Randolph County, Alabama. 1852 The first log church was built, it was a one room building with a fireplace. 1853 Mt. Prospect Baptist church was received to the Liberty (East) Baptist Association. Nov 18, 1854 William Ashcraft wrote a letter to the South Western Baptist Newpaper about churches he had visited in the past few weeks. "The first protracted meeting which I attended after my last epistle to you was held at Mount Prospect church in Randolph County, embracing the fourth Sabbath in August and supplied by Bro. [Isaac S.] Weaver a Missionary from the Liberty Association. But owing to the ill state of the health of himself and family, he had only visited twice this year, and consequently the Church was in a very cold state, but anxious to hear the word of life." 1855 Mt. Prospect was dismissed by letter from the Liberty (East) Baptist Association to the Carey Baptist Association. 1858 H.J. Hickey was the Pastor J.M. Weaver and Cullen Falkner were delegates for the church. There were 60 members of the church. 1859 Rev. Hickey reports there were 16 baptism and 2 by letters new members. 1866 Mt. Prospect Baptist church was the only church from Randolph County in the Carey Baptist Association. 1869 Daniel & Charlotte Sharp donated the 10 acres land for the church & school. 1874 R.O.A. Ashcraft was the Pastor and J.M. Garrett was the church clerk. The delegates were: J.H. Willingham, W. Burrow, R.J. Adamson and J.L. Graben. 1886 I.S. Weaver was the Pastor The delegates were: D.M. Bean, T.M. Hayes, J.E. Bean, Y.J.A. Bartlett and P.T. Yates. There were 124 members of the church. 1891 J.A. Shaddix was the Pastor and M.M. Knight was the church clerk The delegates were: R.J. Adamson & P.T. Yates. There were 96 members of the church. 1892 H.C. Knight was the Pastor and M.M. Knight was the church clerk. The delegates were: J.J. Taylor, M.M. Knight and T.J. Wilson. There were 95 members of the church. Mid-1890's The church building was replaced by the current building. 1896 J.A. Shaddix was the Pastor and W.F. Strickland was the church clerk. The delegate was: P.T. Yates. D. Burrow was the Superintendent There were 123 members of the church. Mt. Prospect hosted the Randolph County Singing Convention. 1897 J.A. Shaddix was the Pastor and W.F. Strickland was the church clerk. The delegates were: J.W.T. Hendon, J.T. Floyd and J.B. Cockrell. There were 97 members of the church. Sabbath School: Prof Grover Superintendent, Prof Strickland Superintendent Asst. W.S. Burrow, clerk and M. Camp chorister. 1897 "Across the river at Ofelia" news from the Randolph Toiler: The Baptist brethren are trying to get up money to have their new church painted. Now, young ladies, why not you all join in and have an entertainment of some sort? We boys would like to pay our mites, and we would enjoy something of that kind better than just giving our money. Our church would look very petty with a new white spring dress on, trimmed in green ribbon. 1898 J.A. Shaddix was the Pastor and W.F. Strickland was the church clerk. The delegates were: J.W.T. Hendon, P.T. Yates and J.T. Floyd was the Superintendent. There were 83 members of the church. In 1898 Mt. Prospect was dismissed by letter from the Carey Baptist Assocation. Some of the later Pastors of the church were: Rev. Wm T. Davis Rev. Chesley B. Martin Rev. J. R. Stodghill Rev. Sim Ingram Rev. J. D. Martin Rev. George Shaddix Rev. S. C. Ray Rev. Harlin East. The Homecoming is the 3rd Sunday in May. Some of the surnames of the early members were: Adamson Bean Burrow Carter Cockrell Dingler Floyd Heard Hendon Knight Morrow Nolen Ogletree Sharp Taylor Warren Willingham Yates Young File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/churches/thefirst202gbb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb