Estill County KyArchives Church Records.....South Irvine Church of Christ
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Tony Belcher tonylinda@irvineonline.net April 4, 2010, 1:33 pm

Brief Historical Outline of
South Irvine Church of Christ
by Tony Belcher, Minister

1955: Land was purchased for the Church of Christ at West Irvine. Trustees: Luther
Fields, Hubert Hardy, W.H. Hendricks. (Deed book 99, pg 179). A corrective deed
was filed adding restrictions for the church in 1956 (DB 99, pg 529).

1960’s: A division occured at West Irvine mainly over “anti” or “non-institutional”
doctrines. Some of the issues involved supporting orphan homes, helping non-
Christians, using multiple communion cups, having divided classes, etc. (Note: Some
of the brethren attended the Totty vs Grider debate on these issues at Corbin, Ky.
in
1958). One decisive event occured when some of the brethren arranged to have
Basil Overton and Carson Burroughs from Richmond and Berea conduct a gospel
singing at West Irvine. But the anti-brethren, led by Houston Gately, got Alvin Holt
to
come and hold a gospel meeting at the same time. Tensions arose to the point that
some brethren felt no other option but to leave the West Irvine congregation and to
begin meeting elsewhere.

1962: Civil action was taken due to the division at West Irvine in order to divide
the
property: Luther Fields et. al. versus Houston Gately et. al. File Number 898.
There
was an “Agreed Judgment” dated Sept. 17, 1962. Proceeds from the sale of the
church property were to be divided as follows: $1000 plus interest to the mortgage
holder, Robert Margison; then, court costs and attorney fees were to be paid from
the balance. Orders were given for the West Irvine church property to be sold
(Sept.
18, 1962). The land was sold for $2600 (Mar. 11, 1963). Sale was reported to the
court and a deed was ordered (April 5, 1963). The deed was approved in court (April
12, 1963) and recorded (April 23, 1963; DB 110, pg. 94).

The deed reads in part:
This indenture, made and entered into this 5th day of April, 1963 by and between
Luther Fields, W.H. Hendricks and T.K. Fields, and their successors and assigns,
trustees, Church of Christ, West Irvine, Kentucky, Houston Gately, Clarence Stacey,
Omer Beckeley, Ernest Hughs and Clinton Patrick by Edward Alumbaugh, Master
Commissioner of said Court, of the first part, and Omer Beckley, Clarence Stacey
and Charlie Gross, of the second part......I, Fred Brandenburg, Clerk of the Estill
Circuit Court, do hereby certify that this Deed from Luther Fields, et al., by
Edward
Alumbaugh, Master Commissioner of this Court, to Omer Beckley, Clarence Stacey
and Charlie Gross, was on the 5th day of April, 1963 presented in open Court by
said
Master Commissioner......

1962-69: The brethren who left West Irvine Church of Christ met at unknown
locations on at least two different occasions: when they first left and later when
they
began building a church house. One location where they met at some point was at a
building on Doe Creek. They eventually purchased the lot where the old South Irvine
school house was located (Nov. 1, 1963, DB 110, pg. 463). Trustees listed were
Merriell Estes, Luther Fields, and Robert Margison. The brethren met in the old
school house for an unknown period of time until it was torn down. A mortgage was
obtained in June of 1969 (mortgage book qq, pg.545) ($2500 from Lucinda
Margison). A basement with a temporary roof was built on the lot and the church met
there for the first time on November 9, 1969. Those in attendance were: Merriell
and
Modena Estes, Luther and Opal Fields, Howard and Lorena Fields, Hollie Fields,
Donnie Fields, Edwina Fields, Evelyn Carroll, Provie Riddell, Archie and Hannah
Webb, Harry C. Noland, and W.C. Anderson. The mortgage from Margison was
satisfied Jan. 24, 1972.

1973: Brethren continued to meet in the basement at South Irvine until the
structure
above it was completed. Funds from various churches and individuals primarily in
Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee were raised with the assistance of David Holder,
Minister. Also, a loan was secured from Union Bank in Irvine. The first meeting in
the
completed building was held on August 12, 1973 with 38 people at Bible study and 68
for worship. A singing was held in the afternoon with 85 in attendance. J.B.
Proctor
from Richmond conducted the singing with different song leaders taking part.
Sellars
Crain preached.

1971-1986: Preachers at South Irvine were: David Holder (1971-74 and 1979-84),
Bob Reynolds (1975-76), Harold Driver (1976-79), and Ed McCormick (1985).
Several others filled the pulpit on a temporary basis, most notably, Jack Hall from
Berea (1985-86 & 1990) and Frank Wade, Winchester. The church enjoyed steady
growth during the ministry of David Holder. Attendance records show an increase
from 20 to 60 from 1971 to 1974 and 30 to 100 from 1979 to 1984. One of the most
difficult times for the church occurred from a division in 1985.

1986-1989: Tony Belcher and family located at South Irvine and served for three and
one-half years. They lived in a mobile home next to the church house. In 1990, the
church was without a regular minister. Different congregations in the area sent men
to conduct worship services.

1991-1993: Tony Belcher returned as the regular minister. He and his family lived
in
Berea during this time so Linda could finish a nursing degree at Berea College.
They
stayed in the mobile home on weekends and in Berea during the week.

1994-present: Tony Belcher moved back to Irvine with his wife and four daughters
and continues to serve as preacher.

History of Estill County Churches of Christ Before 1900
by Tony Belcher, Minister

The history of the Church of Christ in Kentucky before 1900 is intertwined with the
history of the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Christian Churches. In the early 1800’s,
men
like Barton W. Stone, Alexander Campbell, Raccoon John Smith, Jacob Creath
Senior and Junior, and many others saw the errors of denominational doctrines and
practices and pleaded for a complete return to the New Testament as the only
acceptable guide for Christians. Stone of Bourbon County and Campbell of West
Virginia, both were former Presbyterian ministers who broke away from that group in
the early 1800’s. Smith of Montgomery County and the Creaths of Fayette were
former Baptist ministers who parted from that group by 1830. As a result of the
preaching of such men, a great religious movement began. It began during a time of
deep religious interest and excitement which has been called America’s Second
Great Awakening. It was also called a Reformation movement, since the denominations
were being called upon to reform their beliefs and practices. For those who
were leading the movement, it was a Restoration movement, because they wanted to
restore the New Testament order of Christianity. Out of this movement came men
and women who united upon the Bible only as their creed book and who called
themselves only by Bible names. Thus, they adopted the names Church of Christ,
Christian Church, and Disciples of Christ. Throughout much of the 1800’s these
groups were united, but by the early 1900’s, they were listed in the U.S. Census as
separate groups. Some of the dividing issues involved the use of instrumental music
in worship and the formation of missionary societies. Those who felt these were
matters of choice continued to be called Christian Churches and Disciples of
Christ.
Those who felt these practices violated the New Testament pattern continued to be
called Churches of Christ. For the most part, mainstream Churches of Christ
continued and continues to stress the principles of the Restoration movement, while
the others digressed from these ideals (with the exception perhaps of some in the
Independent Christian Churches).

Raccoon John Smith, Pioneer Reformer Preacher

As far as Estill County is concerned, Raccoon John Smith perhaps had the most
wide-spread influence during the early Restoration movement. From his home in
Montgomery County, he traveled into many of the nearby counties in the 1820’s and
1830’s preaching against denominational error and converting many. Although none
of the biographies of Smith mention him being in Estill County, there was at least
one
Reformer who did preach in the county: Thomas White, who served at Salem and Mt.
Tabor in the early 1800’s. Mt. Tabor in eastern Estill along with Station Camp in
western Estill started as a Baptist church and was influenced by the Reform
movement and became associated with the Church of Christ/Christian Church.

Early Christian Churches in Estill County

Churches of Christ and Christian Churches were united during the early Restoration
Movement and the church names were used interchangeably even into the 1900’s.
As a case in point, notice the deed for Mt. Carmel Church of Christ in 1910 (next
page). Although it was organized as a Church of Christ, it is today known as a
Christian Church. Many other examples abound in this area of Kentucky. Another
telling observation speaks volumes. In this area of Eastern Kentucky, many small
Christian Churches are found scattered throughout the counties; while in Western
Kentucky, such as Cumberland and Monroe, small Churches of Christ abound out in
the counties. This finding is due to a shift in the center for the Restoration
Movement.
Whereas the center was close to this area in the 1800’s, it basically shifted
southwest
in the 1900’s due to the influence of Restoration leaders in Nashville. This is why
deeds for Christian Churches are found here in Estill that date in the 1800’s and
early
1900’s and those for Churches of Christ date later. Churches of Christ had to be
reestablished
in areas where Christian Churches dominated. Following are some found
in Estill County deed books (DB).

Christian Church of Irvine (Main St.), 1859 (DB L, pg. 330).
Christian Church on Main Street, Irvine, 1892 (DB T, pg. 544).
Station Camp Christian/Baptist Church, 1895 (DB 36, pg. 236).
Christian Church at Buck Creek, 1915 (DB 53, pg. 460).
Christian Church at Miller’s Creek, 1923 (DB 55, pg. 378).
Sand Hill Christian, 1926 (DB 59, pg. 103).
Some other Christian Churches in Estill were established later. One that could not
be
found in deed books is Crooked Creek Christian Church which claims a beginning in
1858.

Churches of Christ
In Estill County, Ky. After 1900

From deed books (DB) at the Estill County courthouse:
DB 49, pg.42, August 26, 1910. John & Millard Tipton sold one-half acre on Miller’s
Creek to Mt. Carmel Church of Christ. Signed for the church: Millard Tipton, Lucy
Tipton, John S. Tipton, and Emmie Tipton. Note: These are all buried in Mt. Carmel
cemetery.
DB 80, pg.118, Feb.1, 1944. Claude and Hood Newkirk sold one-half acre more or
less near Furnace Post Office to Church of Christ at Furnace. Delivered by Bert
Kincaid.
DB 99, pg.318, July 2, 1955. Flynn to Lewis and Cora Fowlers, land on Station Camp
Creek on new State Road for Clay Hill Church of Christ. Note: There was also a Clay
Hill school in the same area, on Wagersville Road, past Jakes’ Heavenly Hwy.
DB 99, pg.179, July 14, 1955. Robertha Dozier to Church of Christ at West Irvine.
Trustees: Luther Fields, Hubert Hardy, W.H. Hendricks.
DB 103, pg.215, Sept.5, 1958. Clinton and Mirtie Patrick to Church of Christ at Cob
Hill. Trustees listed: John and Clinton Patrick, Ernest Hughes. Delivered by
Merriell
Estes.
DB 110, pg.463, Nov.1, 1963. Jake and Bessie Osborne to Church of Christ at South
Irvine. Trustees: Merriell Estes, Luther Fields, Robert Margison.
Also, Broadway Church of Christ in Irvine was founded in 2005.

Final Thoughts

The Christian Church has not been the only one to use the name Church of Christ in
the past. Many Baptist churches in this area also included the same name. For
example, in one deed in 1849, Salem was titled, “United Baptist Church of Jesus
Christ of Salem” (from Book of Remembrance, Salem Baptist Church, 1792-1992, pg.
21). Also in the same booklet is a letter for preacher Benjamine S. Burgher dated
1881, stating he was ordained according to the rules of “the United Baptist Church
of
Christ” (pg. 24). Also, in a History of the Providence Baptist Church, on the
inside
back cover, it is found the church used the title “Baptist Church of Christ at
Newman”
in 1866 (books located at Estill County Historical Society).
In Madison County Deed Book 478, page 755, is recorded the purchase of the “Old
Cane Springs Primitive Baptist Church” by the Madison County Historical Society.
The deed states the original church there was founded in 1806 and the present
building still standing was constructed in 1813. Further, it says, “that said church
is
the oldest church building in Madison County, Kentucky” and the “original and
founding name of the church organization was the Baptist Church of Christ of Cane
Springs.” Note: This church was part of the North District Assn. which had been so
greatly affected by the Restoration Movement. Raccoon John Smith’s biographer
mentioned it as a place where the Reformers were able to sway many Baptists.
One may wonder why so many of these early Kentucky churches used the name
Church of Christ. It is indeed a title which finds Biblical support. One may also
wonder
why the name is not found today as often. The “name doesn’t matter” is a common
response. However, the name obviously mattered to New Testament writers and to
Christians of Pioneer Days. May it matter more and more.

Additional Comments:
This material was first presented by Tony Belcher in a church membership directory
in 2008.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/estill/churches/southirv292gbb.txt

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