Church History: Walnut Creek Church, Lincoln Parish, LA Submitted by: Calvin B. Jones, 180 Bay Drive, Farmerville, LA 71241 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ SOURCE: undated 1946 newspaper article (Ruston Daily Leader??) (Permission to use granted by Calvin B. Jones, son of Arthur O. Jones, author of article.) CENTURY-OLD COUNTRY CHURCH Photo Caption: Above is a view of historic Walnut Creek Church, organized by new- comers from Georgia and Alabama in 1846. Pastor James Jones is in the foreground. SKETCH OF WALNUT CREEK CHURCH: 1846-1946 BY Arthur O. Jones, Simsboro, La. The Walnut Creek Baptist Church, located one and a half miles northwest of Simsboro, Lincoln parish, has rounded out 100 years in its organization. The church was organized in 1846 and its first building was a long house, erected on the stage and mail road, now known as the Old Wire Road, running east and west. Some grave markers still stand to mark the location of the old church site (now grown up with trees and briars). The first charter members mostly were from Georgia and Alabama and some of them were of the Hardshell or Primitive Baptist faith. After a few years this difference of faith began to be felt. The church was moved to its present location, on the Homer and Vernon road, about the year 1858. Like the first building, this one was built of logs also. After the War between the States, the members showed their faith in, and love for God by erecting in 1870, the present building of hand-dressed lumber, sawed from the virgin forest of the community. This church, like many of the older country churches, has enjoyed the services of able, God-loving pastors, such as Rev. Jackson Scarborough, a man who weighed 340 pounds, a builder, good singer, and elequent [sic] speaker. He went to his churches and visited his people in a one-ox cart. He served this church before and during 1866 or 1867. Josiah Lolley, another man of God, served this church in 1868 and for years after. J.W. Ledford and J.C. Jones also served this church in its early years. In our oldest church minutes, dated the fourth Sunday in September, 1885, Rev. S. C. Lee was called and began his services here as pastor. He was editor and part owner of The Baptist Messenger, a paper of great influence in its time. Rev. D. F. Head, educated as a lawyer, later called to preach the gospel, was first called, and began his services with this church in April, 1886, and served for several years. B. H. Mitchell and L. N. Holmes were both ordained by the church as ministers of the gospel in 1887. October, 1887, E. R. Foster was called as pastor. On the third Sunday in October, 1887, several members withdrew their church letters to join the newly organized church at Simsboro. 1890-92 D. F. Head again served as pastor. In 1892, W. T. Row was pastor; 1893, C. E. Foster. The third Sunday in September, 1894, W. T. Strain preached for the pastor. October, 1894 to 1897, J.R. Edwards was pastor; 1897, O. O. Hill, pastor; 1898-1901, C. E. Foster served again as pastor; 1899, the Church Covenant was adopted. Others who have served as pastors are: T. N. Rhymes, 1902; J.H. Hughes, November and December, 1902; James Evans, 1903-1905; W. T. Strain, 1906-1909; B.H. Mitchell, filled extra; J.C. Garner, 1910; M.C. Cargill, 1911; W.O. Bryan, 1912-1914; P.T. Treadwell, extra; J.R. Edwards, 1916; L.N. Holmes, 1917-1920; M.A. Price, 1921-1924; W.A. Harman, 1925-1926; J.C. McCann, 1934- 1938; James Jones, 1926-1933 and 1939-1944; Joe Quarles, 1945, present pastor. [Submitter's note: Due to lack of attendance, the church was declared inactive and dissolved, if memory serves me correctly, in the late 1960's. The church records, minutes and membership lists were donated to the Lincoln Parish Library in March, 1971 by Mr. Frank Davidson and Arthur O. Jones.] [Submitter's note: A new church sign in memory of Vera O'Hara Jones is soon to be placed on the church property. This marble sign is being placed there by family members in honor of her efforts in having Walnut Creek Church placed on the National Registry of Historic Sites in 1984. Mrs. Jones was the wife of George E. Jones, son of Arthur O. Jones, and brother of submitter.]