History of Spearsville Baptist Church, Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Shawn Martin, 3/23/2004 . ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ History of Spearsville Baptist Church Union Parish Louisiana by Miss Eunice Cole transcribed by Shawn Martin from originals supplied by Gene Barron The church now known as Spearsville Baptist Church was organized June 5, 1848, about four miles from Spearsville, Near the present Negro Fellowship Church. The first sermon was preached by Rev. J. Tubbs, after which the body was called into conference. The Articles of faith were read and adopted. At the call for members, ten came by letter. The church was called Fellowship and Rev. J. Tubbs was called as the first pastor. William C. Carr was elected as the first clerk. In August of the same year, a revival was held under a brush arbor. Twenty-one members, including several Negroes, were added. William C. Carr and George Washington Clayton were elected as the first deacons and were ordained the following September. A committee composed of John D. Carroll, J. W. Williams, W. C. Carr, John Mathews, John McFarland, and Mr. Melton were appointed to select a suitable place for a church building and to draw up plans for it. By September, 1849, five acres of ground was donated by Daniel D. Abbott, and the building was begun. Rev. Samuel F. Cobb was called as pastor and served until 1856 when he resigned due to ill health. In 1857, the name of the church was changed to Spearsville Baptist Church, with a membership of 97. Several years later, this church building was given to the Negro members, and the white members established a church in the town of Spearsville. The first service was held in open air. Until a church could be built in 1868, the members met in the lower room of the Masonic Lodge for services. In 1907 a new church was constructed on land adjacent to the present building and was used until 1945, when its condition was such that it could hardly be used any longer. The people had long seen the need of a new and adequate building and were ready for the leadership and guidance of the Holly Spirit through some able and faithful servant. Fortunately, in October, 1944, Rev. Allen O. Buckley and his Christian wife the former Miss Doris Watson, both of Bernice, La., came to lead us in half-time services, after the church had been quarter-time all these years. Through the efforts and work of this fine couple, a new church was visualized. The building committee was composed of W. C. Cherry, Harrel Cole, and Arkie Pryor. An ideal time for raising the initial building fund was thought to be a week following a two weeks' revival, during which Rev. Stafford Rogers, a state Rural Evangelist, assisted the pastor. On this fourth Sunday in July 1945, the church members brought their donations along with those from many relatives, friends, and former church members and residents of Spearsville. Prayers had been answered. In August 1945, the old building was torn down and the new building was begun on a lot north of it, which was donated by S. J. B. Abbett. While construction continued, the church again used the Masonic Building. The first service held in the still unfinished building was the funeral on September 20, 1945 of Deacon T. L. Stone. The next service was the funeral on Nov. 5 of T. B. Breazeal. The first regular Sunday School and Preaching services were held on November 11. The church became full time October 1, 1945. Despite war conditions, God was good to us, and today, June 8, 1947, we are glad to dedicate our lovely building to His service, that His name may be glorified. DEDICATORY SERVICE Beloved in the Lord: God, our heavenly Father, having in the grace which is in Christ Jesus our Lord given to the Spearsville Baptist Church of Spearsville, Louisiana this house of worship and its furnishings to be used in preaching the Gospel in Spearsville and throughout the world, we are now gathered in His presence for the purpose of setting aside this house by a solemn act of worship to His sacred use. PASTOR: To the glory of God the Father; to the honor of God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; to the praise of the Holy Spirit, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR: As a place of worship, thanksgiving, and praise to Almighty God for all that He is and all that He does, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR: As a testimony to the truth and inspiration of the Bible, the deity of Jesus Christ, His atonement for our sins, His virgin birth, His bodily resurrection, His return as the blessed hope of the Church, and other fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR: As a center of preaching the blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the end that lost souls may be saved, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR: As a place of intercessory prayer to God for the world, the church, and for ourselves, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR: As a center for the study of God's Word, to the end that believers in Christ may be edified, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR: As a refuge for the sorrowing and the poor, and all who peculiarly need the grace of God, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR: For the world-wide proclamation of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in obedience to his command, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR: As an organization separated from modernism, unbelief, and all unholy alliances; and proclaiming the necessity of such separation on the part of all Christians, PEOPLE: We dedicate this house. PASTOR AND PEOPLE: With gratitude to God for the gift of Jesus Christ our Lord, and the knowledge of Him through the Gospel, and with a desire that all men everywhere may know him, too, We the members and friends of the Spearsville Baptist Church, now consecrating ourselves anew, dedicate this building in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.