Early History of Winnfield First Baptist Church, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** >From the December 11, 1932 Winnfield News-American History Records Wonderful Growth of Local Church Baptist Church Established in 1871 With Membership of 15 The fact that the local Baptist church is entertaining the State Baptist Convention for the third time calls to the minds of some of the oldest members the modest beginning and rapid progress of the church. Organized in 1871 with a membership of 15, the Winnfield Baptist Church has grown to a membership of more than 800 and is still growing. Aunt Susan Jones is the only living charter member and she was 86 years old Sunday. The Winnfield church first became a member of the Central Baptist Association, which was organized in 1869 at Mars Hill, and was composed of the parishes of Natchitoches, Caldwell, Bienville, and Winn. In 1927 the name of the Association was changed to the Winn Parish Baptist Association. It grew so fast that it was later divided and now part of Winn Parish is in the Shady Grove Association, but Winnfield church is still a part of the Winn Parish Association. At the time when Winnfield became a member of the Central Association, the state of the churches was described as "cold to luke warm". Minutes of the association in 1876-79 show the association living up to its name of "missionary association" in sending missionaries over the parishes to what were termed as "destitute places." They were indeed destitute, modes of travel were hard, and the early missionaries deserve much credit for their work. The minutes for 1876 show that the association was not only interested in religious work but in the advancement of education as well, for in that year a resolution was passed to "devise means for the establishment of a Classical School within the bounds of the Association." Whether such a school was ever established could not be determined. Since its establishment in 1871, the local church has had seventeen different pastors. Beginning with W. S. Leggett, there followed Geo. A. Kelly, A. I. Hartley, J. T. Wallace, William McBride, A. P. Durham, G. R. Johnson, J. H. Crosby, S. L. Morris, J. P. Durham, Dr. J. R. Edwards, A. D. Kendrick, L. D. Posey, F. W. Tinnin, G. H. Crutcher, and A. H. Cullen. The first clerk was John F. Kelly. Mrs. E. E. Kidd is church clerk at present. It was during the pastorate of J. H. Crosby in 1903 that the Convention met here for the first time, and it was during the pastorate Dr. G. H. Crutcher in 1925 that it met the second time. A. H. Cullen, under whose pastorate the convention is meeting for the third time, preached the convention sermon when the convention was held here in 1925. The First Baptist church building erected in Winnfield was a frame building which would seat about 400. It was built during the pastorate of J. H. Crosby and dedicated in 1902. The W. M. U. Society bought the lot on which it was built and it became the first property owned by the Baptists in Winnfield. During A. D. Kendrick's pastorate the church was outgrown and the tabernacle built. The present church building was begun during F. W. Tinnin's pastorate. The congregation was able to move in while L. D. Posey was pastor. G. H. Cruthcer helped with the installing of furniture during his pastorate, and the building and its furnishings have been completed since A. H. Cullen has been pastor. The Sunday School was organized in 1898, and W. T. Norman was its first superintendent. Passing on to other duties for many years then, Mr. Norman is again superintendent of the Sunday School. The Missionary Society, an integral part of the church organization, claims the distinction of being the first society in the state to adopt the circle plan. Rising from its humble beginning to its present widespread sphere of influence, the local Baptist Church is justly proud of the service it has rendered in the past and the service it is trying to render today.