Bertie COUNTY NC Churches Republican Baptist Church History Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by ELIZABETH SCHOEB http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie.htm Republican Baptist Church celebrated it's 200 the Anniversary with a Homecoming Celebration September 28,2003. The Reverend Allen Harmon was the guest minister. A delicious meal was enjoyed in the Fellowship Hall after the service. Cross Creek preformed at 2:30 in the Church Sanctuary. Elizabeth Johnson Schoeb transcribes a history written by Betty Cowan Hughes. Republican Baptist Church Republican Baptist Church was established circa 1803. Although the first few years of our history cannot be found, it is thought that Sandy Run is our founding church. The information we have concerning that period has been secured from tradition. The name "Republican" is a development from the word "public". Before the organization of the church, a building stood at the fork of the road where Republican is now. All public meetings both of political and religious nature were conducted here: therefore, it was spoken of as the "public meeting house" and finally "Republican". It seems that as soon after the organization of the church a small house of worship was erected. It was painted red and was generally called "The Little Red Church". When the Little Red Church became too small to meet the needs of the community, a larger meetinghouse was built costing $1, 300.00. Republican Church was constituted in the year 1834. On May 14, 18435 our church was admitted to the Chowan Association. There were 56 members on the church roll at that time. In 1863 M. H. Bertie read the petition for Republican Church to leave the Chowan Association and be accepted into the West Chowan Association. In 1864, there were 249 members (54 males, 125 females, and 70 blacks). In 1865, the church had grown to 285 members. At one time, new converts were baptized at Burden's Mill Pond. \\In 1864 Temperance Bunch was paid $20.00 for house keeping. The cost of wine for the Lord's Supper was $17.00 for the entire year of 1865. Keeping the meetinghouse and stove was let out for $10.00 a year in 1866. During that year the pastor's salary amounted to $75.00. The building, which we are in now, was completed in 1912 and since then, has been remodeled and various features added and removed. These changes include: adding side classrooms, painting of the interior and exterior, addition and later removal of a fence surrounding the church, removal of spit boxes and Delco battery lights; these lights were used until 1945 at which time we received electricity from REA. The gas heaters were taken out and gas furnaces installed in 1952, these furnaces were taken out and gas furnaces replaced in 1978. In October 1968 a new roof was installed. A new piano was purchased, the poach was cemented and railings added, carpet was installed, draperies were hung and the floors sanded. In 1982 the furnaces were removed and central heating and air conditioning was installed, was installed, as was carped down both sides. We have been blessed by the grace of God in recent years with the following improvements: the exterior and interior of the church have been painted, the stained glass windows have been repaired, a new roof has been installed, the floors have been refinished, cushions have been added to the pews, a sound system has been installed, and the most recent improvements have been the installation of vinyl siding new carpet. The church parsonage was completed in 1925 for Rev. & Mrs. Lonnie Powers and sold on October 28, 1962. In 1954 a community building was built behind the church. Since then an addition has been made to the building with renovation being completed in 1989. Pastors of Republican Baptist Church 1833 - Elder Stephen Bazemore 1835 - Andrew M. Craig 1837-1839- no pastor listed 1840 - 1853 - Steven Bazemore 1858 - 1877 - Jermiah Bunch 1878 - 1879 - A. D. Cohen 1880 - H. D. Parker 1881 - 1891- B.B. Williams 1892 - 1897 - L.M. Curtis 1898 - 1901 - S. F. Bristo 1902 - William Prichard 1903 -1904 - S.F. Brisk 1904-1906 - W.L. Britt 1906 - 1915- T.L. Browe 1922 - 1923 - A.E.C. Pittman 1923 - 1935 - Lonnie Powers 1936 - 1948 - W.H. Hollowell 1948 - 1949 - Lonnie Powers 1950 - 1951 - W.H. Hollowell 1952 - 1953 - James A. Pittman 1954 - K.E. Bryant 1958 - Robert Brown 1961 - 1967 - Carol Hamilton 1967 - 1969 - Douglas Holland 1970 - 1974 - Students from Wake Forest 1974 Elwood Kennedy 1974 - No Pastor 1976 -1981 - Danny Poyner 1982 - 1984 - J.N. Baggett 1985 - Present - Harvey Jackson