Bertie COUNTY NC Churches Republican Baptist Church Additional History Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by ELIZABETH SCHOEB Republican Church Additional Information Betty Cowan Hughes did the research for us for this information. I asked her for the information that was read on Homecoming Celebration September 28, 2003. I had no idea that information was no longer available and she would have to search again through ledgers to provide the information in this article. Information was copied as it was written. Without Betty's hard work we would have lost this part of the past in Bertie County. Thank you Betty for helping preserve this part of Bertie County's history. . Submitted by Elizabeth Johnson Schoeb 1862 - Rev. Jermiah Bunch was pastor. His salary for a year was $75.00. Services were once a month. There were 91 male members and 139 female. Sept. 1873 Rev. Bunch preached the first sermon in the new house. Not the one we are in now. Voted to have services twice a month and pay Rev. Bunch $200.00 per year. 1868 - Revival meetings were called Meeting Of Days or Protracted Meetings. Sometimes they lasted for 12 days or more. 1869 - Rev. Bunch made a resolution that every member pay 10 cents per month to be paid quarterly. They didn't accept it. 1870 - Had baptism at Burdan's Mill Pond. 1871 - They passed a resolution that every member male and female pay 1 cent per week to the church. The church was called the Meeting House. 1875 - The church passed a resolution prohibiting its members from playing either vocal or instrumental music. 1877 - 199 male members and 177 females. You could be dismissed from the church for dancing and fiddling, cursing, drinking, non-attendance. 1884 - There were 39 baptized after a Protracted Meeting. 1889 - Met to try to organize a Sabbath School. It was started in Nov. of 1889. 1892 - Pastor's salary still $200.00 per year. 1892 - Committee bought table and chairs for church. Cost $14.25 1893 - Put in wine carpet. 7- 1896 - 23 were baptized after Meeting Of Days. 8- 1897 - Whitewashed the plaster in church. Cost $3.00. 1901 - Hattie Thomas and Lura Thomas were reported for dancing but they were excused. (These ladies were great aunts of mine. According to family history they were playing a game called "jumping straws." Not dancing. The straw was what you gathered from the field to make a broom out of. They would lay the straw on the floor making blocks like an outside game called "hop scotch".) 1905 - Removed Spit boxes. 1907 - Bought an organ. Before then the songs were told out instead of singing. (Betty found some of the old books. She says they were like reading poetry.) 1909 - The pastor was called every year. It might be the same one if he would accept. 1910 - Discussed building a new church. Building Committee was appointed. Starkey Ward ( chairman ) W.F. Early, Lewis Bazemore, J.P. Bazemore, G.W. White and Jeppy Thomas. 1911 - Decided to repair the old church building. They recommended a modern structure by building one classroom on each side of the front of the building. Pulpit changed to the front with a vestibule on each side of the pulpit by building an annex to the front. Floors were inclined. Windows changed to modern, an arched ceiling and new pews. 1912 - Church was completed. 1913 Bought a communion service for $53.13. 1914 - Had preaching first and second Sunday each month. Pastor's salary $500.00 per year. In a field with Lewiston. ( This possibly meant he was at Lewiston the other Sunday's) Dec. 13, 1914 The full amount of the church note was paid. Amid the singing of Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. The note was burned in the presence of the congregation. 6- 1915 - Rev. J.N. Loftin of Elizabeth City preached the dedication of the church. That P.M. dinner was served on the church grounds . More people than could get in the house attended. Oct. 1915 - Made a motion to call female members each May and Nov. March - 1918 - Put lattice windows in Church tower. April - 1918 - Purchased collection plates for $ 8.08. ( These plates are still in use. They have been refurbished by Betty Hughes.) August- 1918 -.Completed Baptistery. Cost $80.85. Total expenses for the year $1,388.94. 1919 - Adopted envelope system. 1920 - Had electronic lights installed - Cost $115.00. (According to Betty they still have one of the old light fixtures. From talking to my mother it was a carbine light. The same type light fixtures were in the old Republican School House.) June - 1925 - Parsonage completed. 397 members. 1926 - Two tons fo coal cost $15.11 and $5.00 for hauling. 1931 - Had services on second and forth Sunday. Pastors salary was $647.50. 1932 - People promised to give produce from 1 ½ acres to the church in order to pay off the church debt. 1933 - Paid H. W. Bazemore $48.64 in money and 71 bags of peas on church debt. 1935 - Pastors salary for a year $850.00. February 10, 1935 - The note on the church was paid in full and burned in the presences of a large congregation by the Rev. J. L. Powers. Still baptizing at Burdan's Mill Pond. 1944 - Motion passed to do away with annual call of pastor. 1950 - Church had a pig for the Lord program. Everyone donated a pig to the church to help pay expenses. 1962 - Sold Parsonage to Author Rawles. 1976 New curtains and carpet installed. 1978 - Furnaces were installed. Put aluminum skirting around the base of the church. 1979 - Bought Hymn Books in memory of Mrs. James A. Speight. May- 1980 - Planted shrubbery around church. Most of members helped to plant. July 1875 - Started baptizing at Hughe's Pond on School Road. The last baptism was at the Hugh's Pond. Fall 2002 - The church was painted on the inside. Spring 2003 - Had new carpet installed and chairs reupholstered. September 28, 2003 The 200th Anniversary Homecoming celebration. Over 200 members and former members attended. This was followed by a delicious catered lunch.