History of The Walston Springs Baptist Church *************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Scott Fitzgerald - scottfitzgerald@tyler.net East Texas Genealogical Society, President 20 April 2005 *************************************************************************** Originally published in The Tracings, Volume 1, No. 2, Fall 1982, Pages 4-5, by the Anderson County Genealogical Society, copyright assigned to the East Texas Genealogical Society. History of The Walston Springs Baptist Church The Walston Springs Baptist Church was organized in the Home of John Henry Walston, September 28, 1891, with fifteen charter members. The first pastor was Bro. E. K. Lively, with W. J. Fincher acting as the first church clerk. In May 1892, Matt Ross and W. W. Featherstone was ordained as the first two deacons. The first church building was a one-room wooden structure located on the Middle Crockett Road where Charlie Davis home now stands (in 1973), and services were held once per month, on Saturday and Sunday. Early pastors included: J. T. Ferguson, W. M. Hill, A. F. Perry, and J. P. Hollowman. In 1920, land was given by Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Chambers and the church was moved to its present location. Here, a one-room wooden building was erected and, before long, Sunday School Rooms were added. Pastors during this time included: Bros. W. R. Durnell, Walter Freeman, Edward Stewart, Wade Hill, and W. H. Turner. On March 3, 1956, this building was completely destroyed by fire, but by April 2 of the same year, a new foundation was poured on the same site, this building being completed on June 11, 1956. The white brick building included an auditorium and six classrooms. To this, an annex of four Sunday School rooms and an assembly room were added in January of 1962. In the fall of 1966 a three-bedroom brick parsonage was built just south of the church. Pastors during this time included C. A. Johnson, D. N. Jackson, Harvey Freeman and Vernon Hedge. The outreach of the church was enlarged in October of 1971 with the addition of a bus ministry and another annex was dedicated February 13, 1972. This addition included five Sunday School rooms and an assemby room which is also used the Childrens' Worship Services each Sunday. The staff in June 1972 consisted of: Pastor Bill Sheffield, Music Director Thomas Pennington, with Buddy Walker, Harold Ferguson, Arnold Ray, James Chambers, Emory Smith, Elbridge Elliot, Alvin Taylor, Charlie Davis and Reuben Grant as members of the Deacon Board. Other earlier pastors were J. T. Rogers, J. T. Ferguson, J. W. Caldwell, W. A. Foster, O. P. Meadows, Preston Graham, Norman Lassiter, J. B. Trent, George Cooper, and H. A. Schoenrock. Men who have served as deacons, but not previously mentioned, were Matt Ross, W. W. Featherston, D. A. Maddox, Jessie Chambers, J. L. Hitt, J. C. Ray, Ben Chambers, Larry Henderson, Marvin Henderson, and Leroy Blackmon. Church clerks have been W. W. Featherstone, D. A. Maddox, W. W. Walston, Louella Ferguson, S. W. Day, J. J. Chambers, Alice Maddox, Harold Ferguson, Vonzo Chaffin, M. P. Edmondson, Floyd Hassell, Bert Featherstone, Maxine Chaffin, Ola May Elliott, and Gladys Henderson. Song Leaders and/or Music Directors were Evelyn Nation, Thomas Davis, Thomas Young, Arnold Ray, Clifton Hudson, and Tommy Pennington; while Louise Hitt, Kate Hobson, Myra Davis, Bobbye Turner, Virginia Walker, Del Freida Fincher, Joyce Taylor, Mrs. D. N. Jackson, Mrs. Albert Johnson, Nelda Grasty, Sheila Pennington, Bonnie Moon, Carolyn Sheffield, Jane Grant, and Mary Frances Walker were pianists. Today, the little church still sits serenely in same place, approximately 1 mile from the intersection of Crockett Road and the middle Crockett Road, serving the people with the following staff: Pastor Howard E. Seago, Church Clerk Gladys Henderson; Treasurer, Arnold Ray; Music Director, Tommy Pennington; Youth Director, Randy Walker; Musicians, Jane Grant, Virginia Walker, and Mary Frances Walker. Services are held each Sunday, and the "Homecoming" is held the last Sunday in June each year. Charter Members, 1891 John Henry Walston H. E. Chambers E. K. Lively W. J. Fincher Matt Ross W. W. Featherstone J. W. Conoway J. P. Holloman G. W. Maddox (others) 1905 Members (from 1st record book) 1. J. T. Furgerson, Minister 2. W. W. Featherstone,deacon 3. G. W. Brede (baptised 1892) 4. Tom Perry 5. G. W. Maddox 6. George Cooper 7. Will Walston 8. Leb Hester 9. Bell Featherstone 10. Bell Furgerson 11. Rachial Brede 12. Jewel Maddox 13. Bettie Hester 14. Leonia Moore 15. Mamie Rogers 16. Ella Furgerson 17. Lena Featherstone 18. Nora Walston 19. Rosy Featherstone 20. Beaulah Maddox 21. Dora Maddox 22. Lula Lackling 23. Stella Brede 24. Emma Cooper 25. Mary Garner (Submitted by Tommie and Louise Pennington)