HISTORY OF BIBLE GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

Copied from papers obtained from Virgie Ann Hinson Pritchard

Organization

AUGUST 20, 1942

On this date a group of men and women seeing the need for a church asked a group of ordained preachers to come and help them organize. The following responded: Rev. H. A. West, North Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson, TN; Rev. A. T. Willis, Second Baptist Church, Dyersburg, TN; Rev. Wade Carver, Center and Laneview Baptist Churches, Trenton, TN; Bro. J. D. Altom, First Baptist Church, Jackson, TN. The meeting was called to order and the above composed the council.

A motion was made by Bro. Willis, seconded by Bro. Wade Carver that Bro. H. A. West act as moderator. A motion was made and a second that Bro. Wade Carver act as clerk.

The moderator called attention to the council and the prospective church the need for a church.

Motion made by Bro. Wade Carver and seconded by Bro. J. D. Altom that we proceed in the organization.

Mrs. George Martin and Mrs. Anne Longmire and Shirley Pritchard presented letters of approval to the council.

Bro. H. A. West called on Bro. A. T. Willis to read the Church Covenant as generally accepted by a Missionary Baptist Church. This was voted on and accepted by the church. The articles of faith was also read and approved by the prospective church. A motion was made and seconded that this be declared a Missionary Baptist Church.

Brother J.D. Altom lead the congregation in singing "Where He Lead Me I Will Follow" and an invitation was given to anyone who wanted to unite with the church by letter or be received for baptism.

The following came on profession of faith for baptism: Jack Hicks, Geraldine Gregory, Marvin Sanders, Garland Sanders, Maurne Northcott, Fred Northcott, Marshall Campbell, Carl Longmires, Margret Sanders, Mrs. Virgie Pritchard, Zinimae Sanders, Dorthy Williams, Mrs. Enos Longmires, Mrs. Vera Jines, W.A. Longmires, and Doris Finley.

Motion was made and seconded that all who united with the church this afternoon be known as the charter members of the church. A motion was made and seconded that the church be known as the Bible Grove Baptist Church.

The church extended a call to Bro. J. D. Altom to become their Pastor and he accepted.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the meeting was closed with prayer by Bro. Wade Carver.

Rev. H.A. West, Mod.

Wade Carver, Clerk

History

Bible Grove Baptist Church originated August 20, 1942 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Pritchard. The following ministers were present: Rev. H. A. West, Rev. A. T. Willis, Rev. Wade Carver, and Rev. J. D. Altom.

The charter members of the church were Jacks, Geraldine Gregory, Marvin Campbell, Carl Longmires, Margaret Sanders, Mrs. Virgie Pritchard, Zinamae Sanders, Dorthy Williams, Mrs. Ennis Longmires, Mrs. Vera Jines, W. A. Longmires, and Doris Finley.

The church extended a call to Bro. J. D. Altom to be their pastor and he accepted. The church originally met at a brush harbor just a few hundred yards south of the present location. The first permanent building of the church was in 1943 at the present location. Four additional Sunday school rooms were built in 1946. Bro. J. D. Altom resigned from the church in the fall of 1947, and Bro. Earl Elliott was called soon afterward. Bro. Elliott was pastor of the church for two years. Bro. L. H. Canady was called to pastor the church in the summer of 1949. During Bro. Canady's ministry the church grew in membership. He resigned in June of 1951 from Bible Grove. The church then called Bro. R.M. Johnson as pastor, who served until the spring of 1955. Until September of 1955 the church was served by student preachers from Union University and Bro. Henry Guy, Jackson, who was associational missionary. At this time Bro. R. E. Guy was called to serve the church as pastor. Soon after Dr. Guy came the old church building was torn down and at this time $25,000.00 worth of bonds were issued to the church and sold to the public to permit the building of the present auditorium. About six months following an addition of six Sunday school rooms, a dining room, and the kitchen were completed. In 1957 four additional Sunday school rooms, two bathrooms, and the pump were established. A final addition of the baptistry and three small rooms was built on the back of the auditorium in 1962. During these years as pastor of Bible Grove Church, Dr. Guy served faithfully and was a devoted servant of the Lord until his death on November 1, 1963.

In 1957 a parsonage was built south of the present location on an acre of land which was given to the church by Mrs. Al Campbell. The parsonage was then sold just a few months prior to Dr. Guy's death and the proceeds were applied to the indebtedness which paid off all the bonds except approximately $1,800.00.

On April 1, 1964 Bro. Lawson Williamson began his service as pastor of the church and during his service the remainder of the bonds were retired. Bro. Williamson resigned from the church in October 1966.

God has richly blessed Bible Grove Church through these years and under the leadership of faithful pastors and devoted members the church has grown from an original membership of 16 to the present membership of 290.

On December 18, 1966 Bro. J. D. Skiles began his service as pastor of Bible Grove Church.

Below are listed some of the original members of Bible Grove Baptist Church that have passed from this life as remembered by Virgie Pritchard. They are listed and numbered as they died:

Bible Grove Baptist Retires Indebtedness

Excerpt from the Jackson Sun, date unknown

Sunday, March 19, marked a significant milestone in the history of Bible Grove Baptist Church. In recognition of the retirement of building indebtedness and a victory for Christ won through the faith and devotion of pastoral leadership and members, there was a special service which was climaxed by the burning of the retired bonds.

After the invocation by Mr. I. G. Wood and welcome by the pastor, Mrs. R. E. Guy spoke to the church briefly in memory of the late Dr. R. E. Guy, former pastor. Mrs Floyd Pritchard, a charter member, read a brief outline history of the church, and Mrs. Harold Maroney then brought a special musical number.

Dr. W. C. Boone, pastor of the Woodland Baptist Church and Moderator of the Madison-Chester Association of Baptists, brought the inspirational message. After the burning of the Bonds in the church yard Emmet Guy, son of the late Dr. Guy, and Sheriff of Madison County, led in the prayer of benediction.

Bible Grove was constituted as a church on Aug. 20, 1942 and Rev. J. D. Altom was the first pastor. The church was organized under a brush harbor on the DeLoach farm and then met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Pritchard until the first building was erected about a year later on the present location.

Dr. R. E. Guy came in Bible Grove in Sept. 1955, and served as pastor until his death, on November 1, 1963. Not long after his coming the original building was torn down and present auditorium was erected.
To permit the building program $25,000.00 in building bonds were sold to the public. Additional Sunday School rooms and facilities have been added since the construction of the auditorium.

All of this indebtedness but about $1,800.00 was retired during the time of Dr. Guy's service. This balance was paid off after the Rev. Lawson Williamson came as pastor of the Church in April 1964.

Other pastors who have served Bible Grove Church are the Rev. Earl Elliott, Rev. L. H. Canady, Rev. R. M. Johnson, from its beginning with sixteen charter members the church has grown to a membership of almost three hundred. The present pastor is Rev. J. D. Skiles.

My grandmother, Virgie Ann Hinson Pritchard, had the records of Bible Grove Baptist Church recorded. I have transcribed them ... to put on the Madison county website. I now own these precious records. This is a great document which details the beginning of the church. Both of my grandparents were members of this church as well as my father (when he was still living at home).

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