When my husband was five, the church he grew up in celebrated their 100th anniversary.
This past Sunday, at the age of 56, they celebrated their 200th anniversary.
Confused?
He was, though some of the materials and the historical play offered the explanation for the time travel forward/backward (however you want to look at it). Evidently, when an older member passed away, she had a box of papers she had saved from the church over the years, and the family gave it to the church leaders. Included were minutes from the early 1800s. In light of the information, the church decided to celebrate the time it was originally started, and not the time the first building was put on the current property.
Here's some tidbits you might find interesting:
The church was established sometime between 1805-1811 as Wake Bethel.
1825-1859 Men had to sit on one side of the church; women on the other.
1849 First missions offering to send a couple from Apex to China.
1859 4.5 acres donated for the present site of the church, and the new building was called New Bethel.
1861 A $20 gift was given for the spiritual benefit of Confederate soldiers.
Church resolution admonishing members to not partake in "frolicking" (dancing) or to have such activities in their homes.
1864 Licensed their first preacher, a black named Turner.
1865 Church roll (male members only) consisted of 34 slaves and 32 whites.
Sherman's troops shot the church en route to Raleigh. (The front door with a bullet hole was saved and made into door frames when the church was remodeled. The shattered window and framing were unsalvageable).
1873 After a disagreement over use of church property (refusal to build a schoolhouse on it), the freed slaves withdrew and established their own church, Juniper Level Baptist. (So this would be 8 years after the war)
William J. Bryan was excommunicated for attending a dance.
1891 Purchased an organ and started singing classes.
1912 Approved to have both honey and bees removed from the church building.
1915 Motion made to buy new well buckets.
1917 Due to church growth, voted to add more posts for horses.
1927 Church building was wired for electricity at the cost of $30.45
1929 Gave their old hymnals to the new First Baptist of Garner.
1930- Depression Years...Church was turned to face the East, renovated from 1 room to 9 rooms, and the pastor asked members to set aside a portion of their crops to help pay for it. Baptist Sunday School Convention was held at the church, and due to lack of funds, everyone was asked to bring their own dippers so they wouldn't have to buy paper cups.
1953 Appointed the first ushers.
1954 Began clearing trees for a cemetery.
1961 Church split, with 50 members withdrawing to start Turner Memorial Baptist Church.
1963 Installed a baptistry.
1965 Locks installed on the church doors. Bobby remembers this (he was 10) and was HORRIFIED that a church would even think of locking its doors to keep people out.
1975 First pew cushions!
The more recent items were things that don't sound so unusual for us, but the above, while routine matters at the time, made us chuckle! The funniest part was when during the play a teenager read the part about "frolicking". You could tell by the look on his face just how crazy he found that! Makes me wonder what people will 100 years from now will think about our church minutes!
This past Sunday, at the age of 56, they celebrated their 200th anniversary.
Confused?
He was, though some of the materials and the historical play offered the explanation for the time travel forward/backward (however you want to look at it). Evidently, when an older member passed away, she had a box of papers she had saved from the church over the years, and the family gave it to the church leaders. Included were minutes from the early 1800s. In light of the information, the church decided to celebrate the time it was originally started, and not the time the first building was put on the current property.
Here's some tidbits you might find interesting:
The church was established sometime between 1805-1811 as Wake Bethel.
1825-1859 Men had to sit on one side of the church; women on the other.
1849 First missions offering to send a couple from Apex to China.
1859 4.5 acres donated for the present site of the church, and the new building was called New Bethel.
1861 A $20 gift was given for the spiritual benefit of Confederate soldiers.
Church resolution admonishing members to not partake in "frolicking" (dancing) or to have such activities in their homes.
1864 Licensed their first preacher, a black named Turner.
1865 Church roll (male members only) consisted of 34 slaves and 32 whites.
Sherman's troops shot the church en route to Raleigh. (The front door with a bullet hole was saved and made into door frames when the church was remodeled. The shattered window and framing were unsalvageable).
1873 After a disagreement over use of church property (refusal to build a schoolhouse on it), the freed slaves withdrew and established their own church, Juniper Level Baptist. (So this would be 8 years after the war)
William J. Bryan was excommunicated for attending a dance.
1891 Purchased an organ and started singing classes.
1912 Approved to have both honey and bees removed from the church building.
1915 Motion made to buy new well buckets.
1917 Due to church growth, voted to add more posts for horses.
1927 Church building was wired for electricity at the cost of $30.45
1929 Gave their old hymnals to the new First Baptist of Garner.
1930- Depression Years...Church was turned to face the East, renovated from 1 room to 9 rooms, and the pastor asked members to set aside a portion of their crops to help pay for it. Baptist Sunday School Convention was held at the church, and due to lack of funds, everyone was asked to bring their own dippers so they wouldn't have to buy paper cups.
1953 Appointed the first ushers.
1954 Began clearing trees for a cemetery.
1961 Church split, with 50 members withdrawing to start Turner Memorial Baptist Church.
1963 Installed a baptistry.
1965 Locks installed on the church doors. Bobby remembers this (he was 10) and was HORRIFIED that a church would even think of locking its doors to keep people out.
1975 First pew cushions!
The more recent items were things that don't sound so unusual for us, but the above, while routine matters at the time, made us chuckle! The funniest part was when during the play a teenager read the part about "frolicking". You could tell by the look on his face just how crazy he found that! Makes me wonder what people will 100 years from now will think about our church minutes!
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