In 1870 the Union Church had moved to Reynolds, forming the present Baptist Church of Reynolds. Below we trace its roots from Ariel -- Union -- Reynolds Baptist. Membership (1870-1890)
These were: Luke and Delilah BROWN; Allen and Sarah JONES; Able WINDOM; Mary HOLBS; H(enry) PINKSTON; Penellopy SMITH; Mary HOLBS; Frances HOLBS.
On July 7, 1832 Br. Henry BELL was chosen as Preacher. A year later (9-7-1833) they voted to build a new meeting house on Pascal BRANHAM's land (probably where Byrd-Glover Cemetery is today). In 1836, the Church was torn by controversy over "missions" and this continued for several years. See p. 19 in They Tarried in Taylor for these details.
Pastors included: Bro Henry Bell Bro. William Boughden (Bowden) 1834 Bro. Robert F. Miseldine (licensed to preach) 1839 Bro. J.B. Deavours 1840
The minutes of Ariel Baptist Church are housed in the Stetson Library, Mercer University, Macon, GA.
Bro. J.C.R. Lockhard 1845 Bro. Hiram Powell 1849
Source: They Tarried in Taylor by Essie Childs page 18. Members belonging in 1832; 1840-1845; 1845-1851 are listed.
This is to certify that we the undersigned members of Union Church present ourselves as a body to you for acceptance into your Christian care and fellowship. G.T. Wilburn, Moderator A.A. Carson, Clerk
List of Members H.L. Corbin (Henry) Mrs. Minnie Farmer (daughter of Melissa & James A. Carson) Mrs. McClenahan Mrs. Lockett H.T. Jordan (Henry) S.I. Jordan (Sara Isabella) J.P. Carson (Joseph Perryman Carson) Mrs. C.K. Carson (Charlotte Briggs Carson) Mrs. S. S. Carson (Susan Saphronia, wife of Maj John T. Carson) Mres. Melissa Carson (Melissa Brayn, wife of James A Carson) A.A. Carson (Albert Alphonzo) Miss M.E. Carson G.R. Briggs F.M. Bryan (Francis Marion Bryan) Mrs. A.E. Bryan (Anne Elizabeth Carson, wife of F.M. Bryan) Mrs. Elizabeth Hicks (Wife of Jones Hicks) Miss Kate Hicks (her daughter) Miss Charity Mitchell Mrs. Rete Hicks (Mary Carson, wife of A.W. Hicks) Dr. G.A. Nesbitt Mrs. Wash Frazier Mrs. Vick James Miss Perry Amerson Miss Frances Amerson Cicero Newsom Miss Julia Morris Mrs. Arrington (Mother of Mrs. E.D. Hicks) Mrs. E.D. Hicks (Julia Arrington, wife of Edward Dickson Hicks) Mrs. Elly Amerson Mrs. Luke Merritt Rebecca Capel Mr. Davis Croft Goodwin Mrs. Goodwin Miss Lucy McNeil A.P. Cochran Miss Betty Amerson Miss Martha Mathis J.I. Briggs Miss Nancy BlackmonMEMBERS OF REYNOLDS BAPTIST CHURCH
Listed in Back of Minute Book 1870 - 1890 (From History of Reynolds, Georgia ...compiled by Reynolds
Woman's Club)
The congregation constituting what is now known as the First Baptist Church of Reynolds
had its beginning on May 12, 1832 when four men and five women constituted themselves into
a Primitive Doctrine Baptist Church. This church was located about eight miles Northwest of
Reynolds at Ariel in Crawford County which at that time included part of what is now Taylor
County. Names of those signing the covenant in 1832 were Luke Brown, Allen Jones, Abe(l)
Windham
, H. Pinkston, Delilah Brown, Sarah Jones, Mary Wells, Frances Halls, and Penellopy
Smith.
Services were held on Saturday and Sunday, usually the fourth. A few members were
added each year, some by baptism and some by letter, from other Baptist churches. Among
these new members were some slaves. Trial and dismissal of members on various charges was
not an infrequent occurrence. Thus in 1837, the church clerk introduced a motion to establish
a Sunday School and was promptly expelled by a unanimous vote.
In 1845, for reasons not explained, the membership of the church at Ariel moved to a site
on the Corbin place, about 4 miles Southeast of Reynolds in Macon County. The Macon
County church was named Union. Services were held here regularly until the outbreak of the
War Between the States and intermittently during the 1860's.
On January 30, 1879, probably because of inconvenience in attendance and friction among the
members, several members of Union organized themselves into a new church called The Church
of Christ at Reynolds and continued in the Baptist faith. The original members of the new
church were Richard Ingram, Bryant Ingram, Henry Nowell, Mary Ingram, Sarah Ingram,
Martha Powell, Elizabeth Nowell, and Annie Oliver. In December 1879, the remaining members
of Union Church presented themselves in a body to the church at Reynolds and were accepted.
The predecessor of the present First Baptist Church building was erected in 1871. The
church outgrew this building and additions were made early in the 1900's. The beautiful stained
glass windows which were donated by the individuals whose names appear on them as memorials
to someone were installed at the same time. The steeple with the bell which for years was rung
each Sunday morning was also added. The two-story Education Building was built across the
rear of the old building in 1956. No sooner had this been accomplished than a program was
launched for a new sanctuary to be built on the same site. The program included construction
of a new pastorium. The new sanctuary was occupied and dedicated on the 3rd Sunday of
October 1959.
Contributed by Lisa Windham.
Richard Ingram (Ex. heresy)
Bryant Ingram
Henry Nowell (Ex.)
Mary Ingxram
Sarah Ingram
Martha Powell
Elizabeth Nowell
Annie Oliver
I.B. Deavors
H.L. Corbin
B.T. Jordan
J.P. Carson
A.A. Carson
G.F,. Briggs
F.M. Bryan
G,C. Merritt
Cicero Newsom
Luke Merritt
Mr. Davis
Crawford Goodwin
A.P. Cochran
G.R. Briggs
J. C. Wiggins
W.H. Merritt
Mr. Greene
H.H. Long
H. Hedges
Thomas Windham
R.H. Arrington
L.CJ. Scarborough
A.E. Fountain
Nancy Cody
Georgiana Brewer
A.A. Dennard
P�I.L. Farmer
Emma Lockett
Mrs. McClennon
Mrs. S.I. Jordan
Mrs, C.K. Carson (Mrs, J.P.)
Mrs. S.S. Carson (Susan Saphronia Howe)
Mrs. Melissa Carson (Mrs. James Alston)
Miss Elba Carson
Mrs. A.E. Bryan (Mrs. F.M.)(Francis Marion)
Mrs. Elizabeth Hicks (Mrs. Jones Hicks)
Miss Kate Hicks (Her daughter)
Miss Charity Mitchell
Mrs. '' Rete"Hi ck s (Mrs. A.W. Hicks)
Mrs. Wash Frazicr
Mrs.Vick James
Miss Jennie Amerson
Willis Little
Charlie Arrington (Ex.)
J.C.Calhoun
G.W.Morris
John Camel Miss Georgia Hedges
John Kennedy (Ex., non-attendance Miss Fannie McDowel
immorality) Mrs. Fountain
G.W. Snelgrove Miss Sarah Briggs
Frank McDowel Miss Ida Perryman
John Amerson (Ex., contempt of church) Miss Jennie Long
C.J. Mullins Mrs. Martha Hodges
R.W. Smith Miss Emma Calhoun
W.P. Patrick Mrs. Newsom (Ex.)
Mrs. E.C. Griffith Miss Whittington
H.H. Long Mrs. Snelgrove
John Whittington (One of these men Mrs. McGriggers
Joe Whittington Ex. for heresy) Mary McDaniel
Miss Tice Miss Oliver
Sallie Kennedy Miss Sally Whittington
Thomas GoodxFn Mary Smith
J.M. Goodwin N.C, Smith
Mrs, J,M, Goodwin F.J. Patrick
Miss Kate Peacock S.W. Freeman
Dr. E. M. Newman Lula Carson
Mrs. E.M, Newman Alice Long
Dr. Milton Jones Hicks Julia Hodges (later Mrs. Geo Ingram
Mrs. Lula Kinton Hicks Ella Windham (Ex., heresy
William Tune Elizabeth Nowel
Mrs. F.C. McDowel (Ex.) Charity Fulwood
Mrs. Tom Windham (Ex.)
Richard Jones
Paul E. McDaniel (Ex.)
Miss Frances Amerson
Miss Julia Morris (adams)
Mrs. Arrington
Mrs, E.D. Hicks
Mrs. Elly Amerson
Miss Ruth Capell
Mrs. Goodwin
Miss Lucy McNeal
Miss Betsy Amerson
Miss Martha Mathews
Miss Nancy Blackmon
Jane Whittington
Mary Owens
Louisa Long
Ann Hicks
Penelope Patterson
Susan Whatley
Catherine Hicks
Mrs. Anne Ragland
Mrs. Rhoda Morris
Miss Greene
Mrs. Greene (Ex., Heresy)
Miss Mattie Carson
Miss Sally Ingram
Miss Lou Ingram (Ex., heresy)
Miss Mattie Long
Contributed by Desmond Harp
The History of the First Baptist Church was written by Ferdinance Carson for the Bicentenniel
More from Church Records
Mrs. Camilla Carson abstracted these from the Minutes. Published in The Butler Herald One Hundred Years
April 14, 1833 the church in conference agreed to observe the ceremony of foot-washing twice a year.
Sept 12, 1833. Decision to move church meeting house to Pascal Branham's [Glover] land. Gideon Newsom was one of the commissioners appointed to do this.
The winter of 1835 was extremely cold. There was no conference held in the months of January, February nor March on account of snow and cold.
April 11, 1835. Summoned Brother TUNE for drinking too much.
May 7, 1835. Brother TUNE forgiven on his acknowledgement of his wrong.
Oct 21 1837. Conference takes up charges against William Bowden, moderator and several others for introducing a set of articles contrary to the Word of God and the constitution of the church.
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