Historical Information
The first building was a log building, about 100 ft. down in field. Mr. Ed Harder said that he could remember it as a boy. He said that it had wood shutters for windows, and split logs for seats.
The 2nd building was part of present one, but was remodeled about 1930.
The picture above is the third building.
History
Written about 1970 by Elder Edmund G. Harder (1894-1980). Copy in possession of the late Kathleen Harder.
The Cedar Creek Primitive Baptist Church was organized in the year 1831 across the road from where the present church now stands. The land where the church now stands and where it first stood, was given by Colonel Thomas Simmons. The first church was a log building, having one door in the end facing the road. In the other end was a large fireplace. Wood was used to heat the church on meeting days, which was the fourth Sunday in each month and the Saturday before. In one side of the church one log was partly cut out for a window to give light. The first seats for the church were made of puncheon, hewn from poplar logs. Each puncheon was about 4 inches thick, 15 inches wide and 12 feet long. In each one 4 holes were bored and pegs put in for logs.
This house was used for many years. In those days the church house was full and crowds on the outside. They traveled on horseback, wagons and walked. They would come from far and near, especially on certain days when they took communion and washed each other’s feet. The old house was torn away and a new one was built, which served for a long time as a church and school combined. Then the present church was built.
Some of the first Elders to serve in the church were: Pleasant Whitwell, G. Eakins, George Horner, Pock Grimes, Lancaster, James McKeel, Newt Hinson, John W. Lomax, Eli Larkin Hinson, Wm. C. Pope, J. A. Burcham, W. P. Bond, T. M. Cross, T. W. Beacham, George W. DePriest, Joseph Y. Thompson, R. G. Rhodes and Edmond G. Harder, the present pastor. Elder Pleas Whitwell was the first moderator. The church was organized with about 40 members: Martha Lomax, Abigale Corbin, Annie Ward, Miles Shipman, Sarah Dunagon, Sarah Denton, Lucinda Inman, Nanny (Nancy?) Horner, Harriet Harder, Elizabeth Denton, Catherine Inman, Mary Lomax, Jane Richardson, Moarta (?) Lomax, Aby Corbin, Catherine Whitehead, Martha Coleman, Elizabeth Horner, M. C. Griffin, M. E. Lorie, Elizabeth Tate, Sarah Haynes, Nancy Prater, Elizabeth Turnbow, Rebecca McDonald, Catherine Hold (Holder?) Catherine Battles, Catherine Prater, (Mole), J. S. Ward, D. Baker, George Horner, G. Eakin, Amos Randel, I. Gordon, S. Shipman, J. Freeman, Jacob Shipman. Samuel Denton, J. Gordon, Robert T. Dinkard, C. Swindle, and Joseph Kelly.
Through the many years this church has thrived through the many changes of times and seasons and a true band still meet and have their conference, meeting each month in which transacts any business which comes before the church and take communion and wash the saint’s feet twice each year in May and August.
Please e-mail me if you have any of this information, for any church (past or present) in Perry County. Thank you. Contact Jerry L Butler, your Perry County TNGenWeb coordinator.
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