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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.
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