Mount Pelia Baptist Church
Weakley County, Tennessee Established abt. 1829
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by Douglas Ryan and Craig Peevyhouse The loss of early records make it impossible to accurately give the exact date of the organization of the church, but from research made, it has been fairly well determined that the church was established either in 1829 or near that date. Following is a short historical sketch of the church made from available records. Perhaps the Mount Pelia Baptist church was organized due to the efforts of Bro. James P. EDWARDS, a missonary of TroyTennessee, who's field of labor was Weakley and Obion counties. In 1837 at the meeting of the Baptist State Convention of West Tennessee at Paris, his church at Republican Grove reported that there had been 23 additions, and that much good had been done since Bro. EDWARDS accepted the pastorate of the church. Brother SPANN, Moses T. was also a missonary for Obion and Weakley counties. The first mention of the Mount Pelia Church that we find is at the West Tennessee Baptist Convention held at Spring Hill Baptist Church in 1855,When it named David WAGSTER, pastor of Mount Pelia, M.F. Union, Thompson's Creek, and Troy. In the proceedings of the 22nd anniversary of the West Tennessee Baptist Convention held with the Bluff Spring church, Gibson county, Tennessee, September 15, 1856, Bro David WAGSTER represented the Mount Pelia church. We find that on motion of Elder D. WAGSTER, resolved that a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the request of the Beulah Association, Brethren J.B. DUNCAN, M. FLY and Wm. CALDWELL were appointed to said committee. The special committee on request from Beulah
Association made their report, which was received and adopted, via report
of special committee. The special committee appointed on the petition from
Beulah Association have had the subject under consideration, and we ask
leave to present the following report: The petition for aid from this convention,
to the amount of $36.00 in support of a missonary who is employed by the
board of that association, independent of this convention, and in no way
accountable to it or under it's control, We therefore report against the
prayer of the all of which is respectfully
Mount Pelia's pastor, David WAGSTER, reported that Dresden, Troy, Dyersburg, Huntingdon, Jackson, and Trenton are destitute of Baptist preaching and that there is only one Baptist preacher in Obion County. Mount Pelia had contributed $5.00 to the convention. Elder WAGSTER was the Vice-president of this convention. Minutes of the 38th session of the Western
United Baptist Association and held with the church at Bird's Creek, commencing
on Saturday before the first Sunday in October, 1860. W.H. MCGOWAN,
pastor of Mount Pelia church, messenger W. CRITTENDON. Total members
was 47. Following is the report of the church Church M.D.,2 Baptized,
10,
At the 44th annual session of the Western District United Baptist Association, held with the church at Bethlehem inOctober 1886, Mount Pelia sent no messengers, but a letter, they had baptized 16, received by letter ?? reported 1 dead, a total of 50 members. They contributed $1.50. At this meeting the Mount Pelia church presented a letter requesting that they be dismissed from this association. It was resolved that said church have a letter of dismissal. It is not known what the first building was, it is assumed to be a log building. Mount Pelia Church was destroyed by a storm, somewhere around the turn of the century(1900). This was a frame building. In 1941, a new building was built on the original lot. We are unable to find any record of when the original lot was given or purchased, this being the south part of the present property. In 1957, the church purchased a lot approximately one acre of land, this being the north side of the present property. The present auditorium was built in 1965. The building that was built in 1939 was torn down and the present educational building was erected in 1969. In 1940, pastor, Bro. Warren HILL , under the direction of the church, began pastoring on a half time basis. Preaching services were conducted on the first and third Sundays in each month. Until this time, the church had services once a month, when weather permitted. In 1946, the church bought a pastors home. In 1960, the church built a new parsonage on ground donated by Mr. and Mrs. Harold WAGGENER. The church then sold the old parsonage. The church bell was bought from T.H. Hall and company for $6.30 in 1866. In February, 1869 a committee was appointed to sell the bell, and with the proceeds pay off the demands against the church. In June of 1869, the church recinded their act in regard to selling the bell and a committee was appointed to put up the bell. The following committee was appointed. Wm. WAGSTER, Abia CRITTENDON, B.W. STOVALL and Joel HATCHETT. PASTORS
NOVEMBER 20, 1921, BRO. T.A. Duncan was ordained and called to pastor Mount Pelia Church. Bro. DUNCAN was a member of the church. Other pastors were, J.L. ROBERTSON, John R. CLARK, J.D. YATES, E.J. Blackford, J.B. Andrews, Warren HILL, Harry HARP, Bruce WILLS, Marvin MILLER, Noel EDWARDS, Kermit BRANN, Jerry SPENCER, Gerald BLANE, J.P. SELPH, Cayce PENTECOST, John HARRISON, J.W. ABNEY, R.L. DODSON, Ray MORGAN, Bill WILLIAMS, Donald DOSTER, John FIELDS, Craig PEEVYHOUSE. Men Ordained to the ministry by Mount Pelia
Church
Some of the early members of Mount Pelia Church were, the ALEXANDERS, HALLS, CRITTENDONS, DUNCANS, WAGSTERS, COLLIERS and BELLS. At the writing of this document there were a few members that have been members for over 50 years. They are Miss Janette PRUITT, Mrs Irene TANSIL, Mrs Blanche COLLIER, Douglas RYAN, Mrs Lubye COLEMAN was a member at Mount Pelia for almost 70 years before her death. Mrs. Lizzy HALEY was the oldest member until her demise. She was close to 100 years old. EXCERPTS FROM CHURCH MINUTES Mount Pelia Baptist Church met Saturday June,
1st, 1907 . After preaching by Bro. B.F. SMITH, the Church met in
conference, withdrew fellowship from Bro. SUTHELAND for taking the Lord's
name in vain. New business, Committee for rebuilding church. W.A.
PARRISH, Walter ALEXANDER, Blake CRITTENDON, Oscar
Transcribed by Joe Stout
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