Habersham County
Providence Baptist Church
On September 14, 1825, a group of people met with
representatives from Bethlehem Baptist Church for the purpose of organizing a
new church. There were three ordained ministers present, the Reverends Peter
Keykindole, Robert McMinn and Humphrey Posey. The church was constituted and
named Providence.
The Articles of Faith were drawn up and the following agreement was made, "We
the members thus constituted,
agreeing to the above Articles of Faith, do each for him and herself voluntarily
give ourselves up to one another in the fear of the Lord and do hereby promise
by His assistance to watch over one another and endeavor to do everything in our
power to promote each other's happiness and welfare in testimony whereof we have
caused our names to be set to this instrument, date above written."
The original members as listed on the minutes were:
1. Stewart P. Megee
2. John Patterson
3. Lewis Free
4. William Haynes
5. James Crow
6. William Baton
7. Henry Haynes
8. Frederick Canup
9. Joseph Patterson
10. Abner Stark
11. Jonathan Haynes
12. Jepe Hendrick
13. William Crow
14. Jonathan Johnston
15. Cheriah Free
16. Barbary Haynes
17. Margaret Crow
18. Lary Baton
19. Phebe Haynes
20. Mary Canup
21. Alsey Stark
22. Cynthia Haynes
23. Susannah Haynes
24. Arryna Haynes
25. Katherine Free
PASTORS
The first pastor was Robert McMinn. Other preachers were:
| 1829 | Henry Haynes |
| 1827 | Frederick Canup |
| 1833 | James West |
| 1839 | James Jarrard |
| 1848 | Elijah Sutton |
| 1855 | T. A. Bell |
| 1856 | J. C. Harris |
| 1858 | Stephen Field |
| 1866 | Elijah Sutton and John C. Harris |
| 1868 | Elijah Sutton and John C. Harris |
| 1869 | Elijah Sutton, John C. Harris and James H. Field |
| 1870 | James H. Field |
| 1873 | J. C. Harris |
| 1875 | L. L. Free |
| 1876 | L. L. Free & J. C. Harris, Joint Supply |
In 1834 the church voted to give $1.50 for Associational Minutes. Almost every year from 1825 to 1878 there is mention of delegates to the Associational Meeting called the "Union Meeting" in the early minutes.
On September 11, 1837, the church in conference passed this
resolution: "Resolved that difference of opinion concerning the Benevolent
Institute of the day ought not to destroy our fellowship one for the other as
Christians, and that every individual ought to be left to the free exercise of
his own judgment. No power on earth having just right to compel any to
contribute or withhold contrary to their own free will."
Personal subscriptions to the pastor in 1859 were: Thomas A. Bell, $5.00; Rev.
Elijah Sutton, $2.50; Rev. S. C. Harris, $1.00; Bill Hill, $1.00; David Hill.
$1.50; and Lewis S. Free, $1.00.
In 1868, a committee was appointed to arrange rules for a Sabbath School. They
were: J. R. Williams, J. N. Smith, W. L. Hill, E. H. Sutton, I. N. Hill, H. P.
Brookshire and H. H. Harris.
In 1871, a Sunday School was organized with sixty-two members. The following
officers were elected: W. C. Daniel, Sunday School Superintendent; E. W. Sutton,
Secretary; A. Judson Hill, Treasurer; E. Henry Sutton, Librarian.
In September of 1877 a revival service was held. Eighteen people joined by
experience. One of those was Virginia Daniel.
A list of the members in 1860 numbered 161.
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Kim Gordon
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Last updated Saturday, April 30, 2005