Church is Organized

By David Taylor | July 21, 2016

It must have been a wonderful summer day in May of 1852 when the Lauderdale County Presbytery met at the Liberty Meeting House.  Fifty anxious adults stood with high hopes of their church becoming a reality.  When the examination was completed, the Presbytery Council gave their decision.

“We, the State of Alabama, Lauderdale County, whom have been called on as Presbytery
to meet at the Liberty Meeting House to examine in the standing of those members who wish to become a church, do certify that after examination on some points of Divinity proceed to pronounce them the Baptist Church of Jesus Christ.  Given under our hands this the 22nd day of May, 1852.

J. L. Cypert
J. C. Sparkman
Thomas Morrison”

Surely, there was an old-fashioned Baptist celebration, that followed!

The vision of God’s people had truly become a reality.  The church met together to propose their statement of faith.

“We the names of the undersigned having been baptized upon confession of our faith in Christ met in conference on Saturday before the fourth Lord’s Day in May of 1852.  We have commemorated and agreed with one another to keep the rules and order of the church.  We agree to take the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments for our rule book for both faith and justice.”

John L. Cypert, Pastor

Fifty charter members:

  1. John Sego
  2. Margaret Sego
  3. Catherine Dowdy
  4. Mary Dowdy
  5. Elizabeth Davis
  6. Nancy White
  7. Francis Lindsey
  8. Thomas Nolen
  9. Sarah Nolen
  10. Staunton Hanback
  11. Mary Hanback
  12. Kiziah Bellew
  13. Martha Dowdy
  14. Levina Dowdy
  15. Mary McCorkle
  16. James McCorkle
  17. Phillip Lindsey
  18. W. M. McCorkle
  19. Sarah McCorkle
  20. Olive Rogers
  21. James Dowdy
  22. Cammelet Cooper
  23. Sarah Threet
  24. Silvester Lindsey
  25. Margaret Nolen
  26. Elizabeth White
  27. Artina Cobb
  28. Jackson Lindsey
  29. John Brown
  30. Elizabeth Paulk
  31. Elizabeth Sharp
  32. John Cobb
  33. Margaret Cobb
  34. Mary Threet
  35. Charlie Paulk
  36. Mary Cobb
  37. Peggy Dowdy
  38. Maragret Dowdy
  39. Elizabeth Huddleston
  40. Levi Waldrep
  41. Peggy Bellew
  42. Edmond Cobb
  43. W. D. Hanback
  44. Mary Scott
  45. Linda Pinkston
  46. Annah Clementine
  47. Martha McCorkle
  48. Daniel J. Hutton
  49. Nicholas Welch
  50. R. E. Welch