Bethel  Baptist Church

By Myrtis Simmons Craft 

On January 27^th, 1839, Newton County was three years old. The  population doubled between 1836 and 1840, according to the census records  transcribed by Mrs. Oliver H. Hopkins and Richard S. Lackey, and published  in 1968. There were about 800 whites in the county in 1836 and the total  whites was 1,980 in 1840. 

The pioneers had built their shelter, had grown some food and were ready to  take care of their spiritual life.

The following citizens in the southwest section of the county met to form a  Baptist Church to be known as Bethel: Ralph and Elvy Simmons, William and  Alsey West, Everett and Martha C. Lewis, Abel Randal, Thomas Hodges, and  Gemina Walker. The Presbytery consisted of Rev. John P. Martin, Rev. Edward  Terrell and Isham Hodges.

On the 3^rd Saturday in February 1839, Rev. J. P. Martin was  chosen as preacher and William West and Thomas Hodges were chosen as  deacons, with Ralph Simmons serving as clerk. The church was off to a good  start with the addition of Leah Price, Charity West, Lucy McDaniel and Beedy  Davis received as new members at this meeting. Also received was a slave  owned by Bird Safford.

In May 1839 a committee was appointed to look for a suitable place for a  meetinghouse. Appointed were Archelas Wells, William Price, Thomas Hoges,  William West and Ralph Simmons. George Mason states in his brief history of  Bethel Church published in Newton County Mississippi A Pictorial History,that the church has had three buildings in its 163 years of existence.  The first building was located .4 of a mile north of the present church.

In the 160+ years the church has had 29 different regular pastors. Pastor L.  P. Murrell served four different times over a period of 36 years. Pastor J.  E. Chapman served over 42 years consecutively, Pastor H. H. Bethune served  over 10 years and his son, J. H. Bethune, served over 23 years. A list of  the pastors follows.

J. P. Martin 1839 - 1841 Allison Phillips 1841 - 1843 W. R. Holland 1844 R. T. Gatewood 1844 - 1847 L. P. Murrell 1847 - 1862 John Williams 1862 - 1864 L. P. Murrell 1865 Shelby King 1866 - 1872 L. P. Murrell 1873 - 1874 W. D. McQuirk 1875 - 1878 L. P. Murrell 1879 - 1883 J. E. Chapman 1883 - 1926 W. R. Allmon 1926 - 1931 H. H. Bethune 1932 - 1942 J. L. Boyd 1942 - 1943 J. D. Allen 1943 - 1944 Martin V. McKinster 1944 - 1945 Charles Phipps 1945 - 1946 Raymond Herrington 1946 - 1949 James T. Chapman 1950 - 1951 S. S. Kelly 1951 - 1952 Marcus Smith 1942 - 1953 Tulon Anglin 1953 - 1954 Chas. L. Everitt 1954 - 1955 A. G. Smith 1956 - 1960 G. S. Martin 1960 - 1963 E. F. Paderewski 1963 - 1966 Woodie Burt 1966 - 1967 John H. Bethune 1967 - 1990 Gary Smith 1991 - 1994 Eddie Ruddick, Bob Sanders et al 1994 - 2003 Paul Oglesbee 1998 - 2002 Jerry Jones 2003 -

After ten years the membership of the church was 16 males, 25 females and 11  blacks. At the end of 30 years the membership was 32 males, 56 females and 66  blacks. The following is a list of the membership for August 1869. The names are  typed as written in the minutes.

MALE MEMBERS (August 1869)

Hardy Nichols, Deacon J. M. Kelley, Deacon D. T. Chapman, Deacon E. E. Harelson, Deacon E. E. Chapman, Treasurer P. S. McCormick, Deacon H. C. Simmons A. J. McDaniel B. Stone J. C. Harelson George Thompson John Cheek R. R. Dukes A. T. Chapman J. E. Chapman R. E. Chapman John Simmons J. L. Stone D. Phillupps Wm. Skinner L. F. Shotts E. Kelley Thos. McDaniel James Simmons Henry McDaniel Henry Walker Jehu Pannell A. T. Woodham H. M. Peebels W. L. Kelley Wm. Pierce James Kelley R. Well

FEMALE MEMBERS (August 1869)

E. C. Nichols Sousan S. Nichols Elizabeth Eavens Martha Woodham Sintha Asbel Sallie Laird Charity Harelson C. McDaniel E. C. Chapman S. E. Tipet Sarah Chapman Sarah Stone E. C. Wells Martha Stringer Jane Kelley Nancy Laird Elizabeth McDaniel Adaline Chapman Lucy McDaniel Hariate Cheek Sarah McDaniel Jane Thompson Hester Woodham Martha Simmons Matilda Gilbert Delaney Walker Annie Deering Margret Cheek Gracy Wyatt Martha Pannell, Sr. Mary Gilcreece Hariate Pannell Lucinda Stringer Louise Stringer M. J. McCormick C. D. Phillupps M. T. Harelson C. L. Chapman Dicy Fare Nancy Simmons Sension McDaniel N. T. Harelson Mrs. James Simmons Lusinda Stringer Lucy Janes Sarah Davis Nancy Flanigan E. E. Currie S. E. McCain Lucy Stone Elizabeth Walker Lucy Western M. J. McDaniel

BLACK MEMBERS (August 1869)

Moses Wells Sallie Moore Henry Stringer Hale West Zeak Currie Fannie Arington Zack Chapman Mary Watkins Dick Chapman Celer Chapman, Sr. Randle Harelson Eliza Watson Cary Nichols Hariate Arington Hardy Walker Elizabeth Arington Berry Arington Mary Currie Charles Arinton Pheby Currie Isaac McAlpin Linda Nichols Andrew Chapman Betsey Thos. Watson Hanner Arrington Berry Thompson Polley Thompson George Currie Harriate Nichols Peter Eavens Caroline Thompson Luke Thompson Molley Eavens Plesant Eavens Mariah Walker Wm Bingham Celer Chapman, Jr. Alin Nichols Sena Thompson Albert Arrington Eada Arrington Jessey Walker Mary Chapman Mattie Walker Martha Walker Sam Simmons Delcy Eavens Caroline McInnis Riney Eavens Kisey Eavens Charlott Harelson Adaline Walker Charity Chapman Mary Bingham Linda Thompson Jane Nichols Fannie Chapman Liddia McDaniel Tamen Deering Hanner Currie Mariah Walker Kisiah Asbel Ann Chapman Steven Arington Joseph Rogers

In  July 1869 the minutes read as follows: Brother George Currie and Jack Simmons  was excluded for contempt to the church by motion hereafter the colored  Brethren are to have a conference immediately after ours closes. From that date  forward a separate conference was held for the colored membership. This minute  book stops with August 1870 and the next book or books are missing until about  the turn of the century. Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, wife of Y. Z. Walker, stated  that the black members first banded together in the Walker community for church  services after leaving Bethel. She states that the members left Bethel in the  late 1800's and in 1927 built a church that they named St. Johns Missionary  Baptist Church. The pastor at the time of the building was Robert Reed. The  current pastor is Anthony Robinson.

No  mention is made in the minutes of the church about the civil war. You would  think that some notice would be made of the men from the church that died in the  conflict. Do you think this is just another example of separation of Church and  State? 

At  the present time the membership of Bethel is 62.

Further information can be found at USM.  See Bethel Baptist Church Minutes, 1839-1945 (M 342). These are minutes and membership lists of Newton County, Mississippi church.

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