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Our History
The Providence Baptist Church of Christ (the start of Orrville Baptist Church) was organized June 13, 1820, in the home of Joseph Vann, near Bogue Chitto Creek. Singing, exhortation, and prayer were a regn1ar practice of the church. The charter members were: Joseph Vann and his wife Lucy; Johnson Hayman and wife Jane; Josiah McElroy; and Davenpot Greaves. The church was then practicing "foot washing" on a regular basis and persistently discussed the proper time for such. In February of 1822, foot washing was referred to the Cahaba Association with the records indicating that the decision was to be under the ordinance of being performed following the Lord's Supper.
The church met on Saturday once a month to attend to business, considering it sinful to do business on Sundays. The conference usually was chiefly concerned with church discipline. People were called before the church for drinking and quarreling. One man was questioned for taking cotton to the gin on Sunday; Members were dealt with for being absent from church services on a regular basis. On one occasion when a workman was employed to make seats and a table for the new church, he accused himself of being a drunk. Then later denied his own charge and the church dropped the matter. This was typical church business at that time, along with business matters. Other business included a church employed a man to clean the church and look after the nearby spring; his salary was $5.00 a year.
In those days preachers were scarce. and were called for a year at very small salaries. They usually made their living as farmers, In 1871 the church met to call a pastor to serve the next years, Brother W. B. Crumpton. a cousin of Mrs. Ethel H. Crumpton's husband, was unanimously chosen. This pastor was energetic and foresighted. Soon the church began a Sunday school and a library. Brother Crumpton led the church to a conspicuous position among Baptists of the state. Dr. Crumpton later became the Executive Secretary of the Baptist work in Alabama, a position he held until his death. Many Baptists then thought that the Sunday school was not a part of the church and that it must not meet in the church building. Under the direction of Reverend Crumpton the Providence chnrch passed resolutions stressing the value of the Sunday school. It was also decided to be part of the church and should meet in the building on Sunday.
When the church had reached its fiftieth birthday, records had accumulated in scattered books. The membership engaged Brother B. N. Moseley to transcribe the minters into one volume in his beautiful handwriting. The records of this church are now in the Baptist Historical collection at Samford University College. On May 26, 1871, the Providence church appointed two members to locate, secure and preserve the records of Liberty and Cahaba churches. This shows that there had been a Baptist church in Cahaba and that at Liberty. a few miles wet of the first capital of Alabama. A month later the committee reported that they were unable to find the records of the two churches. In 1874 the church needed a new roof, so • committee was appointed to solicit the funds. They had much difficulty in securing the needed amount, and they decided to raise enough money to pay for covering only one side of the roof. The other side eventually was covered also.
From its beginning Providence Baptist Church was progressive but it never permitted a piano within its walls nor did it ever take an offering. The man would come up after services and lay their money on the table for it treasurer. It must have been a good plan: it lasted 11 0 years. September 23, 1882, a committee was appointed to purchase a new organ for the congregation. On that committee were four of the most prominent women in Dallas County: Mrs. B. F. Ellis, Mrs. Shields, Mrs. Dubose, and Mrs. H. C. Graham.
In February 1888 eighteen members were granted letters from Providence Baptist Church located five miles south of Orrville. The eighteen letters were granted to members to organize the Orrville Baptist Church, some of the letters were to: Colonel B. F. Ellis, Dr. A. G. Moseley, and Mrs. Ed. Lacey, and Mrs. Lacey. Reverend W. G. Curry was the first pastor of the Orville Providence Field (so called then). The Woman's Missionary Union of the Orrville Baptist Church was organized in 1888 in the Orrville Methodist Church, since the Selma Baptist Association was in session in the Baptist Church and at that time ladies did not attend the meeting of the Selma Baptist Association. Later in the year the church erected a building for WMU. Through the one hundred years the Women’s work has constantly expanding, and included a Sunbeam Band and later starting work with the young girls, Girl's Auxiliary. Young Women's Association did not forget the boys, they started a Royal Ambassador group. WMU continued working with the boys until the Brotherhood took them over in the 1970's.
In 1930 Providence abandoned its services and blended with Orrville, being called Orrville Baptist Church, The churches called a pastor jointly. A pastorium was soon built and used by E. G. Warren who served from May 1929 until December 1967. The Providence church building was taken down in 1952 to use in construction of the new Orrville annex. The present fine building at Orrville stands as a memorial to the pioneers of the faith who labored well at Providence.
In 1959 some fifty members withdrew and organized New Hope Baptist Church. Some of the pastors at New Hope Baptist Church were: Reverend John Davis, Ray Real, John McLaren And Robert Pemberton. Both churches ministered to the community until reuniting in 1976. Reverend Elwood Sims was the pastor of the reorganized Orrville Baptist Church at that time.
On the first Sunday of February 1988, the Orrville Baptist Church celebrated 100 years of continual service as a constituted church. The day was extremely cold, but the spirit was warm. Sunday school was omitted that day, as the church service was longer than usual, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Sanctuary was filled with regular members and visitors who were especially welcome. Dr. Pemberton, pastor made necessary announcements Mrs. Pemberton, choir director, led congregational singing and directed the choir with special music. People who were members the longest were recognized. Those standing were Randolph Oxford, Murphy Price, and Edna Watson. Reverend Elwood Sims a former pastor delivered a stirring message. After services we adjourned to the educational building for lunch, fried chicken prepared by Stanhope Frasier, baked beans, cole slaw, rolls, pies and drinks all supervised by Annie Lovelace, Church Hostess and her staff, Lucille Turner, Judy Jackson and volunteer. The ladies of our sister church, Orrville Methodist, came and served the dinner, relieving our ladies for this special occasion of the lOOth anniversary. This was a great day for all. Many men, ladies, and young people come dressed in clothes patterned by those styles of long ago. giving us a nostalgic sense of days past.
Continuing the centennial theme, on Easter Sunday we had a special service preaching by Dr.
Pemberton, music by the choir and a solo by Mrs. Pemberton. On May 10, 1988, Dr. and Mrs. Pemberton were appointed missionaries to Mexico by the Foreign Mission Board meeting in Richmond. Virginia. Our congregation received this news with mixed feelings rejoicing with them and with the fact that for the first time in one rejoicing with them and with the fact that for the first time in one hundred yeas our church had the good news that missionaries were going out from our church. but with great sadness of heart over losing our pastor, wife and son who had served us eleven years with a very faithful congenial ministry. On July 24, 1988, Dr. Pemberton, known affectingly as "Brother Bob", Resigned to begin a new career along with his family. On that same day in the afternoon at 2:00 pm. Orrville Baptist Church had affirmation service for him, which was attended by a special guest from the Belize team, Reverend Bradley, Associational Missionary, also family, and friends. At the conclusion of this emotional service Reverend Ed Byron, from Selma called for all pastors and deacons to come forward for lying on of hands. Needless to say, this broke loose the fold of tears that had been building up for several weeks. After this Program. we all gathered in the recreational room for a reception that the church gave the Pemberton's, along with a love offering that was sent in by members as a parting gift.
Reverend Glenn Taylor came to serve the church in June of 2000 to 2006. Reverend Stephen Rutherford came in August 2008 and presently serves the church faithfully. As has been the primary mission since its organization in 1888, the Orrville Baptist Church maintains a strong fellowship of love through the Lord Jesus Christ and is committed to His Great Commission to extend God's plan of salvation to all mankind.
PASTOR HISTORY
1871 - Rev. W.B. Crumpton
1888 - Rev. W.G. Curry
1889 - Rev. S.J. Cotts
1900 - Rev. J.V. Dickinson
1910 - Rev. S.H. Bennett
1923 - Rev. L.J. Bristow
1929 -1967 - Rev. E.B. Warren
1968 -1976 - Rev. Erlwood Sims
1997 - 1988 - Rev. Robert Pemberton
Dates Unknown - Rev. Ralph Barnes
? - 1997 - Rev. Doug Mosley
1998 - 1999 - Rev. Jeremy Barrett
2000 - 2006 - Rev. Glenn Taylor
2008 - Present - Rev. Stephen Rutherford
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