Bluffton Baptist Church

     The Bluffton Baptist Church was organized about 1869. The charter members were C. B. Holmes, W. P. McArthur, William Grace, G. W. Collins, Guss Ingram, Rev. J. S. Parker was the first pastor.

     The first church was used by Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterians. It was built by early settlers near the springs. These settlers included Zacharian Coward, T. F. Jones, C. B. Holmes and Butler Bryan.

     Early pastors were: The Reverends L. R. Sims, J. A. Mundy, W. H. Norton, J. S. Parker, W. L. Curry, Thos. Muse, R. B. Taylor, J. S. Knowles, J. L. Underwood.

Transcribed by Donna Eldridge
from the book "The History of Clay County"

1869 BLUFFTON BAPTIST CHURCH 1932

    The Bluffton Baptist Church was organized about the year 1869. The charter members were C. B. Holmes, W. P. McArthur, William Grace, G. W. Collins, Guss Ingram, and some others whose names we are now unable to furnish. At that time Bluffton was in Early County Rev. J. S. Parker was the first pastor of this church and assisted in the organization of the church. W. W. Grace was its clerk and his post office was Fort Gaines. C. B. Holmes and W. P. McArthur were the delegates to the Association when the church joined the Association, the Association that year convening with Salem Baptist Church, Calhoun County Georgia. At the time of its connection with the Association it had only twenty one members. It received that year by baptism six and by letter eight and dismissed one by letter.

PASTORS

    Brother J. S. Parker served as pastor of the Bluffton church from its organization in 1869 to 1875; Brother L. R. Sims from 1876 to 1877; Brother J. A. Mundy 1877; W. H. Norton 1879, 1880; J. S. Parker 1881; W. L. Curry 1882, 1883 and 1884; Thoomas Muse 1885, 1886; R. B. Taylor 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892; J. S. Knowles 1893; J. L. Underwood 1894, 1895, 1896; J. I. D. Miller 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902; J. e. Dykes 1903; B. W. Davis 1904; J. W. Martin 1905, 1906, 1907; J. I. D. Miller 1908, 1909, 1910; W. L. Culbertson 1911, 1912, 1913; T. M. Thomas 1914, T. M. Thomas 1915, 1916; H. M. Melton 1917-1929; William T. Bodenhamer 1930; 1931 no pastor.

    The present membership is 110. Pastor's salary is $400.00. Total local expenses for 1931 were $525.33, gifts for missions, etc. $118.96; value of property $2000.00 The church house is where it was first erected, near the bluff on the west side of town.

    The Bethel Association met with the Bluffton Church in 1900 and again in 1921. In the summer of 1923 there was organized in the Bethel Association an Associational Encampment, which was projected by the Executive Committee and operated by the W.M.U., B.Y.P.U., and Sunday School Convention. The pastor of the Bluffton Church, Brother H. M. Melton was put at the head of tis Encampment and through his efforts and the cooperation of the churches over two hundred young people engaged in the regular class work of the Encampment the first year. This Encampment was made an annual affair and met during July of each year up until the year 1932, with the Bluffton Church. The Bluffton people cooperated beautifully in the entertainment of this Encampment.

    The B.Y.P.U. work was organized in the Bluffton Baptist Church in 1918 and has been maintained since that time.

    A Sunday School has been maintained by the Bluffton Church continuously since its organization. Brother John Mansfield has been superintendent of the Sunday School for about thirty five or forty years.

(page 144-145)

"History of Bethel Association - Including Centennial Meeting"
Centennial meeting held with Baptist church at
Edison, Georgia, October 25, 26, 27, 1932
A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator.
W. H. Joyner, Coleman, Ga., Clerk

Complied and Edited by
Alexander Lee Miller
Moderator of Association
1909 -- 1934

HISTORY OF BLUFFTON BAPTIST CHURCH 1846 - 1981

A FEW LOG HOMES WAS IN THE SETTLEMENT OF BLUFFTON IN 1846 AND THESE EARLY SETTLERS BUILT THIS CHURCH HOUSE NEAR THE "SPRINGS". THIS
BUILDING WAS USED AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP BY BAPTIST, METHODIST AND PRESBYTERIANS. WHENEVER A PREACHER OR CIRCUIT RIDER CAME THROUGH THEY
HAD A MEETING AND ALL WORSHIPED TOGETHER.

SOME OF THE EARLIER SETTLERS WERE ZACHARIA COWART; COL. T. F. JONES; DR. C. B. HOLMES; BUTLER BRYAN; RICHARD BLOCKER.

IN 1869 THE BLUFFTON LAND COMPANY WAS FORMED; STREETS AND LOTS WERE LAID OFF AND SOLD. THE LAND KNOWN AS BLUFFTON PUBLIC LAND WAS
GIVEN TO THE VILLAGE BY W. H. DAVIS WHO HAD PURCHASED IT FROM RICHARD BLOCKER. THIS LAND INCLUDED THIS CHURCH, THE METHODIST CHURCH, THE
ACADEMY (COMMUNITY HOUSE), THE COURT HOUSE THE JAIL AND THE -BLUFF'.

ABOUT 1869 THE METHODIST BUILT THEIR OWN CHURCH. THE BAPTIST REMODELED THIS CHURCH, ADDING THE STEEPLE BELFRY AND VESTIBULE. THEY
ALSO PAINTED THE CHURCH. PERSONS WHO ASSISTED IN THE REMODELING, WERE COL. T. F. JONES, DR. C. B. HOLMES, W. P, MCARTHUR, WILLIAM GRACE, G. W. COLLINS AND AUGUSTUS "BUDDY GUS" INGRAM.

IN 1839 THE NAME OF THOMAS MUSE WAS FIRST RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE BETHEL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION AS A DELEGATE FROM THE
MACEDONIA CHURCH IN EARLY COUNTY. IN 1840 "UNCLE TOMMY" MUSE WAS ORDAINED BY THE REHOBOTH CHURCH IN RANDOLPH COUNTY AND SERVED AS
PASTOR THERE FROM 1840 to 1844. UNCLE TOMMY MUSE WAS ONE OF THE PREACHERS THAT CAME TO BLUFFTON IN 1846 AND PROBABLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS
THEREAFTER. RECORDS INDICATE HE ALSO SERVED THE BLUFFTON BAPTIST CHURCH IN 1885 - 1886.

WE DO NOT HAVE AN ACCURATE RECORD OF OUR PAST PASTORS BUT WE DO KNOW BROTHER J. S. PARKER SERVED AS PASTOR AND ASSISTED IN THE
ORGANIZATION OF THIS CHURCH. HE SERVED FROM 1869 - 1875. W. W. GRACE WAS THE FIRST CLERK; DR. C. B. HOLMES ORGANIZED THE FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL AND SERVED AS SUPERINTENDENT UNTIL HIS DEATH.

DR. HOLMES AND W. P. MCARTHUR WERE THE FIRST DELEGATES TO THE BETHEL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. THE CHURCH HAD 21 MEMBERS IN THE FIRST YEAR,
SIX PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED AND EIGHT JOINED BY LETTER.

MR. GRIER MANSFIELD HAD SOME HISTORY OF THE BLUFFTON SUNDAY SCHOOL AND HE WROTE DOWN CERTAIN BITS OF INFORMATION. HE STATED THAT
MRS. WOOD SAYS THE CHURCH HAD A CHRISTMAS TREE IN 1872. IT IS OUR CUSTOM EVEN TODAY TO HAVE A COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE. ONE YEAR AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE NEXT YEAR AT THE METHODIST CHURCH. FIVE GENERATIONS OF OUR FAMILY HAVE ENJOYED THEM.

IN THE EARLY 1900'S THE LADIES OF OUR CHURCH WERE MISSION MINDED. MISS ANNIE ARMSTRONG CAME TO CUTHBERT AND THREE LADIES FROM BLUFFTON, MRS. J. E. MANSFIELD AND MRS. J. S. HAISTEN WERE AMONG THOSE THAT ATTENDED. OUR LADIES HAVE SERVED THE LORD AND THIS CHURCH THROUGH THE W. M. U.

THE FORT GAINES SENTINEL FEBRUARY 8, 1901 GAVE A REPORT ON AN EDUCATION RALLY FOR M ER UNIVERSITY HELD AT BLUFFTON. SERMONS WERE BY
REV. A. S. KEESE, D. D. WHO WAS PRINCIPLE OF THE BETHEL COLLEGE AT CUTHBERT. THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE BETHEL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. IT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1901, AND ALSO DR. J. W. STANFORD SPOKE THAT DAY.

THE BLUFFTON BAPTIST CHURCH HAS THROUGH THE YEARS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO LOCAL AND CONVENTION PROGRAMS AND IN SEVERAL INSTANCES
HAS BEEN THE BIRTHPLACE OF ACTIVITIES WHICH WERE ADOPTED AND ENLARGED BY THE GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION. WE MENTION FOUR OF THESE IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS:

1. THE CHURCH LOADED RAILROAD CARS OF PROVISIONS AND SHIPPED THEM TO THE GEORGIA BAPTIST CHILDREN 'S HOME. THE FIRST CAR TO BE SENT WAS IN 1916 AND THIS CAR WAS STARTED IN ARLINGTON AND MOVED ON TO EDISON, CUTHBERT AND SHELLMAN. TRUCK LOADS OF PROVISIONS FROM ALL CHURCHS IN THE BETHEL ASSOCIATION WERE SENT TO THE NEAREST RAILROAD. THIS WAS PLANNED AT BLUFFTON IN 1916 AND GREW TO BECOME A SUBSTANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE HOME.

2. IN 1922 SEVEN MEMBERS SET ASIDE 1 ACRE OF THEIR COTTON CROP TO BE PLANTED AND HARVESTED FOR THE CHURCH IN 1923. THESE ACRES PRODUCED A GOOD RETURN AND THE MOVEMENT HAD MUCH PUBLICITY AND WAS PRACTICED IN MANY SECTIONS OF OUR NATION

3. THE BLUFFTON ENCAMPMENT WAS INAUGURATED IN 1923 AND CONTINUED UNTIL 1932. IN JULY OF EACH YEAR REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL THE CHURCHES IN THE BETHEL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION CAME TO BLUFFTON FOR THE ENCAMPMENT. THE KILLINGSWORTH BUILDING WAS PURCHASED BY THE ASSOCIATION, AND USED FOR THE DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN AND CHURCHES FROM THE FIVE DISTRICTS BROUGHT PROVISIONS AND HELPED THE LOCAL COMMITTEES PREPARE AND SERVE THE FOOD. THE HOMES OF ALL THE BLUFFTON PEOPLE WERE MADE AVAILABLE FORTHE VISITORS FROM THE CHURCHES. THEY HAD SUNRISE SERVICES, MORNING CLASSES, AFTERNOON CLASSES, VESPERS AND THE NIGHT SERVICE. TEACHERS AND MINISTERS FROM THE GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION, MISSIONARIES FROM SOME FOREIGN FIELD CAME TO SPEAK AND GLADDEN THE HEARTS OF YOUNG AND OLD. FRIENDS WERE MADE THAT LASTED A LIFE TIME. SOME OF THE MANY PEOPLE THAT WORKED FOR THIS SUCCESS WAS, MR. & MRS. W.T. HAMMACK, DR. W. O. SHEPARD, J. E. MANSFIELD, J. B. GOODMAN, R. T. THOMPSON, A. M. HUBBARD, J. ?. KILLINGSWORTH, J. W. SHAW, E. T. GAY AND HERMAN BASS, AND THEIR FAMILIES MADE THE ENCAMPMENT POSSIBLE.

4. IT WAS DURING THIS PERIOD THAT MISS EVA GUILLEBEAU WAS EMPLOYED AS ASSOCIATION SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKED AND HER WORK WAS VERY EFFECTIVE
AND AFTERWARD GREW INTO THE PROGRAM OF ASSOCIATIONAL MISSIONS PROGRAM FOR GEORGIA AND SOUTHERN BAPTIST. THIS PROGRAM WAS INTRODUCED AND DIRECTED FROM THE BLUFFTON BAPTIST CHURCH.

SOME OF OUR FORMER PASTORS WERE:
THOMAS MUSE CIRCUIT RIDER
J. S. PARKER 1860 - 1875
THOMAS MUSE --------------------- 1885 _ 1886
C. A, JACKSON ------------------------ 1901
B. W. DAVIS ---------------------- 1902 - HOST TO BETHEL ASSOCIATION 1st
RECORDED CLERK
J. I. D. MILLER ------------------------ 1903
B. W. DAVIS------------------------------- 1903
T. M. THOMAS -------------------------- 1916
HENRY M. MELTON--------------------- 1916 - 1917
J. H. COIN ---------------------------------- 1921
W. T. BODENHAMMBR------------- 1931
W. O. BROWN --------------------------- 1933
BRO. CARSWELL ---------------------- 1937
CHARLES ALLEN ----------------------- 1944 - 1945
G. T. DUPREE------------------------------- 1949
JOSEPH FAULKNER---------------------- 1949 - 1951
ENGLISH BYRD -------------------------- 1951 - 1952
MARVIN SMITH --------------------------- 3-15-1953 - FEB. 1965
CHARLES WOODFIN --------------------- APRIL 4, 1965 - MAY 21, L966
EARNEST THOMAS ---------------------- SEPTEMBER IS, 1966 1ST SERMON
ACCEPTED CHURCH OCTOBER 2, 1966
SERVED UNTIL JULY 16, 1967
JA I. LOPER ---------------------------------- DEC. 1967 - JULY 6, 1969
CHARLES WIMBERLY -------------- SEPT. 1969 - SPRING 1970
CHARLES BREWER ---------------- NOV. 1, 1970

ON SUNDAY JULY t, 1969 WE OBSERVED OUR 100th ANNIVERSARY WITH A CAPACITY CONGREGATION ATTENDING THE WORSHIP SERVICE. BRO. HENRY
KELTON BROUGHT THE MORNING SERMON "TELL Men COD LOVES US". AFTER A DELICIOUS BUFFET LUNCHEN BROTHER C. A. VEATCH, MISSIONARY TO THE BAHAMA
ISLANDS SPOKE AND THEN WE HAD GOOD GOSPEL SINGING. IN 1932 WE HAD 110 MEMBERS. WE NOW HAVE 97 MEMBERS

OUR PRESENT PASTOR - BROTHER CHARLES BREWER
CLERK - MRS. JACK DURHAM
TREASURY - MR. JACK DURHAM
SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPT. - MR. BOBBY BROOKS

DEACONS:
C. L, HUBBARD
FELIX COINS
M. M. GOODMAN
RAYMOND CHANCE
JOHN C. BRUNER
ALBERT HUDBARD

OUR LORD HAS TOUCHED MANY LIVES THROUGH THIS CHURCH. IT WOULD BE SO WONDERFUL IF WE COULD JUST REMEMBER THEM ALL. AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
WE WOULD STILL LIKE TO REMEMBER TWO OF OUR OWN WHO HAS GIVEN THEIR LIFE TO SERVE THE LORD IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY. BROTHER BILLY COINS, CHAPLIN OF THE PRISONS OF GEORGIA, HAS GIVEN SO MUCH OF HIS LIFE IN THIS CAPACITY AND ALSO AS PASTORS OF DIFFERENCE CHURCHES. HELEN HUBBARD VEATCH HAS ALSO GIVEN SO MUCH OF HER LIFE AS THE WIFE OF HER HUSBAND CAROL A. VEATCH WHO IS A MISSIONARY TO THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. SHE HAS DONE SO VERY MUCH IN WINNING PEOPLE TO CHRIST NOT ONLY HERE IN THE STATES BUT AIM IN THE ISLANDS. WE ARE 50 VERY PROUD OF THEM AND THE WORK THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WHO DID SOMETHING FOR THE BLUFFTON BAPTIST CHURCH SOME YEARS AGO THAT WE HAVE ENJOYED AND WILL CONTINUE
TO ENJOY FOR YEARS TO COME. IT WAS TOLD TO ME HOW MRS. ANNIE KATE JOHNSON WORKED SO VERY HARD TO. OBTAIN THE NECESSARY MONEY TO BUY THE
PULPIT FURNITURE THAT IS NOW IN THE CHURCH. WE ARE 50 GRATEFUL SO HER FOR THE TIME SHE SPENT BECAUSE IT HAS BROUGHT US MUCH HAPPINESS AND
PRIDE. I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY COMMENT ON HOW PRETTY IT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF THE HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH AND WE SHOULD BE INSPIRED BY IT TO CONTINUE IN THE LORDS WORK.

Submitted by John R Johnson [ john@bridgebs.com ]
Thanks John!!

Contributed by Donna Eldridge <DonnaEldrid@aol.com>

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