Allen County African-American Church Histories
Courtesy Barren’s Black Roots Volume 3, Michelle
Gorin Burris,
Gorin Genealogical Publishing, (c) May 1993. Source:
The Jubilee History and Biographical Sketches of Liberty
Association, by G. RE. Ford, Printed and Published by Times
Publishing Company of Smiths Grove, Ky., 1916.
Greenville Baptist Church
Settle, Allen County
“The Missionary Baptist Church, formerly called
Needmore, is located near Sulphur Creek, in Allen County. It was
organized in the year 1872, the organization being composed of
colored members belonging to white people’s churches of various
places. Those officiating in the organizing of the church were Rev.
B. Rogers, moderator, assisted by Rev. P. Murrell and a white
brother by the name of Tom Morehead, who was secretary of the
business.
“Rev. B. Rogers pastored the church from its
organization to 1897. Brother G. W. Start was the first clerk of the
church. He held that office till 1892. The various clerk from then
till the present were: Bro. Festus Stark, Sister Henrietta Howard,
and others; the present clerk is Sister Edna Rally Stark.
“The first church building was of logs and very
poorly seated, costing about $25.00. The second building was of
sawed material, worth about $200.00 at that time. The third
building, which is the second house, is a nice frame, neatly weather
boarded, very beautifully seated and located on the public road
about nine miles north of Scottsville, Allen County, Ky.
“The church owns about ten acres of good land, and
the church and property are now worth $2,500.00.
“Rev. C. C. Davidson (pictured) was pastor of the
church after the
death of Rev. B. Rogers, in 1897, until 1907. After his death, on
the fourth Saturday in February, 1908, the church chose for its
pastor Rev. G. R. Ford, who is the author of this book, also the
moderator of the association and is the present pastor. The present
officers are Alfred Landers, Edd Richey and Frank Sears, deacons.
The former deacons were: J. W. Stovall, Jessey Stark, J. W. Stark,
Kupe Stovall, Henry Whitney, Richard Willoughby and Richard Lee, all
of whom are dead.”
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