HISTORY OF
NEW HOPE
MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
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HISTORY OF
NEW HOPE
MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH |
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On Sept. 22, 1855 a group of Christian people of the New Hope Community, believing that for a fuller enjoyment of a Christian life and as a help to their brethren, decided to organize a church, the New Hope Baptist. All bearing letters of membership in former churches, the following: Elder Thomas Willingham, Louis F. Ballard, Benjamin Gage, Wm. Maberry, George W. McIntosh, ? C. Betty, Thos. A. J. Childress, Aaron a servant of Bro. Ballard, Elizabeth Gage, Mary Ballard, Francis Willingham, Elizabeth McGlothler, Elizabeth Ann McIntosh, Elizabeth Saunders and Eleanor Maberry were the first members. A constitution of rules were written and presented to the members and unanimously adopted. There were 8 rules of their belief, resented. They were regularly organized into a church by the aid of the following Presbytery: Elder Thomas Willingham, Elder Wm. B. Mathis, Elder Jon. O. J. Davis, and Elder P. K. Wilson. The church then went into conference by calling Elder Thos. Willingham to the moderator's seat. Call first to the election of clerk resulted in the choice of Bro. Thos. A. J. Childress as clerk. Call to second proceeded to the election of Delegates to represent the Church of New Hope in the Soda Lake Association which resulted in the choice of the following named Brethren: Bro. T. A. J. Childress, Elder Thos. Willingham, Bro. G. W. McIntosh and Benjamin Gage alternate. There were 18 rules of Church Decorum drawn up. The church met in conference on the 25th day of Sept. 1855, opened the doors for the reception of members. The following presented themselves for membership: Joshua Gage, Ira Saunders, David H. McCothler, Delalah Childress and Emaline, a servant belonging to Bro. Ballard, and were all received for baptism and on the 26th received P. K. Wilson by letter. The meetings were usually once a month. Members were taked in from time to time and letters of dismissal were granted to members as the moved to other parts of the country. They were busy seeing to the conduct of their members, and by Oct. 27, 1844, they had preferred a charge against a member for exacting too much charge on a certain debt. Fellowship was often withdrawn from a member for using vile language, dancing, being intoxicated, etc. Aaron, the servant of Bro. Ballard, was dismissed from fellowship for having joined the Areta Bap. Church. The first mention of the death of a member was when their beloved Bro. Lewis Ballard passed away Feb. 18, 1857. Then another, Benjamin Gage, passed away on Jan. 6, 1858. All this time the New Hope Church had been meeting in a one room log house used for 16 yrs., the question arose as to whether it be called a school house and used as a church or called a church house and used as a school. After much discussion a committee consisting of Bro. Wolfe, Brol. Wm. Maberry, C. W. Ballard, and Y. M. Langford were appointed to see to securing the land upon which the house then stood. This was on Jan. 18, 1872, and on Jan. 18, 1872, Gassaway Gage deeded to J. Johnson, Tobe Wolfe, William Maberry, adn C. W. Ballard, two acres of land for the sum of $1.00. Said land was to begin 62 rods N. of Gassawy Gage S. W. corner, thence E. 18 rods, thence N. 18 rods, thence W. 18 rods, thence S. 18 rods to place of beginning. When said land ceased to be used for church the land was to be returned to the owner. So the log house became a church building and was used for a school Then on March 7, 1873 the beloved Br. ? H. Hudnall departed this life and on July 10, 1873 Bro. R. E. Curlee passed away, Sister Elizabeth Gage passed away March 9, 1874. Four of their organizing members had passed away. The church did not get to meet each month due to several causes, mostly bad weather, because it was the winter months when the most usually failed to meet. There were many pastors who served the New Hope Church, and they were sometimes without one. When they were the moderator would take charge of the service or business. We find a list of the church membership for July 17, 1874. Sometimes later, notations were made by some members dismissed by letter, excluded, or dead. MALES 1. William Maberry: 2. G. W. Ballard (D. by letter); 3. C. C. Ballard; 4. C. A. McIntosh; 5. E. M. Sego; 6. N. W. Langford (D by letter); 7. Gabriel Ray (dead); 8. Thomas Ray; 9, J. R. Shepard; 10. Mousor Ray (excluded); 11. A. G. Cox; 12. W. J. Johnson; 13. L. I. Cox (D by letter 1881); 14. A. March; 15. W. Wolfe (excluded); 16. G. W. Stanley; 17. George Maberry; 18. L. R. Youngblood; 19. C. W. McIntosh; 20. J. M. Bullard (D by letter); 21. John S. Maberry; 22. Henry F. Maberry; 23. T. W. McIntosh; 24. Jas. Hudnell; 25. F. M. Hudnell; 26. R. Marsh; 27. A. W. McIntosh; 28. S. P. McNair (L); 29. W. B. Cumbie (L); 30. J. J. Persons (L); 31. G. A. Roberts (L); 32, Jas. Odom (L) FEMALES 1. E. A. McIntosh; 2. E. Maberry; 3. Sarah Stanley; 4. M. Hudnall; 5. S. C. Youngblood; 6, J. McIntosh; 7. F. Seago (D by letter); 8. E. Langford (D by letter); 9. M. Johnson; 10. O. Cox (dead); 11. E. Stanley; 12. F. Marsh; 13. M. E. Ray; 14. W. Ray; 15. E. A. Shepard; 16, A. Wolfe (excluded); 17. M. Johnson (D by letter); 18. F. M. ? ; 19. E. Hudnall; 20. M. McIntosh; 21. M. Ballard; 22. D. H. Ballard; 23. T. M. McIntosh; 24. ? (excluded); 25. Rosaline Stanley; 26. Manerva Osburn; 27. Mary Ray; 28. Jan Hudnall; 29. S. J. T. Maberry; 30. Adaline Maberry; 31. M. A. Cumbie; 32. Missoure Roberts (L); 33. Willie Spurlin (L); 34. Rebecca Osburn; 35. Mary J. Marsh; 36. Margaret McIntosh On the 4th Sabbath in December, 1882 a committee was appointed to raise funds to build a new church at this place. They were Bros. J. R. Shepard, A. G. Cox, B. F. Eitel, C. A. McIntosh, Geo. McIntosh, Robert Marsh, and Will Wolfe. Then on Sept. 22, 1883 a committee of James Eitel, Mc. Maberry, and W. A. Wolfe was appointed to superintend the cleaning of the church yard. When they built the new church the best of lumber was used, not a knot hole in it. It was built on the smae location and served it's congregation for many years. By a list of the membership in 1887 you can see how they were growing. 1887 Membership MALES 1. Wm. Maberry (died); 2. C. C. Ballard (died); 3. C. A. McIntosh; 4. Gabriel Cox (died); 5. Thos. Ray (excluded 1888); 6. J. R. Shepperd (D by letter Sept. 4, 1887); 7. A. G. Cox (D by letter); 8. W. J. Johnson (D by letter); 9. Alex Marsh; 10. C. W. Stanley (died 1885); 11. George Maberry (excluded 1888); 12. L. F. Youngblood (died 1882); 13. G. W. McIntosh (d by letter); 14. John S. Maberry; 15. Henry P. Maberry; 16. Thomas ? McIntosh; 17. James Hudnell; 18. F. M. Hudnell; 19, Robert Marsh; 20. A. W. McIntosh; 21. S. P. McNair (by letter); 22. W. B. Cumbie (D by letter); 23. J. J. Person; 24. Jas. Osburn (excluded 1888); 25. ? P. Roberts (excluded 1888); 26. T. C. Markham (baptism accepted Nov. 1881); 27. T. M. Cox (died Jan. 1882); 28. H. A. Gage; 29. J. M. Green; 30. Geo. Ballard; 31. Willis Cumbie (D by letter 1881); 32. R. Putman (restored 1882); 33. L. T. Cox (exluded 1882); 34. Wm. Wofe (excluded 1882); 35. Robert Caslet (baptism accepted 1882); 36. Wm. Maberry (bap.); 37. J. M. Honeycutt (letter Aug. 1882); 38. Davide Barton (bap.); 39. Robert Stanley (L); 40. U. W. Cox (bap.); 41. Tom McGrafth (bap.); 42. J. A. McIntosh; 43. B. F. Eitel (excluded 1884); 44. Jas. Eitel; 45. A. M. Eitel (excluded 1884); 46. W. H. Kelly (D by letter 1883); 47. G. W. Bowman (letter accepted); 48. John McCurdy (letter accepted); 49. J. W. Crow (died); 50. B. F. Stansol (excluded); 51. Wilburn Cox (baptized Sept. 1884); 52. D. Henderson ( by letter); 53. J. M. Burch (d by letter 1884); 54. W. C. Hodges (by bap. excluded); 55. Joseph Marsh (by bap.); 56. L. A. Latch ( by bap.); 57. W. A. Roden (by letter); 58. Criss Reed (dismissed 1888); 59. Robert Dodd ( by bap., excluded Feb. 1889); 60. J. ? Fry (excluded Sept. 27, 1889); 61. James Driscol (excluded Aug. 1889); 62. ? W. Latch (by letter); 63. ? Hames; 64. John Combe ( by letter); 65. E. A. Moon FEMALES 1. E. A. McIntosh (died 1889); 2. E. Maberry; 3. Sarah Stanley; 4. Mary Hudnell; 5. S. C. Youngblood (deceased); 6. Jane Cox (d by leeter-rec'd by letter); 7. Margaret Johnson (died Jan. 12, 1887); 8. B. Stanley; 9. ? Marsh (died June 29, 1886); 10. ? Ray; 11. M. Ray (died); 12. E. A. Sheppard (d by letter Sept. 24, 1887); 13. E. Hudnell; 14. M. McIntosh; 15. Texas McIntosh; 16. Rosaline Stanley; 17. M. Ray (dismissed by letter 1882); Manerva Oxburn; 19. Jane Hudnell; 20. Sallie Maberry; 21, Adaline Wofe; 22. M. A. Cumbie (d by letter Dec. 25, 1881); 23. Missouri Roberts (d by letter); 24. Willis Spurlin (d by letter); 25. rebecca Osburn (d by letter); 26. Mary Jane Marsh; 27. Margaret McIntosh (died); 28. M. A. ? (d by letter); 29. C. T. Eitel; 30. S. P. Johnson (excluded Apr. 12, 1881); 31. Winnie Cox; 32. Nellie Green (excluded 1883); 33. M. A. Reed (excluded 1888); 34. Margaret Gage; 35. Malinda Cox; 36. S. E. Cumbie (d by letter 12/25/1881); 37. Leona Wilson (d by letter 1889); 38 Clariss Cox (bap. Aug. 1882); 39. Emma Fitzgerald (excluded-restored-dismissed 1889); 40. Carrie Harper (d by letter); 41. Delilah Harper (d by letter); 42. Texas Johnson ( d by letter); 43. Aleathy Calhoun (died); 44. S. L. Honeycutt (d by letter Sept. 4. 188?); 45. Lula Carrington (excluded); 46. Mollie Nash; 47. Florena Briggs; 48. Bell Debois (bap Aug. 1883); 49. M. J. Kelly (d by letter 1/27/1883); 50. ? Dubose; 51. Sarah Crow; 52. Dora Gage (by bap Sept. 1884); 53. Maggie Persons (by bap 1881); 54. Nancy Persons (by letter 1884); 55. V. ? Henderson ( by letter); 56. Emma Richardson ( d by letter); 57. C. C. McLendon; 58. Augusta McIntosh; 59. Bettie Latch ( by bap.); 60. Mollie McIntosh (by bap.); 61. T. T. Reed (by bap-excluded 1888); 62. Sallie McClothin (by bap.); 63. S. Jennings (by letter-dismissed 188?); 64. I. V. Rodes; 65. Mary Marsh (by letter); 66. Larre Roden (by bap); 67. Alice Roden (by bap); 68. Leacey Newell (d by letter); 69. Louisey Enlow (by letter); 70 Minia Hayes (by letter 1/28/1889); 71. Nancy Hayes (by bap); 72. Addine McIntosh (by bap); 72. Addine McIntosh (by bap); 73. L. C. Chronister (by letter 9/28/1890); 74. J. B. Chronister (by letter 9/28/1890); 75. Lussenda Maberry (by bap 9/28/1890) When the church was first organized, it was on a much traveled road from Gilmer to Big Sandy, but as roads changed and the main roads from Gilmer to Big sandy by passed the New Hope Church it was decided to move the church over to Crossroads. The church met for a time in the school building there, but in 1914 Mr. J. W. Wall sold one acre of land next to the Crossroads school to the Trustees of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. They were J. C. Easterly, Noah Allen, and U. W. Cox. The price paid was $25.00. The church building at New Hope community was torn down and rebuilt at the new place. Of course, a venture of this sort there is always extra expense. Times were hard and money was scarce, but members gave of their labor and money if they had it. If not they gave of whatever they had, sometimes it was produce. One incident is recalled of one member who had some hens to donate. Mr. Materly sent his two young sons with a sack across the woods to the home of the person wishing to donate the hens. It was quite sometime before the boys returned and when they did their Mother was alarmed by the sight of a wet sack and almost drowned chickens. When she asked the boys what had happened, they replied as the chickens were being given to the Baptist Church, they thought they should be baptized so they stopped at the branch on the way home and baptized them. The church was built at last and served its congregation well, but in time there were repairs that needed to be attended to On 12 Nov. 1914 a committee was appointed to investigate the needed repairs and the cost of such. On the 19th of Nov. the committee reported they believed it would be money wasted to make church repairs at that time. They recommended starting a building fund for a new building to be begun in the Spring. They further recommended that the new building be built on the new Hwy. 155 in a central location of the community. Then on Nov. 22 a building committee was appointed to investigate a location for the church and on offering to be taken each Sunday for the building fund. It was reported that Bro. George Marsh had a lot that he could sell for $50.00, so they voted to buy it. Then on Dec. 12, 1950 George Marsh and wife Zora Marsh deeded to the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and its deacons Junior Glenn, John Synder, Virgil Franklin, Isaac Conn,and George E. Marsh one acre of land on Hwy 155 about 9 1/2 miles south of Gilmer. The church was then again torn down, as much as could be, was used in the new church. The same sills were used that had been used in two other church locations. In tearing the building down, square nails were found that had been used in the first building and salvaged in the 1911 move. Of course, many new things were used in the present building. It has an asbestos covering on the outside, new floors, benches and other items. Some years later, additional Sunday School rooms were added. The congregation now has services each Sunday instead of once a month as when they first started. The membership still grows and others move away and call for their letters. As we look back on the membership of the first years, we find many of their descendants in this same church today. Names that have been associated with the church and Upshur Co. since it was first formed. Bro. Benjamin Gage, one oft the first commissioner, S. P. McNair, a one time county clerk who was responsible for the saving of man of our county records that would have been lost in the fire that destroyed the courthouse at one time had he not urged a fire proof vault. May the church continue in its good work for another 115 years. |
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