Meacham Baptist Church - Sept. 2012

This is the History of Meacham Baptist Church

Written by Alta KRUTSINGER - June 29, 1958.

            “Many, many years ago when our forefathers began to settle and build home in this community, having no church house, some among them longed for a place to worship God.  Among the older ones were the COURSONs, HOLSTLAWs, MERRITTs, GARRETTs, BRANSONs, CAMPBELLs, HATFIELDs, BOSTONs, MULVANEYs, NICHOLs, HOLZHAUSENs, FARRISs and PARRILLs.

            The FARRIS School house stood ¼ mile west and ¼ mile south of the present church, on the Presley FARRIS farm.

            Some of the old consecrated Christians found a need to worship God, and in this School House, they begun to meet for Sunday School and Preaching Services.

            A faithful Minister of the Gospel, known as Uncle Sam WILSON.  He walked from and to his home in Mt. Vernon, Ill.  Services were conducted Saturday afternoon (at that time, they held their business meeting) and also Saturday night, Sunday morning, and Sunday night. 

            No one seems to know how long the old school house was used for their Church?

            Seeing a need for a Church, Andy COURSON and wife Eliza, gave an acre of land on which the FIRST Church was erected, in the year 1885.  This first Church was built and organized as MEACHAM BAPTIST CHURCH.  This Church was located in Meacham township East of Kinmundy, Ill.  There were 8 chartered members.  Among the 8 chartered members were Andy COURSON and his wife Eliza, John HOLZHAUSEN and wife Lucy, and Elis WILSON.  The other 3 members are unknown.

            Under the leadership of Uncle Sam WILSON, as the first pastor of the church, the crowd begun to increase.  With the power of God from the Pastors messages, prayers, and testimonies of dedicated Saints, thrilled Christians touched the hearts of the Sinners and many were saved.

            Meacham Baptist Church is one of the 17 churches, which constitutes the Louisville Baptist Association.  In the years of 1919 and 1949, the Association held their meetings here.

            In the year of 1922 the members decided the first building was too small to accommodate the Congregation, so it was sold to Michael and Nancy (LACEY) BUTTS.  They moved away.  The now present building was erected just to the South of the first church, thus taking it’s place.

            Today a great number of it’s members are direct descendants of the 8 charter members.  That same year of 1922, Susanna JONES was converted and came into the church.  She said she well remember the meeting in the old Farris School House.  On June 29, 1958, the date of our first and only Homecoming, Mrs. JONES had obtained the age of 85 and was the oldest member in the Church.

            On March 29, 1923, Bro. Tilford COURSON was Ordained to the Minister, and a few years later in 1927, Bro. Clyde SINCLAIR was also ordained to the minister.

            On Oct. 16, 1932, Rev. Emmit MULVANEY, who had been a Methodist, minister for many years, was baptized and united with this church.  One year later he also was ordained to the Ministry.  He was baptized by O.W. HOWELL.

            A number of ministers have pastored at this place, some being present today, June 29, 1958.  The following list has been combined with the names on 2^nd list of Oct. 10, 1971:

A.E. KRETZER, Lawrence PHILLIPS, O.W. HOWELL, Ruben TINSLEY, Otis ATCHISON, Noah BELCHER, A.J. DOUGLAS, G.O. FOWLON, Ray PRUETT, Lee McCAIN, Walter MILLER, Clyde SINCLAIR, George LEATHERS, Ivan BUTTS, Gerold DAWDY, W.N. DICKMAN, Russell STRETTON, Richard CARLTON, Sam WILSON, E. PATTON, Enock BEAL, Cal RICHARDSON, (who was the grandfather of Mrs. Geneve CARLTON, wife or R. CARLTON), J.F. MOONEY, R.H. SPICER, W.H. BOONE, C.L. BUTTLER, T.L. JORDAN, V.C. WHITE, J.A. WARD, Tilford COURSON, Andy PHILLIPS, J.F. PEASE, Joseph HILL, Emmit MULVANEY.

            There were 16 Deacons recorded – 12 were deceased at this time: Andy COURSON, John HOLZHAUSEN, Elic WILSON, Dave COURSON, George MULVANEY, Tilford COURSON, Asbury MULVANEY, Earl COURSON, Harry NICHOLS, Murrell REESE, Ray MULVANEY, and Wm. CHASTEEN.  The present Deacons are Bob BUTTS, Ed MULVANEY, Paul COURSON, and Lloyd SINCLAIR.

            Bro. Paul COURSON Jr. was ordained to the Ministry, Sept. 2, 1962.  Bro. Richard CARLTON, a licensed Preacher, was called to this place in April of 1970, and was ordained to the Ministry Sept. 27, 1970.

            In 1958 there was one family of FIVE GENERATIONS, who helped establish and maintain this church.  Up to the present time they were Deacon Andy COURSON, his son Tilford, a Deacon, who was later ordained to the Ministry, grandson Paul COURSON, a present Deacon, great-granddaughter Louise COURSON HEADLEE, and her daughter, great- granddaughter Sandra HEADLEE.

            The newest members in 1958, were Ed and Laura MULVANEY.  They were baptized June 12, 1958.  Ed MULVANEY is the grandson of Elis MULVANEY, one of the 8 Charter Members.

            The only one having been in the church over a century is Mrs. Anna NICHOLS, who has been serving her Lord 53 years.  She is our Church Clerk.  Her daughter, Juanita TAYLOR, is the Church Treasurer.  Bro. Lawrence PHILLIPS is the Pastor.  Ray MULVANEY is Sunday School Supt., with Sunday School starting at 10 a.m.  the nightly services start at 7:30 p.m. on the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays of the month.  Bible Study is held 2^nd and 4^th Sunday nights.  Bro. Paul COURSON teachers the Bible Study.

On Oct. 10, 1971, the most recent member is Bro. Eddie Joe LAMB, who was baptized, Sept. 26, 1971.  In the year of 1971, sister Anna NICKOLS, was the oldest member of the Church celebrating her 84^th birthday Oct. 1, 1971.  She has been now serving her Lord for a total of 68 years. 

Mary BUTTS is Church Clerk.  Pauline WILKINSON was Sec. and Treas.  Keith RITTER was S.S. Supt.  Kathy BUTTS was Pianist.  Paula WILKINSON was song leader.  Elder Richard CARLTON – Pastor.

Sunday School starts at 9:30 a.m.  Sunday night 7:30.

We extend a welcome to any and all to our Services. 

Thank you for attending our 2^nd Homecoming this 10^th day of October in the year of our Lord 1971.

MEACHAM BAPTIST CHURCH.  Written by Alta KRUTSINGER, born June 24, 1892.”

Meacham Baptist Church meeting minutes from Aug. 13, 1910 (from Shane Stortzum)