1885    Rev. D.W. Glisson, a great leader and pastor began his work at Spring Grove between 1883-85. Mr. Glisson lived in Green Cove Springs and he too traveled by steamboat on the St. Johns River. The best word to describe Rev. Glisson is Missionary. He was a missionary of the association and was paid small amounts for his work in starting and preaching at various mission stations. During the early years of the Spring Grove and Barberville Church, Rev. Glisson was a great influence. We will refer to him again during the coming years.

In 1885, L. M. Richardson was Church Clerk. Thomas Underhill and

O. J. Dillard served as delegates to the association. The membership records reflect the missing information of 1883-84. The church had been steadily moving forward, and in 1885 had a membership of 37; 7 were baptized and 6 were restored.29 Restorations occurred after inactive or excluded member returned showing signs of repentance and a willingness to participate in the church.

1886    One of the outstanding events for our church in 1886, was that St. Johns Association’s Annual Meeting was held at our church. On Sunday, October 16, 1886, the minutes record that in the evening, preaching services were held at Barberville and at the residence of O. J. Dillard.30 This note shows several things. First, that the group of ministers at the Annual Meeting led the way for at least two preaching services. Secondly, we see a shift toward the Barberville area. Services were held at O.J. Dillard’s home in Lungren and either at the Minshew-Lemon home or the Thomas Underhill home in Barberville. All of these families were members of the Spring Grove Baptist Church. Several early members were living in the Barberville area, which was increasing as a central location for surrounding communities.

During this annual meeting, two of our sister churches joined the association. On Saturday, October 16, 1886, petitionary letters were read from the First Seville Church and from Spring Garden (Deleon Springs) Church. These churches were received, and the hand of welcome was extended to the delegates by the moderator.31 Being the closest to these sister churches, we really don’t know about the influence, if any, that we may have had on their formation.

Our pastor during 1886 was D. W. Glisson, who was also a member of the associational mission committee and gave its annual report. F.D. Harper was church clerk, and he and O.J. Dillard were our delegates at the Annual Meeting. The membership of the church increased from 37 in 1885 to 55 members in 1886. The statistics show that the value of the church and lot was $ 150.00 and the building had a seating capacity for 100 people. The members that year contributed a total of $ 165.00 to the work of the church, out of which we gave $ 5.00 for Associational Missions.31

A more personal note from 1886 comes from a letter written by Alice Sherrill to Liza Minshew. The letter written in 1886 reads as follows:

“I kept seeing this young fellow at different times. At one revival meeting at our church, (Spring Grove), I joined along with many others. When the Sunday came for baptism in a nearby lake, imagine my surprise at seeing this young man ahead of me when we were lead into the lake! Then on Sunday afternoon he called upon me at a neighbor’s house where I was boarded. I did not know he had even noticed me, I was a distant and shy girl and didn’t have much to say, but this young man, (Barney Dillard), came around to where I was sitting and asked me to go to his parent’s home with him. A few days later he came back with a marriage license, having talked to my father. And on the 3^rd Sunday of July 1886, our preacher, D.W. Glisson, married us at his parent’s home in the town of Volusia. On July 21^st was my 14^th birthday.”32

This letter tells us about an early revival, about the social life of the day, but is also important as a record of one of the first wedding services performed by the pastor of the Spring Grove Baptist Church. There probably were weddings before this, but details are incomplete at this point. In conclusion, we can say that 1868 was a good year in the life of our church.

1887    D.W. Glisson continued to provide able leadership as our pastor. According to associational records, D.W. Glisson was given a salary, for our church and several others that he pastored. This aid, was provided by the St. Johns Association in order to expand its missionary work.33

The clerk of the church in 1887 was newly married Barney Dillard (1864 - 1962) son of early Volusia settler Robert Neal Dillard (1812-1889). Barney Dillard’s half brother O.J. Owen John Dillard34 served as our delegate to the association.35 Fourteen baptisms during the year brought our total membership up to sixty-two. Part of these baptisms can be attributed to the expansion of the Sunday School. 1882 is the first mention of our church having a Sunday School. In 1887, twenty-five scholars were led in Bible Study by eight teachers. F.O. Harper provided the leadership for the growing school as its superintendent.

1888-1889       Records during these two years are difficult to interpret. There seems to have been a shift in the churches that composed the St. Johns Association. Out of 17 churches listed in 1887, only 10 remained on the records in 1889. The explanation for this shift is uncertain. One of the churches that didn’t appear on the records in 1889 was the Spring Grove Baptist Church.35 There is evidence however that the church continued. The Florida Baptist Convention records mission giving from the Spring Grove Church and O. J. Dillard, but no record of Spring Grove or Barberville is given.36 A possible explanation of this is that the Spring Grove Church existed through 1889, moved to Barberville in 1890 and offerings from O. J. Dillard, treasurer in both locations, was automatically associated with Spring Grove by the State Office until 1892. Associational records of the First Baptist Church of Barberville begins in 1890. These records are probably more historically accurate, in that associations had better means of fellowship and communication than a State Office. D.W. Glisson was still pastor during these years as far as we know. The year 1889 concludes the early Pioneer Days of our church.

The Golden Age 

The next forty years comprised the Golden Age for our church. The church settled in Barberville, constructed a meeting place and grew in membership during these years. One factor for this growth was Barberville’s central location in regard to surrounding communities. For the people of Spring Garden, Clifton Settlement, Eldridge, Pierson, Emporia, Lungren, and Volusia, Barberville was the center of attention. The name “Midway” was even given to the early school and Methodist Church in Barberville. According to Volusia County School Board minutes the Cones School in Barberville received financial assistance as early as 1878. The School was probably named after trustee, W. A. Cone. It retained that name until 1881 when “ it was ordered that school No. 4 (Cones) be hereafter known by the name Midway.37 The early Methodist Church was also given the name “Midway” which is located off Church Street today. Duncan McBride was an “early settler who came in 1868 and bought land east of Barberville. He built a dam, cotton gin, grits mill, and a sawmill. Mr. McBride donated acres of land for a church and cemetery and later built a small church, which was named “Midway”.38 During the early years the community of present day Barberville was known as “Midway”; its location being important for the growth of the church.

The arrival of the railroad to our area contributed to the growth of Barberville and the Church. Founded in 1882 by James D. Barber, Barberville was established along the proposed route of the Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key West railroad. In April 1884 a post office was opened and Barber was appointed local postmaster. Two stores, one of which was operated by Barber, served the few residents who lived in the surrounding area.39 In contrast to the “few residents” mentioned above, other sources report that by the time the railroad came through, there was a drug store, hotel, several saw mills, a grist mill and a cotton gin.40 Growth before and after the railroad had an impact on early Barberville.

Being the central location of the area also helped to draw early worshipers from different communities. As mentioned earlier the Spring Garden Church (DeLeon Springs) joined the St. Johns Association in 1886. But after 1890 the First Baptist Church of Barberville was the “local” church for the surrounding areas. Outside of Midway Methodist , Eldridge Presbyterian,41 and Barberville Baptist, there were no other churches to attend in this area.

The Pierson Baptist Church wasn’t formed until 1925 and the Emporia Baptist Church until 1930. In the discussion of the Spring Grove Baptist Church of 1886, the shift of the membership residence was noted. Preaching services were held during that 1886 annual meeting in Barberville. Early members like the Underhills and the Dillards lived closer to Barberville than Spring Grove. The location of Barberville was in the best interest of the majority of our members. What else would explain the move from Spring Grove in West Emporia to the growing community of Barberville?

1890 The First Baptist Church of Barberville

The people that comprised the old Spring Grove Baptist Church also made up the newly formed church at Barberville. The work of Thomas Underhill and F.D. Harper can be traced in both churches. Surely many other people were active when the church moved its meeting place to Barberville. Where was the church’s first meeting place? Written historical records and personal interviews agree that the early meeting place in Barberville was a school. The Cones School, later known as Midway, was located several blocks North of the present-day intersection and about a block east of the railroad. Baptist Archives say that the first services were “ in the old school house, about two blocks west of the present site.”42 The old unused house remains till this day (about one block North-West of the Cieszkowski home.) This school was probably used for several years until the present building was erected.

The First Baptist Church of Barberville was first listed on the St. Johns Association’s roll of churches in October, 1890. Rev. R.F. Hart was the “first settled pastor”42 as well as being pastor of the Hickory Grove Baptist Church near Green Cove Springs.43 In that first year, the name of the church was incorrectly spelled Barbersville; but in later years it was corrected. R.A. Highsmith served as church clerk. On Saturday, October 18, 1890, meeting at the Evergreen Church, the names of “ Thomas Underhill and A.L. Richardson” appeared on the roll of delegates for our church. This is the first mention of the Barberville Baptist Church in the St. Johns Association. No records could be found of the association accepting our petition for membership as a newly formed church. This is because we were not newly formed but had merely changed our name from Spring Grove to Barberville. No membership records were listed in 1890, but our missionary spirit was strong, for we gave $ 1.25 for associational missions.

1891    The ministry of R.F. Hart was a short one. In 1891 a former pastor from the Spring Grove days was leading a familiar group of people, although they met in a new place and under a new name. D.W. Glisson was pastor of the Spring Grove Church from 1885-88 or 89.44 After that four-year pastorate he was back with us again, this time for a five year ministry. Even while Rev. Hart pastored the church in 1890, D.W. Glisson was preaching the gospel nearby. A report of his missionary activity is given unaltered as follows:

“ In the beginning of the year the Board (Missionary Board) employed Elders D.W. Glisson and H.M. King as missionaries on the east side of the St. Johns river for the sum of $ 1.50 per day, of actual service, and traveling expenses paid. Report of D. W. Glisson, Second, Third and Fourth Quarters- Tomoka Station (second quarter): Days labor 9, miles traveled 300, sermons preached 8, collections $ 3.55. Tomoka Station (third quarter): days labor 19, miles traveled 390, sermons preached 18, baptized 1, received for baptism 3, restored 2, collections $ 28.00. (fourth quarter) days labor 24, miles traveled 496, sermons preached 24, baptized 5, received for baptism 3 , restored 3, collected at Windamore $ 4.10. Haw Creek 5, Tomoka $ 25.00.45

We said earlier and can continue to see that D.W. Glisson was a man with missionary zeal. Out of the four missionaries appointed by the St. Johns Association, Elder D.W. Glisson excelled them all, at least as far as the records show. Traveling from Green Cove Springs to Volusia by steamboat, going over land to Tomoka and Haw Creek, surely he must have continued his friendships with the members of his former church. It is possible he may have boarded with them during these missionary trips.

Even though Glisson was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Barberville in 1891, he did not cease in his travels because he was also the pastor of three other Baptist Churches (Corinth, Providence and Sardis). It is probable that the church enjoyed preaching services only one Sunday a month. R.A. Highsmith remained church clerk and R. R. Roland and R. R. Starling helped Thomas Underhill in representing us as delegates to the Association. The church continued its faithful mission support by its gift of $3.00 to the association while in the same year church expenses totaled $80.00. Membership records for 1891 report that 3 were received by baptism, 1 by letter, and 1 by restoration with 3 being excluded from membership. We had a total of 22 members that year.46

1892-1893  1892 was a year of expansion for our church in many ways. Until now the church had met in the Midway School building. Plans were made for a more suitable place of worship. Church tradition printed in recent local newspaper articles records that, “on April 18, 1892, ground was broken and the cornerstone laid for the structure which lasts until today.”47 Only $80.00 comprised the expenses of the church in 1891, but in 1892 according to associational records, the value of the church’s property was $ 1,000.00.48 Church tradition reports on the building of the church:

“The men cut logs. Brother Thomas Underhill had a sawmill east of Barberville near what is now the Dykes place. Here the logs were cut by the men were sawed into lumber. All the people from far and near came to help raise the walls and build the building.”49

A cruciform frame building with a thatch-roofed belfry was erected. W.H. Hill is attributed with the beautiful carving work on the inside of the church, as well as Mr. Vorther Carter. The dedication service was held on April 18, 1892, and was led by Pastor D.W. Glisson. Other pastor that were present included: D.D. Warlid, Pierson Methodist Church; J.J. Place, DeLand Methodist Church; M.C. Stafford of Philadelphia. Over 200 people were present to help dedicate the church to the glory of God. Dinner on the grounds followed the ceremony.50

Rev. D. W. Glisson continued as pastor of the church till 1896 and later returned in 1903 for a one year term of service. He pastored the church for a total of 12 years. Rev. D.W. Glisson died near Green Cove Springs, Florida, on December 30, 1913. He was born in 1838 and joined the Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Bradford County, Florida. Soon after joining the church he was ordained. He has a monument to his memory in the organization and ministry of forty-two churches. And until the Master saw fit to call him to his reward at the age of 75 years, he was in the service of God.51 Church tradition reports that Mr. Minshew, (Mrs. Lemon’s father) and Mr. Glisson served in the Confederate Army together. The two men enjoyed reading their testaments together while in the army.52 Rev. D.W. Glisson was a great soldier, especially as he fought in the army of his Lord. The First Baptist Church of Barberville was honored to have him as its leader in these early years.

Not only was the church blessed with able pastoral leadership, it was also blessed with able lay leadership. One example of great lay leadership was seen in the life of Thomas Underhill. When the Spring Grove Church joined the St. Johns Association. Thomas Underhill was church clerk. He served in many capacities and had a strong interest in missions. The First Baptist Church of Barberville is traced back to the Spring Grove Church through Thomas Underhill, among others. Thomas also served as a deacon of the church. He was killed in a hunting accident in 1893. This tribute was given to him before the St. Johns Association:

“So far as we have learned, the association has lost by death two of its most worthy deacons…Bro. Thomas Underhill died March 17, 1893. That in the death of these brethren the church has sustained a very material loss, the Association bereft of two of its substantial supporters and the cause of Christ an irreparable loss. We cannot close this report without urging upon the members of this Association the importance of living such exemplary Christian lives as did these two noble soldiers of the cross.”

Men and women of commitment like Thomas Underhill have helped our church greatly.

In the interest of time and space, the next years (1893 - 1919) will be given in the form of a chart which follows:

DATE	PASTOR	DELEGATES	NOTES
1893	D.W. Glisson	R. Starling	3 Bapt. 40 mem.
1894	D.W. Glisson	R. Starling	40 members
1895	D.W. Glisson	Thos. Purdom R. Starling	$2.25 Assoc. Missions
1896	D.W. Glisson	J.H. Purdom F.D. Harper	1 Bapt. 47 mem.
1897	D.W. Glisson	R.R. Starling	$240 Assoc. Miss.
1898	M.F. Blitch	Letter	80 Members 10 Bapt.
1899	John Black	Letter	68 Members
1900	John Black	W.H. Purdom	58 Members
1901	John Black	R.R. Starling	56 Members
1902	John Black	F.D. Harper	57 Members
1903	D.W. Glisson	Letter	57 Members
1904	J.F. Tatum	F.D. Harper	56 Members
1905	J.F. Tatum	Letter	61 Members
1906	No Records
1907	T.J. Bell
1908	E.C. Bostick	Letter	55 Members
1909	R.N. Cate	Letter	56 Members
1910	I.N. Entzminger	Letter
1911	L.D. Burdick	F.D. Harper
1912 –15	No Records
1916	C.O. Brookshire		Joined Seminole As.
1917	R.J. Gorbet	Letter	34 Members 1 Bapt.
1918	R.J. Gorbet	F.D. Harper	35 Members
1919	R.J. Gorbet	Letter

The years of 1916 and following were years of outreach. The church saw great opportunities at its own doorstep. To meet these opportunities, the church first decided to align itself churches closer to Barberville in contrast with churches of the St. Johns Association in the Palatka area.

In the 1916 minutes of the St. Johns Association, “The First Baptist Church of Barberville asked for dismissal to join the Seminole Association.”53 C.O. Brookshire was the pastor with Melvin Beasley, church clerk. At the Seminole Association in 1916, the proposal was introduced:

“It was brought to the attention of the Association that Rev. and Mrs. Brookshire, representing the church at Barberville, were present, and that Barberville Church desired to withdraw from the St. Johns Association and unite with this body. On motion of George Hyman, the executive committee was authorized to receive this church into the association, on receipt of their letter from the St. Johns Association.”54

The 1917 minutes of the Seminole Association report that, “soon after our last Association met, Barberville church presented to us a letter of dismissal from St. Johns River Association and committee received them into the Association according to our instructions.”55

Rev. R.J. Gorbet began his ministry at the church in February of 1917. The church received $5.00 per month to help in securing a pastor. This help came from the State Board of Missions. Rev. Gorbet pastored three other churches besides Barberville in 1917 including Monroe, Oak Hill and Seville.56 In the history of the Oak-Griner Baptist Church in Ocala, there is a complete sketch of the life of Rev. R.J. Gorbet. Here is just a paragraph.

“In October, 1908, he came to Altoona, Florida, to die, but through the mercies of God and Florida’s wonderful climate, he got a new lease on life, and gave his time and talent to the ministry regularly for twelve years. He pastored many churches in this section of the state: Altoona-Camphill, Harmony, Oxford, Anthony, Barberville, Oak Griner-Farm, Ocklawaha Bridge, Lake Monroe, and Oak Hill. He reorganized and built the house of worship for Oak Hill at the Age of seventy-five.”57

Let us note that he did this work at Oak Hill while he was also pastor of Barberville. Rev. R. J. Gorbet stands out as one of the great pastors of the church.

The move to the Seminole Association, pastors like R.J. Gorbet and the spirit of the people, led the church in outreach among the surrounding communities. The next great pastor was Rev. B. C. Collins. During this time we met for preaching services at other churches also mainly in the Midway Methodist Church. The Deland Sun News, January 23, 1924, reports “ Rev. Mr. Collins filled his regular appointment at the First Baptist Church Sunday morning and evening.” Later the following announcement appeared, “ There will be preaching services at the Methodist Church next Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock.”58

The Baptist Church had preaching on the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays and the Methodist Church on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays. We not only participated with other churches but during the mid 1920’s up to 1930 we helped to start two churches. During 1924 and 1925, two revivals stirred our community. The first was led by Rev. Irving Whitworth at Pierson, and the second, by Jessie T. Williams at Eldridge. Out of these revivals began a hunger for Baptist Churches in Emporia and Pierson.59

Possibly as early as 1924 interest arose in a Baptist work in Emporia. B.C. Collins began preaching at the Mission in Emporia in 1927 while still pastoring the church at Barberville. In 1927 the records of the First Baptist Church of Barberville included the records of the Emporia group which was “an arm of Barberville with preaching on 2^nd and 4^th Sundays.” Preaching at Barberville was on the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays. In 1928, 50 were enrolled in Sunday School at Barberville, with 25 at Emporia.

By 1930, Rev. B. C. Collins had left Barberville to start the church at Emporia. In 1930 the Emporia Baptist Church petitioned for admission into the Seminole Baptist Association. Emporia Baptist began with a total of 33 members. We directly helped to give birth to this church by encouragement and help until they began independently in 1930. It should be noted that Rev. Collins did not leave Barberville for a higher paying salary. Barberville was paying him $ 400.00 a year and Emporia, only $ 30.00 a year.60 He certainly left for a more noble reason, that being to obey his Lord in sharing the gospel of Christ to all people.

The First Baptist Church of Barberville also had an influence in the formation of The First Baptist Church of Pierson. The church at Barberville led in securing the evangelist Jessie T. Williams that helped move the surrounding communities to repentance. One of the results of that meeting was the criticism of “the Baptist people in the Pierson area for not having a Baptist Church, and for not having built a church building in which to worship”.61 The move to start a Baptist Church in Pierson was led by Joseph H. Bennett Sr. Mr. Bennett was a member of Barberville Baptist Church and was a retired Baptist minister. He led in the organization of the First Baptist Church of Pierson. The first step was to circulate a paper that interested people could sign desiring a Baptist work in Pierson.

Even though Glisson was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Barberville in 1891, he did not cease in his travels because he was also the pastor of three other Baptist Churches (Corinth, Providence and Sardis). It is probable that the church enjoyed preaching services only one Sunday a month. R.A. Highsmith remained church clerk and R. R. Roland and R. R. Starling helped Thomas Underhill in representing us as delegates to the Association. The church continued its faithful mission support by its gift of $3.00 to the association while in the same year church expenses totaled $80.00. Membership records for 1891 report that 3 were received by baptism, 1 by letter, and 1 by restoration with 3 being excluded from membership. We had a total of 22 members that year.

Several members of the Barberville Church signed this paper such as: Mr. & Mrs. Joe Bennett Sr., and Gordon Bennett. B.B. Minchew, a member of the Barberville Church, opened his home for the first meeting and later gave the land where the auditorium stands today. In these direct ways, our church through its members led in the organization of the work at Pierson.

We also influenced the birth of this church in an indirect way. The desire of the First Baptist Church of Barberville to hold on to this group let Pierson Baptists to more quickly claim their independence. The issue brought on a heated debate. “Some felt that the nucleus body of the Baptist Church at Pierson should be an arm of the Barberville Baptist as was Emporia at the time. W. C. Armstrong favored this action and called a meeting of the nucleus body to meet with the Barberville Baptist Church in the morning services, November 22, 1925. Immediately after the service, the church was declared in business session with Melvin Beasly acting as Moderator. The proposal for the Barberville Baptist Church to accept the Pierson nucleus body as an arm of the Barberville Baptist Church with the Rev. B. C. Collins pastoring both bodies was presented but was emphatically opposed by J. H. Bennett Sr. as official leader of the nucleus body…”62

A meeting of the nucleus members was held the following Tuesday night, November 24, 1925, in the W.O.W. Hall. The proposal was rejected by the group and letters were called for from area churches to be placed at Pierson. This action was followed by the organizational meeting of the First Baptist Church of Pierson on March 14, 1926, held at the Pierson Methodist. Indirectly the First Baptist Church of Barberville hastened the independence of this church at Pierson. We contributed directly to Pierson’s organization through our members that led in the founding.

 Conclusion

Certainly more has happened in the life of the church that has not been included in this history. The history of the church during its most recent years has not been compiled. Information, pictures, and personal memories are needed.

We may not know all the historical details but we are living examples of what the First Baptist Church of Barberville has produced. We know what the church of Barberville has been and is by what is has produced. Newborn Christians, people growing closer to Christ, a church concerned and involved in its community and children who are taught God’s Word and continue to serve him in life, are but a few of the products of a Church God has used. God has used the people of the First Baptist Church of Barberville.

Roll Call of Pastors

Year	Name	Residence
1868	Rev. John Vasser	Lungren
1881	Rev. B.W. Becks	Palatka
1885	Rev. D.W. Glisson	Green Cove Springs
1898	Rev. M.F. Blitch	Daytona
1899	Rev. John Black	Deland
1903	Rev. D.W. Glisson	Green Cove Springs
1904	Rev. J.F. Tatum
1907	Rev. T.J. Bell
1908	Rev. E.C. Bostick	Deland
1909	Rev. R.N. Cate	Crescent City
1910	Rev. I.N. Entzminger	Longwood
1911	Rev. L.D. Burdick	Longwood
1916	Rev. C.O. Brookshire
1917	Rev. R.J. Gorbet	Altoona
1921	Rev. R.C. Alderman	Bowling Green
1923	Rev. B.C. Collins	Barberville
1930	Rev. W.L. Brandon
1932	Rev. B.C. Collins	Bishopville
1934	Rev. R.W. Dickert	Oviedo
1935	Rev. C.R. Robinson	Deland
1936	Rev. W. Lavender	Altoona
1937	Rev. J. Hough	Deland
1939	Rev. B. Yeargin	Deland
1941	Rev. E.R. Cooper	Deland
1943	Rev. C.E. Hall	Barberville
1947	Rev. O. Barfeild	Deland
1948	Rev. L.J. Barnard	Deland
1955	Rev. D. Gatch	Deland
1956	Rev. M.O. Boone	Barberville
1963	Rev. Danny Thomas	Pomona Park
1965	Rev. Daniel Thomas	Crescent City
1966	Rev. Hugh M. Miner	Port Orange
1967	Rev. E.V. Austin	Deleon Springs
1968	Rev. E.E. Dixon	Barberville
1969	Rev. J.C. Purcell	Pierson
1975	Rev. Dan Thomas	Deland
1976	Rev. Josh Long	Deland
1977	Rev. Warren Thomas	Barberville
1980	Rev. Howard Cox	Pierson
1993	Rev. Robert Cramer
1995	Rev. Sam Shepherd	Deland
1999	Rev. Jimmy Dean	Crescent City

*This list was compiled from the St. Johns and Seminole Baptist Associational Minutes.

40 Years of History

By: Lorine Cieszkowski

More than 40 years ago, I became a member of this church. There were no rest rooms in the church. The project of putting in the rest rooms was about to start, all of the men that did the work have passed away, but we will always remember the job well done and they will never be forgotten. One day a fire broke out in the woods behind the out houses, the wind blew very hard and set them on fire. Mrs. Odetta Coleman and I watched them burn to the ground. This became a little bit of history you know!

There were a lot more and wonderful works done here. Mrs. Odetta Coleman donated the lots across the street from the church. This was for the purpose of building a parsonage. It was tough at first, as men and money was not as plentiful as it had been. In starting, each of us had pledged to donate 5 concrete blocks a week. It was still very slow in accumulating enough blocks to get started. The women and all who would help sold ham and chicken suppers. With what we had to work with the foundation was started and the blocks were being laid.

Once again we ran into a snag, we had only got to the roof then we didn’t have enough money to continue, and some time later the Building Committee met. They told the church that the only way to finish this job was to borrow the money. The church agreed and the money was borrowed from Surety Savings and Loan in DeLand. The Malubourgh Construction Co. was hired to finish the job. We were all so pleased when it was finished. It still looks good today. It’s all paid for and we thank God for his works that stood so faithful, this was a blessing within itself. The parsonage was finished when Rev. Hugh Minner was pastor in 1966. Rev. Miner never lived in the parsonage. Rev. Ernie Austin and his family were the first to live there.

When Rev. J.C. Purcell was our pastor we started to grow and grow in membership. At this time our money and man and women power started to shape up, as everyone was eager to work. Plans were in the making for us to have a Fellowship Hall built. This came about in 1974. Roswell Paulk and family, Benny Corbett and family, had a business that included a lot of men working for them. As the materials came in the crews and the men and women of the church came out to work. We had a large number of young married couples and every chance they got they were painting, cleaning and doing everything they could to help. Now the building was finished, the appliances were donated as well as the tables.

Sometime later we got central heating and air conditioning installed. The Fellowship Hall was named the “Rev. J.C. Purcell Fellowship Hall”. Rev. Purcell remained our pastor until the our Lord called him home. We loved and missed him very much, but in having the Fellowship Hall we will always have a part of him. We have had so many blessings here over the years.

The heating and cooling systems in the church was much to be desired. We had two gas heaters in the back of the church and a wood heater in the front. By the time we got warm it was time to go home. Years later we got central heating and air here. Recently a lot more wonderful things have been done. The ceiling was in bad shape, paint would fall in our seats and the heat went through the roof, so we had insulation and vinyl siding installed. It is so lovely and has served its purpose.

A handicap ramp was built on the north side of the church. Mr. Wheeler was our oldest deacon, so the ramp was dedicated in his honor. Our Sunday School rooms have been painted. Jody and  Carmen Clifton, Bobbie and Daniel did the painting. Erin Clifton, one of our young people, made the curtains. Our church has new vinyl siding which shows a great improvement.

We were blessed to have a large group of northern visitors, who come down here for the winter. They donated the carpet for the church. Two of our visitors passed away. It was requested that no flowers be sent, instead their families asked us to use the money to buy a vacuum cleaner. The microwave in the Fellowship Hall was donated by Lillian Gibson. Mrs. Smith gave the refrigerator. The metal chairs in the Fellowship Hall were donated by the members. 

7 Gibson, Lillian Dillard, 1558-1978 Annals of Volusia – Birthplace of Volusia County, Volusia, FL. By Alex Gibson, 1978 p.49
8 Lillian Dillard Gibson Historical Collection
9 Schene, Michael G., Hopes, Dreams, and Promises: A History of Volusia County, Florida, Daytona News Journal Corp. 1976, p.77-78
 10 Gibson, Lillian Dillard, Early Days in Volusia, Volusia, FL. By Alex Gibson, 1975 p.28
11 St. Johns Associational Minutes, Baptist Collection, Stetson University; 1881, p.1
12 St. Johns Associational Minutes, 1881, Statistical Page
13 Joiner, Edward Earl, A History of Florida Baptists, Jacksonville, FL. Convention Press, 1972, p.34
14 Joiner, Edward Earl, A History of Florida Baptists, Jacksonville, FL. Convention Press, 1972, p.53
15 Minutes of the Board of Instruction for Volusia County, 1877, p.21
16 Hebel, Ianthe Bond, Centennial History of Volusia County, FL. Daytona;
College Publishing Co. 1955
17 Troy Peterson Interview, March 1979
18 Odetta Coleman Interview, February 1979
19 Minutes of the Board of Instruction for Volusia County, September 8, 1886 p.122
20 John Peterson Interview, March 1979
21 St. Johns Associational Minutes, 1881, p.1 Statistical page
22 St. Johns Associational Minutes, 1881, p. 9
23 Florida Baptist Convention Annual, Baptist Collection, Stetson University, 1881
24 St. Johns Associational Minutes, 1881, p.1 Statistical page
25 Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1882, pp. 12-15
26 Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1883, pp. 25, 19
27 Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1883, p. 4
28 Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1883, pp. 19, 15

About Our Church

We are a friendly, loving, caring, compassionate, like-minded, evangelistic old fashioned baptist Church. We believe God created us to worship, praise and glorify Him and that is what we enjoy doing the most!