We are indebted to M. P. Hayden, the present pastor of this church, for the following account of the congregation under his care:

This is the oldest church of this denomination in the county. It was formerly known as Liberty church, the place of meeting being two miles north of town. It was organized in 1832. In 1849, it was decided to change the place of worship to Blandinsville. A new meeting house was built in the town, which was finished in 1852. Since that time, the church has experienced various fortunes, sometimes enjoying prosperity, sometimes enduring adversity. During the war, the church was somewhat divided, and feelings of animosity engendered on account of disturbances and political strifes incident to that period. The following persons have served as pastors of the church: James K. Knox, Uriah Long, A. J. Kane, James D. Eads, John Rigdon, J. M. Dodge, James R. Ross, Dr. Bacon, Cornelius Ades, Patrick Murphy, Bedford Murphy, J. M. Martin, Robert Lieurance, J. H. Coffee, S. K. Hallam, H. R. Trickett, J. F. Leek, T. H. Goodnight and G. F. Adams. Through the labors of G. F. Adams, who was pastor of the church from December, 1879, to June, 1884, the church was greatly strengthened in numbers and influence, so that the membership, at one time, was over four hundred. This number, however, has been diminished by deaths, removals and other causes, until its present membership is about three hundred and fifty.

In 1881, a new house of worship was erected. It is an attractive wooden edifice, worth about $5,000. It is neat and commodious, and complete in all its arrangements. M. P. Hayden, the present pastor of the church, began his labors in October, 1884, and is an able disciple of the Master. The church has a live, successful Sunday school, with T. H. Williams as its efficient superintendent. The meetings of the church are well attended, and the church, in all its departments of work, is in a healthy, prosperous condition. The present officers of the church are as follows: Elders, M. P. Hayden, William Campbell, Preston Huston, James P. Hitch; deacons, W. P. Welch, Byers Hensley, George Russell, Frank Fuhr; trustees, Howard Campbell, E. G. Griffin, Byers Hensley, George Russell and James P. Hitch.

Copyright 1999, 2000 Robin L. W. Petersen; all rights reserved. For personal use only. Commercial use of the information contained in these pages is strictly prohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright must appear with the information.