http://www.apisonbaptistchurch.com Church Site For Apison Wed, 15 May 2013 21:12:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://www.apisonbaptistchurch.com/?p=309 http://www.apisonbaptistchurch.com/?p=309#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:11:06 +0000 admin http://www.apisonbaptistchurch.com/?p=309 HISTORY OF THE APISON BAPTIST CHURCH   In 1849, Caleb Smith (great-great-uncle to Mrs. “Tennie” Knauff) came from McMinn County to James (now Hamilton) County and purchased land where Apison is now. Not long thereafter, he gave some land for the building of a church. When the building was finished, he was requested by the members to name the new church. Mr. Smith had previously built a church in McMinn County,which he had named “Little Hope.” It had far exceeded his expectation, so at the first meeting of the new church he suggested the name “New Prospect.”   The New Prospect Baptist Church was organized June 28, The building in which the church first met was located approximately one-half mile southwest of the present Apison Baptist Church (northwest of the intersection of Prospect Church Road and East Brainerd Road). It was a small frame building 40’ x 60’, made of virgin pine hand-tooled timber. A large spring on the site furnished water to the members on hot days. In the earliest days, the church had services on one weekend each month. Business meeting was held on Saturday afternoon and worship on Sunday morning. The earliest minutes of the church available begin: “We the Baptist Church of Christ met at New Prospect on Saturday before the third Sunday…” The New Prospect Church came very close to passing out of existence almost as soon as it began. The Civil War began within five years of the founding of the church. As the men went off to war and only the women were left at home, the church suffered. After a while, the congregation was almost gone. There was one member of the church, however, who would not give up—Mrs. Louisa Smith. Knowing that according to the terms of the deed assigning the land to the church the land would revert to the heirs of Caleb Smith if services were ever discontinued, Mrs. Smith persevered. Week after week, she came to the church to sing and pray, sometimes with a friend, often alone. Eventually, a new congregation grew up. The early records of the NewProspect Church are almost entirely lacking, but it is reported that in 1883 there were 69 members of the church. After almost sixty years of existence, the church voted on May 14, 1914, to begin Sunday School and Wednesday night prayermeetings. The Woman’s Missionary Union was organized September 2, 1914. These developments took place during Rev. A. M. Stansel’s first pastorate of the church. In 1928, when Rev. Stansel was pastor the second time, construction of a new building was begun on property purchased from James Wilson. First a revival was planned with Rev. Head as the evangelist. This revival was so successful that the members were inspired to begin the construction of the new building. Mr. Oscar Garrett was selected to be the main carpenter, and construction was begun on the present site. The depression was raging; and finances were a major problem; but the building was built. The men of the community contributed their labor. The ladies worked at various projects to pay for the pews. Friends of the church donated the memorialwindows. The first service was held in the still unfinished building in June 1929. Continue reading...]]> HISTORY OF THE APISON BAPTIST CHURCH   In 1849, Caleb Smith (great-great-uncle to Mrs. “Tennie” Knauff) came from McMinn County to James (now Hamilton) County and purchased land where Apison is now. Not long thereafter, he gave some land for the building of a church. When the building was finished, he was requested by the members to name the new church. Mr. Smith had previously built a church in McMinn County,which he had named “Little Hope.” It had far exceeded his expectation, so at the first meeting of the new church he suggested the name “New Prospect.”   The New Prospect Baptist Church was organized June 28, The building in which the church first met was located approximately one-half mile southwest of the present Apison Baptist Church (northwest of the intersection of Prospect Church Road and East Brainerd Road). It was a small frame building 40’ x 60’, made of virgin pine hand-tooled timber. A large spring on the site furnished water to the members on hot days. In the earliest days, the church had services on one weekend each month. Business meeting was held on Saturday afternoon and worship on Sunday morning. The earliest minutes of the church available begin: “We the Baptist Church of Christ met at New Prospect on Saturday before the third Sunday…” The New Prospect Church came very close to passing out of existence almost as soon as it began. The Civil War began within five years of the founding of the church. As the men went off to war and only the women were left at home, the church suffered. After a while, the congregation was almost gone. There was one member of the church, however, who would not give up—Mrs. Louisa Smith. Knowing that according to the terms of the deed assigning the land to the church the land would revert to the heirs of Caleb Smith if services were ever discontinued, Mrs. Smith persevered. Week after week, she came to the church to sing and pray, sometimes with a friend, often alone. Eventually, a new congregation grew up. The early records of the NewProspect Church are almost entirely lacking, but it is reported that in 1883 there were 69 members of the church. After almost sixty years of existence, the church voted on May 14, 1914, to begin Sunday School and Wednesday night prayermeetings. The Woman’s Missionary Union was organized September 2, 1914. These developments took place during Rev. A. M. Stansel’s first pastorate of the church. In 1928, when Rev. Stansel was pastor the second time, construction of a new building was begun on property purchased from James Wilson. First a revival was planned with Rev. Head as the evangelist. This revival was so successful that the members were inspired to begin the construction of the new building. Mr. Oscar Garrett was selected to be the main carpenter, and construction was begun on the present site. The depression was raging; and finances were a major problem; but the building was built. The men of the community contributed their labor. The ladies worked at various projects to pay for the pews. Friends of the church donated the memorialwindows. The first service was held in the still unfinished building in June 1929. Continue reading...]]> http://www.apisonbaptistchurch.com/?feed=rss2&p=309 0