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A History of Flatwoods Baptist Church

The following is a recording of the history of Flatwoods Baptist Church as prepared by Dr. David Darden  in 1991

Original Flatwoods Baptist Church Building 
 

In the Beginning
1890 – 1892

     There is some uncertainty as to the time that the Flatwoods Baptist Church was established.  In the 1989 Church Directory, it is stated that the church was organized in 1888 and constituted on June 14 1891.      The 1989 Directory also indicates that the construction began in 1888 with Wesley Sloan as the builder, and Alf Hyche and Jake Anders as helpers.  On September 19, 1890 the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church approved the sale of two acres of land for $16 to the Missionary Baptist Church, stipulating that the property would be used for a school.  The deed was completed on November 8, 1890 listing H. W. Sloan, John Partrich and J. H. Anders as Trustees.  Additional information about the growth and development of the church will be described later in chronological order.

     Although the original building is still standing, an annex was added to it.  The outside dimensions of the rectangular building were approximately thirty feet by forty feet.  A wood burning stove was located near the front of the church in the aisle.  Kindling was used to start fires.  There were two doors in the front of the building and one in the back.  Wooden steps ran almost the width of the building.  The pulpit was at the North end of the building on an elevated platform about one foot high.  There were two aisles running North and South and three sections of pews running East and West.  The pews on the east were occupied by women in the middle by young people, and on the west by men.  Two or three pews at the Northwest corner ran from North to South and were often called the "amen" corner; four or five pews running the same way in the Northwest corner were used by the choir.  A short pew was in front of the platform and one was on the platform against the back wall.   There were no restroom facilities in the early life of the church.  Men went to the woods on the West side of the building and women to the East side.

     On June 14, 1891 the Flatwoods Baptist Church was organized under the leadership of Reverend J. H. Curry, moderator, and is located approximately four miles Northwest of Northport, Al.  The charter members of the church were J. H. and Martha Anders, J. O and Elizabeth Caldwell, D. W. Darden, W. A. and Caroline Hyche, Mr. G.A. Keller, John and Elizabeth Partrich, Sarah Anne Partrich, W. C. Partrich and H. W. and Julia Sloan.  At that time, John H. Partrich. and H. W. Sloan were elected deacons and Reverend John C. Foster preached the ordination sermon.

      A business conference was held on July 5, 1891 for the purpose of calling a pastor.  D. W. Darden made a motion that H. W. Sloan be elected moderator and John T. Bealle be called as pastor and it was adopted.  The moderator appointed John H. Partrich, D. W. Darden and J. H. Anders as a committee to inform Bealle of his election, and to request the Northport Baptist Church to ordain him.  It was decided at the time of this conference to have "preaching on the third Sabbath each month and the Saturday before that time".

John T. Bealle
First Pastor of Flatwoods Baptist 1891 - 1922    

 After preaching by John T. Bealle on July 18, 1891 the church met in a conference with Bealle serving as moderator.  It was decoded to have no preaching "tomorrow" as  Bealle was to be ordained to the gospel ministry that day by the Northport Baptist Church, presumably this was to permit church members to attend the ordination service.  The church then decided to begin a "protracted meeting" on Friday before the third Sunday in August of 1891.  On this date the church elected J. H. Anders, J. O Caldwell, John  H. Partrich and H. W. Sloan as delegates" to the district meeting at the Carroll’s Creek Baptist Church on August 1^st.  The church clerk was instructed to write a petitionary letter requesting membership in District II.  By way of explanation the Tuscaloosa County Baptist Association divided the associational area into two districts for travel convenience.    Churches on the East side of the river were in district 1 and those on the West side were in district II.  The first district was expected to have meetings in August and the second district in September.  Subjects of interest were discussed at these meetings and efforts were made to instruct church members in the Bible and instill proper standards of Christian living and encourage all people to engage in all activities of the denomination.

      The minutes of August 15, 1891, used "Church of Christ of Flatwoods" for the first time and is was frequently used for a number of years.  After preaching service on this date, a conference was held and H. W. Sloan, D. W. Darden, W. C. Partrich and J. H. Anders were elected to represent the church at the Sunday School Convention.  In addition, D. W. Darden, W.C. Partrich and John H. Partrich were elected to represent the church at the annual meeting of the Tuscaloosa County Baptist Association.  It is assumed that the church affiliated with the association immediately after it was organized.  Although no minutes of the association are available prior to 1893, the election of messengers indicates that Flatwoods Baptist Church had been accepted as a member.  A collection of $2.00 was raised to send to the association, with $100 designated for minutes.

      In conference on September 15, 1891 John H. Partrich made a motion that "Sacrement" be held every three months, beginning with the third Sunday I October and it carried.  A motion was made and approved making January 1^st the beginning date of the pastor’s salary and to pay him $50.00 for the past year.