Dripping Spring Baptist Church

Sun Morning-Sunday School 9:30am, Worship 10:30am
Sun Evening-Choir/Youth 5:30pm, Worship 6:30pm
Wed-Suppertime 5:45pm, Youth/Children/Adult 6:30pm


The Dripping Spring Baptist Church was constituted in the community schoolhouse on Saturday before the third Sunday in December 1850. Rev. William I. Morton preached the sermon. The charter members in the organization were composed of persons, who were holding letters from the Union and Pleasant Grove Churches. These members were as follows: Thomas M. James, John W. Mimms, James A. Page, James A. Boyer, Samuel W. Page, Robert Bagby, William Page, Russell Miller, David W. Mimms, William Sanders, Sarah A. James, Mary Mimms, Priscilla Page, Mary Miller and Louisa I. Page. After prayer, the hand of fellowship was extended to the members of the new church by Elder William I, Morton and by two deacons of the Mt. Pleasant Church, namely Edward Mosley and Daniel Maddox. Thomas N. James and James O. Boyer were ordained deacons. Brethren James O. Boyer and Thomas N. James were elected clerks to serve alternately year by year. The second Sunday and Saturday before the second Sunday in each month was adopted as the time for regular worship. Elder James B. Lamb was elected pastor by private ballot at the first regular conference meeting.

Brother Lamb began his work as pastor of the church on Saturday before the second Sunday in February 1851. On that meeting day William Page and Amanda Page were received for baptism.

The church was received in the Bethel Association in its session with the Old Bethel Church the following September. The church’s report to the Association showed ten members had been received by baptism, and a total membership of 44. There were reported 43 members in 1853. In 1855, there were reported 66 members, and Elder J.F. Sanders, a licensed minister, was the only messenger present from the church.

Brother Lamb served the church as pastor for about four years and was succeeded by Elder D. Buckley in 1854. Brother Lamb was called to succeed Brother Buckley and served about two years. At the September meeting in 1856, Benjamin F. Price and Asena Price were received into the church: by baptism.

In November 1857, Elder B. Roberts took charge of the church as pastor and continued in service until April 1863, when he stated to the church that he could not serve any longer. A motion carried, when Pastor Roberts refused to continue, that Brother F. M. Page be appointed to draw up a subscription list to raise funds to compensate “our-pastor” for his past labors.

Elder F.C. Plaster was unanimously called to pastor the church at the regular conference meeting in May 1863. In February 1864, Brethren B. F. Price and David Hughes were appointed to employ a sexton for the church for the balance of the year. This committee reported at the next meeting that a servant boy, Jim, employed by Brother F.M. Page could be secured. A subscription list was started and $18.00 was raised to for his work.

Elder J.J. Felts who took charge of the church in February 1865 succeeded Pastor F.C. Plaster in the pastorate. Brother Felts continued as pastor until February 1868. In April 1868, Elder S.P. Forgy became pastor and served about one year. Brother W.J. Page was superintendent of the Sunday School. On the third Sunday in June 1869, Elder E.N. Dicken was called as pastor on motion by Brother W.J. Page. In April 1870, the church called elder G.W. Tremary who continued until 1879. Elder J.G. Kendall held a great meeting with the church near the close of the pastorate of Brother Tremary. In December 1879, Brother Kendall was called to be pastor and served until April 1881. In December 1881, Brother Tremary was again called and continued until December 1883. On February 24, 1884, Dr. W.S. Ryland became pastor and continued one year. Professor C. P. Shields of Bethel College, who had been ordained to the ministry a short time before, succeeded Dr. Ryland in 1865. Brother Shields served the church one year and was succeeded by Elder T.W. Bibb, who served until November 1888.

Elder J. H. Burnett was pastor during 1889, Brother F.M. Page was superintendent of the Sunday School, and the church reported 113 members to the Association. In January 1890, Elder B. F. Page became pastor and served six years. In 1897, Elder W.J. Puckett was pastor, Brother A.J. Page was clerk and there were 212 members reported. In January 1898, Brother B.F. Page was again pastor and served one year. Elder A.H. Rather began his work as pastor in January 1899, and continued until 1904. In 1905, Elder William Wilkes was pastor; Brother A. J. Page was clerk; and. F. M. Page was Superintendent of The Sunday School.

In 1908, the Dripping Spring Church withdrew from the Bethel Association and united with the Logan County Association. Brother Wilkes was succeeded by Elder J.H. Vaughn who served the church as pastor about two years. The church returned to the Bethel Association in 1912, but made no report that year.

The minutes of the association in 1913 showed that Elder J.H. Burnett was pastor, Brother W.O. Price was clerk, and Brother Silas Mason was superintendent of the Sunday School. The church reported 126 members, and the following year 125 was reported.


Brother Burnett continued as pastor until 1921, about nine years all together. The church reported to the Association in 1920 that the church had grown under Brother Burnett’s ministry to 328 members, and the pastor’s salary had been increased to $600.00 a year. The minutes showed that Brother Orion Price was clerk and. Brother R.L. Wells was superintendent of the Sunday School. In 1922, Brother Burnett was succeeded in the pastorate by Elder W.J. Puckett, who served one year.

In 1923, Elder T. P. Simmons, then a student at Bethel College, was called to the pastorate. In 1926, according to the Association minutes, Brother J.H. Burnett was again pastor and continued until 1931, when Elder H.L. Green followed him. In 1933, Elder G.L. Youman was pastor and was succeeded by Elder Reed Rushing, who was pastor about four years.


Brother George M. Ray was called in February of 1939. From the April 21, 1940 notes, Brother Earl L. Parker served as Clerk, Brother Harold Bagby as Treasurer, Brother Robert Blick as superintendent of the Sunday School, and Mrs. Eva Holiday as President of the W.M.S. The membership of the church was reported as 312, and 111 enrolled in the Sunday School. The church contributed the year before to all purposes, $1,164.41. The following were deacons: B.M. Miller (Chairman of the Board), Howard Poor, E.R. Parrish, Byron Wilson, Ira Miller, Robert Blick, Earl L, Parker, John Miller, and Jesse Price.

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On March 10, 1956, Dripping Spring Baptist Church building was destroyed by fire. The pulpit chair, piano and books from the library were saved. The Church met in the Olmstead Gym as they had used our Church for a year of school while rebuilding the school after it was burned. All members went to work to rebuild our church, with each one doing all he could. The men did most of the work, but hired help with what they couldn’t do. On August 31, 1958, a beautiful colonial brick building was dedicated. Rev. Robert Dandy of the Baptist Sunday School at Nashville Tennessee preached the morning service and Rev. J. Thomas Miller the evening.

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On June 3, 2007, Dripping Spring Baptist Church completed their 18-month expansion project with the addition of a new 440 seat auditorium and classrooms. The first baptism (Les Stoller) in the new facility was held the following week during our Dedication & Open House services. In October 2007, the former sanctuary was completely overhauled and remodeled to a new fellowship hall, capable of seating 300+ for events and meals. The new fellowship hall's first social function was the hosting of the 2007 Logan Todd Associational Meeting.


Historic information documented by the late Mrs. Rebecca Pidcock


INDIVIDUALS ORDAINED INTO THE MINISTRY
FROM DRIPPING SPRING BAPTIST CHURCH

REV. P.E. HERNDON
REV. JOHN F. PRICE
REV. J. THOMAS MILLER
REV. JOHN SHAW
REV. J.V. MULLEN