Church History
Bethlehem Baptist Church History
Organized in 1872
On the second Saturday night of August,1872, sixteen people with letters from Haley's Grove Baptist Church, met to form a new church. Their first worship service was at the school house. They adopted the Articles of Faith, Rules of Decorum, and Church Constitution of the mother church, as well as the Constitution of the Hiwassee Baptist Association. Bethlehem changed their affiliation to the Big Emory Association in 1876, and then became a charter member of the Cumberland County Association in 1953. C.W. Richards was chosen as first pastor, James M. Proctor as first church clerk, and B.T. Monday was ordained as the first deacon.
At the next monthly business meeting eleven more members were baptized on their profession of faith into the church. Following this they unanimously chose BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH as their name.
In August of 1894, the church was moved to a new building in the Woody Community, meeting every second and fourth Saturday and Sunday. This arrangement continued until 1918 when one acre was purchased on Potato Farm Road for thirty-five dollars. Bethlehem met on this site until 1994 when it relocated one-half mile down Potato Farm Road.
In the early days two churches were organized by Bethlehem. They were Fredonia Baptist, in 1874 and Buck Snort Baptist in 1876. Throughout Bethlehem's years of service to the Lord, missions have been a number-one priority. Bethlehem has helped at least seven churches organize including First Baptist of Crossville in 1894 and Isoline Baptist in 1937.
On July 17, 1994 our new building was dedicatedjust 1/2 mile down the road from the orginal building. As our congregation grew God had even bigger plans. Our present santuary and down stairs education wing was dedicated to our Lord and Savior on April 9, 2006.
Bethlehem has been served by at least 28 pastors and perhaps more. The pastors on record are listed below in the order of their service to Bethlehem.
C.W. Richards
C.L. Ledford
E. Woody
Luther Brandon
C.W. Weaver
J.W. Linkous
DeweyTodd
John Albright
Hiram Proctor
S.F. Perry
Alonzo Harville
Jerome McCoy
D.N. Hodge
W.M. Fritts
J.E. Parrott
John Albright
J.F. Roddy
S.V. Seiber
W.A. Mann
Charlie L. Ivey
R.J. Gorgett
Bro. Fowler
A. Coppenger
Rodney C. Rector
Mafred Duck
W.J. Osborne
Robert C. Bowen
Danny Bell
Gary Robbins
To God Be the Glory for 135 Years Of Unity and Service!
