As stated in the preface, we were unable to procure records of the Central Church of Winchester, after having requested same of clerk and pastor, in order that we might obtain the information necessary for the compilation of a correct and complete history of the church. We were therefore compelled to prepare this sketch from our personal knowledge of the history of the Central Church, together with the information obtained from the minutes of the Boone's Creek Association, of which she has been a member since 1911.Their house of worship is located on the corner of Lexington Avenue and Maple Street, Winchester, Kentucky. In her letter to the Association in 1922, the value of the church property was placed at 135,000.00. On the corner stone of the building is to be found the following inscription: "Constituted October 27, 1910; Dedicated December 3, 1912."
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In the record of the First Baptist Church of Winchester, under date of October 23, 1910, is to be found the following entry: "At their own request one hundred and twenty members were granted letters of dismissal." We presume these were among the number who constituted the Central Church on the date above mentioned. Since her constitution, according to the minutes of the Boone's Creek Association, she has been served by five pastors, who have led the congregation in the paths of usefulness and shown them the joy of service, and today the Central Church is the second church in the Association in membership, Sunday
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH of WINCHESTERSchool enrollment and missionary activities. She has an enthusiastic W. M. S. and a splendid B. Y. P. U.
According to the minutes of the Boone's Creek Association, the Central Church was received into that body in 1911, and at that session her pastor, Reverend George W. Shepherd, together with S. A. Lipscomb, C. G. Bush, James Munday, A. J. Earp, S. C. Boone, and William Harris constituted her messengers to the Association, and the letters which they presented stated that they had a membership of two hundred and one, a Sunday School enrollment of one hundred and seventy-five, and their contributions to missions amounted to $191.05. This letter also showed that James W. Chambers was the church clerk.
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Their first pastor, Reverend George W. Shepherd, was reared within the bounds of Boone's Creek Association, and was well known and loved by everyone. He was a true minister of the Gospel, a tender and watchful under-shepherd, but was only permitted to serve the Central Church for a short period, for God called him to his Heavenly home to receive his reward. In order to show the great love and esteem in which this good man of God was held by both the Central Church and the Boone's Creek Association, we reproduce in part the resolutions adopted by the Association in 1912, which read as follows:1. - "That we recognize a chieftain in Israel, young, strong, mentally and spiritually gifted, has fallen in our ranks.
2. - "That while we do not understand this mysterious Providence, we will bow with humble resignation to the will of Him who knows what is best.
3. - "That by reason of this appalling Providence we will take a firmer hold on the precious and abiding promise of our loving Lord 'that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose,' &c."
We are unable to state how long the church was without a pastor after the death of Brother Shepherd, but the minutes of the Association for 1913 show that Reverend J. D. Gaultney was their under-shepherd and W. W. Clark was church clerk. At this time they had a membership of two hundred and fifty-nine. From the same source we learn that the pastorate was held by Dr. G. W. Perryman in 1915, and that their membership was three hundred and eighty-one. Again the church was called upon to mourn the loss of her pastor, for Dr. Perryman entered into eternal rest on December 29, 1915. He had been their leader for only fourteen months, but they had learned to love him tenderly, and he them, and during his short pastorate the Central Church was blessed of God. From the obituary records in the minutes of the Association in the year 1916, we note the following in reference to the death of Dr. Perryman. "During his pastorate at the Central Church a large number of additions were made to the membership of the church and the church was greatly strengthened spiritually. By his courageous attacks on sin he impressed the entire community with h-is earnestness and honesty as a faithful minister of the Gospel. . . . In every community where he had lived he was at the front in every worthy undertaking. Far and wide he was known as a great enemy to the liquor traffic. . . . He was also a strong denominational leader and will be sorely missed, not only in his church and this Association, but throughout the Baptist brotherhood."
Sometime after the death of Dr. Perryman and before the meeting of the Association in 1916, Dr. R. L. Motley became their pastor, serving them for something like four years, during which time he gave them the most zealous and tender service. He was much beloved by the churches of Boone's Creek Association, to most of which he had preached occasionally or held a series of meetings for. He had the welfare of the Association at heart and endeavored to live up to all her plans. His going to other fields of labor was much regretted oy his many friends in the Association, especially the members of the Executive Board, and we
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are sure they will be pleased to know that he is most pleasantly situated at Florence, Alabama, as stated in a letter to the author.Dr. W. M. Nevins succeeded Dr. Motley in the pastorate sometime during the summer of 1921, and the pastor and people are devoted to each other and working well together for the advancement of the Lord's cause, and the church seems to be prospering under his leadership.
DR. R. L. MOTLEY.
The Central Church has entertained one annual session of Boone's Creek Association, in the year 1914, at which time the introductory sermon was delivered by Reverend J. T. Turpin from Ephesians 1:11. The quota of the Seventy-five Million Campaign for the Central Church was $25,500.00, and we understand that when the pledge cards were turned in the total amount subscribed was two or three thousand dollars in excess of their quota. In addition to the church clerks already mentioned Paul Shepperd was clerk in the years of 1920 and 1921, and the present clerk, B. F. Hensley, was elected sometime in 1922.
FAIRVIEW CHURCH — 1930. Fairview Church was located at Fairview, Madison County, Kentucky. The church was constituted in July, 1920, by the ministering help of Rev. J. T. Turpin, Rev. J. W. Richardson and Rev. R. L. Ambrose, and was received into Boone's Creek Association the same year. The church never reported again to the Association.
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We understand that in March, 1922, the church dissolved, most of the members uniting with Pine Knob Baptist Church, of Tate's Creek Association.
CALVARY CHURCH — 1921. Calvary Church is located at West Irvine, Kentucky. Elder J. T. Turpin, who for several years had been a zealous, faithful and indefatigable missionary of Boone's Creek Association, always ready to do the bidding of the Executive Board at any time and at any cost, pitched the missionary tent of the Association at West Irvine about the first of July, 1921, and held a series of meetings which
CALVARY, WEST IRVINE CHURCH
was very successful. During this meeting, at the request of Brother Turpin, the Executive Board appointed a committae, consisting of Dr. C. M. Thompson, J. K. Allen and S. J. Conkwright, to look over the field at West Irvine, with a view of building a house of worship. When the committee visited the flald, they were favorably impressed with the future outlook and told Brother Turpin to go ahead with the work and raise what funds he could in the community by subscription, and that they thought th-e churches in the Association would respond to his appeal for the erection of a house, which they did to the amount of 11,500.00, and the State Board contributed 5300. As a result of the effort of Brother Turpin and
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the congregation, together with the outside assistance, they now have a good church house, with eight Sunday School rooms, the plant being worth about $7,000. At the request of the Executive Board, Brother Turpin remained on the field and superintended the building of the house, after which he continued with the congregation until the meeting of the Association in 1922, which was entertained splendidly by this new and enthusiastic congregation.
REV. J. T. TURPIN
At this meeting of the Association, on motion of Judge J. M. Stevenson, they went on record as heartily approving the work of Brother Turpin as District Evangelist and requested that the District and State Boards have Brother Turpin continue in the mission work of Boone's Creefk Association. At the close of his remarks, Judge Stevenson increased the amount already given by the First Church of Winchester by a gift of $250.00.At the first meeting of the Executive Board after the annual session of the Association, Calvary Church having extended a call to Brother Turpin to become their pastor for an indefinite time, the Board, owing to the importance of the work at Calvary Church, released Brother Turpin as a field missionary for a period of one year, in order that he might accept the pastorate at Calvary Church, his salary to be supplemented by the District and State Boards.
The following informal is obtained from the church records. On July 31, 1921, pursuant to a call by J. T. Turpin, District Missionary of Boone's Creek Association, for a council for the purpose of organizing a church at West Irvine, Kentucky,
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they met on the above date. The council consisted of messengers from the Baptist churches of Providence (Estill County), Chestnut Stand, and First Church of Irvine. The council organized for business by electing Elder W. G. Potts moderator, and Elder T. P. Edwards clerk. After Brother Turpin had made a statement as to the purpose of the meeting, the brethren and sisters who had recently been baptized and those with letters came forward and stated that they had been led by the spirit of God to form or organize themselves into a church. The church covenant found in Pendleton's Church Manual was read and adopted. The Philadelphia Confession of Faith was also adopted. Brother Robert White was elected church clerk. On motion, it was decided that the name of the church should be Calvary Baptist Church of West Irvine, Kentucky. A building committee was selected, consisting of Brethren Thomas Henderson, Newton Edmonson, and Robert Sloan. Brother Turpin reported that they already had about $1,000 and a good lot. The church was organized with forty-three members, twenty-eight of whom had recently been baptized, the remaining fifteen were by letter.On September 3, 1921, the church voted to request admission into Boone's Creek Association. In November, 1921, the church voted to request the State Board to contribute $600.00 toward paying for their house. Later the amount of this request was reduced to $300.00, which the State Board granted. On April 16, 1928, Brethren Everett Finney, B. D. Gray, Carter Henderson and C. Richardson were ordained deacons. In March, 1922, Brother Turpin was assisted in a series of meetings by Rev. W. S. Shearer, and ten were added to the church on profession of faith and baptism. On September 21,1922, the church extended a unanimous call to Rev. T. J. Turpin to the pastorate, agreeing to pay him $33.33 a month, and requesting the District and State Boards to supplement this amount by $66.66, a month. The District and State Boards agreed to comply with this request.
In December, 1922, the pastor, assisted by the State Evangelist, Brother Dotson, held a series of meetings, resulting in sixteen additions to the church. Notwithstanding the railroad strike, which had affected many churches in that section, Calvary Church seems to be progressing nicely under the pastorate of Brother Turpin. The church reported a membership of eighty-three, in September, 1922, with a Sunday School that has an average attendance of one hundred and eighty-five, which is larger than the enrollment, and mor,s than twice as large as the church membership. We know of no other Sunday School that shows such a record. It is hoped that great things may be accomplished by this church.
WAGERSVILLE CHURCH—1922. Wagersville Baptist Church is located at Wagersville, Estill County, Kentucky. The church was constituted with eighteen members in 1922, and united with Boone's Creek Association the same year. D. S. Fowler was elected church clerk. We understand that they have not had any preaching since they were organized, and that the church has either already or is contemplating dissolving at the time of this writing, July 1, 1923.
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Officers of Boone's Creek Association
E. A. Barker, Moderator - S. J. Conkwright, Clerk-Treasurer
J. K. Allen, Asst. Moderator - R. F. Scudder, Moderator-Emeritus
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CONSTITUTION OF BOONE'S CREEK ASSOCIATION AS WRITTEN
AND APPROVED IN THE YEAR 1923.1st. We take the Holy Bible, the Old and New Testament as the only rule of faith and practice in religion, and are united in the belief of the following doctrines, as contained in the scriptures, viz.: That there is one God, and one, Mediator between God and Man, the Man Jesus Christ; and in the Godhead, are Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
2nd. That mankind, without exception, are in their natural state, sinners, totally destitute to holiness, and are entirely helpless in themselves.
3rd. That faith in Jesus Christ is alone the instrument of justification according to the Scriptures, and is the gift of God and is ordinarily wrought in the heart by the spirit, by and with the word heard and read.
4th. That salvation is wholly of the free and sovereign grace of God, through the atonement, righteousness and mediation of Jesus Christ by sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, and the belief of the Truth and that the Saints will persevere through grace to glory.
5th. That there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, and a general judgment; that the righteous shall be received into everlasting happiness and that the wicked shall be driven into everlasting punishment.
6th. We hold that the visible Church of Christ is composed of such as profess saving faith and those only who exhibit credible evidence of faith in Jesus Christ should be baptized agreeably to His command by being immersed in water in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and that it is the duty and privilege of such to celebrate the Lord's Supper.
7th. Notwithstanding children who are not capable of professing faith in Christ are not fit subjects for baptism and the Lord's Supper, according to the Gospel, yet we hold it our duty to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
8th. We believe in the Divine appointment of the Christian Sabbath, scripturally called the Lord's Day, and that it is the duty of Christians to sanctify it to the service of God, according to the example of primitive saints.
We believe tha moral law of God is a rule of obedience for all men through faith and that the Gospel should be preached to all men and all that hear are commanded to believe it.
9th. This Association regards the independence of the churches inviolable and disclaims any right to exercise power in the government of them, and declares her only aim and intention to be is to assist, advise and encourage the propagation of truth and the cultivation of practical piety.
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10th. No querry shall he brought before the Association from any church, unless the church has previously investigated the subject matter of it with the aid of help obtained from other churches, without having been able to determine it, and should any difficulty arise in the church, or between the churches, the same steps shall be taken to settle it as in the above case, as a prerequisite to an appeal to the Association; and should the appeal be taken, the Association shall give advice only.11th. Each church shall send to the Association by her messenger a written statement of her number received on profession of faith and baptism, and by letter or restored, and those dismissed by letter, deceased or ex-communicated.
12th. The Association shall employ part of her time in free and familiar conversation and about the state of religion in the churches comprising the body.
13th. Any church applying to join this Association shall present a copy of her covenant, which shall be subject to examination, and, if received, shall be filed among the archives of the Association by the Clerk.
14th. The number of messengers from any church shall not exceed five.
15th. This constitution shall be subject to amendment by two-thirds majority vote of the members present. Any proposition for amendment shall be made and seconded at a preceding meeting.
============= History of Boone's Creek Baptist Association — 1823-1923
By S. J. Conkwright[From History of the Churches of Boone's Creek Baptist Association of Kentucky, By S. J. Conkwright, 1923, pp. 168-178.
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