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During the winter and spring of the year 1819, a few Baptist brethren and sisters, scattered in various parts of the two townships, Granville and St. Albans, in Licking county, Ohio, had been accustomed to meet together on the Lord's day, for prayer and the relation of christian experience. These meetings were held in the rude log cabins of the prmiitive settlers. There was no spacious church to receive them; no bell to call the worshippers from their widely scattered dwellings. They were brought together only by the force of a common faith.
They had no pastor to guide them and to feed them as a flock, save in rare instances, when they enjoyed the presence and ministrations of Elder George Evans, of Massachusetts. To him, chiefly, this Church owes its origin. Under his immediate direction its organization was effected.
A preliminary meeting was held May 5th, 1819. "Articles of Faith" and a "Covenant" were reported and adopted. Invitations were sent to Elder Drake of Delaware, and Elder Mott, of Miller township, with certain other brethren, to sit in council on the first Lord's day in June, for the purpose of constituting and recognizing the new Church.
The council convened June 6, 1819, at the house of Jonathan Atwood, Esq. The "Article sof Faith" and "Covenant" were read and approved. The three ministers present all preached in succession, with a short intermission between the second and third sermons. The hand of fellowship was given by Elder Evans, and the solemnities were closed by the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.
The record of the organization closes with these words: "The day was remarkably pleasant, the assembly pretty large, the season solemn and delightful, and many hearts rejoiced to see another Church of Jesus planted in this western wilderness."
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Nineteen members were enrolled in this organization. The name adopted was "The Baptist Church of Christ in Granville and St. Albans."
At the next meeting of the Columbus Association, in September, 1819, the newly constituted Church sent a letter and delegates, and was received into that body.
But, though it had thus become a Church by formal organization, and recognition by other bodies, it was yet destitute of almost all things essential to a Church, save the faith of the Gospel. No stated time or place of meeting was observed. It was not till more than a year after the organization that they voted to assemble regularly once a month. For the first fifteen months of its existence, the Church, as a body, heard only four sermons. Two of them were preached by Elder Evans. He continued to minister to them occasionally for three years longer. Thus his occasional ministrations extended altogether over a period of more than four years. He was then invited to become the settled pastor of the Church, but declined.
In the summer of 1822, Elder John Hanover was invited to preach for this Church one-fourth of his time. He accepted the call, and labored in this manner three years. For the first two years his meetings were half the time in the school house in Mitchell district, Granville township, and half the time in St. Albans. But during the last year, at his request, the meetings were all held in the school house in St. Albans. In the latter part of his pastorate, the Church secured a further partial supply. For some months Elder DeBolt preached once a month, so that there was divine service every second Sabbath.
In June, 1826, Elder Azariah Hanks was employed to preach once a month for one year. This action was taken by the members residing in Granville, who at that time constituted about two-thirds of the whole body. The St. Albans brethren were anxious to employ the Rev. Daniel Wildman, who had immigrated from Connecticut and settled among them. They proposed that Elder Wildman should be called by a vote of the Church, in the same manner as Elder Hanks had been, and that the members from each place should then attend the preaching and contribute to the support of the man of their respective choice.
The majority, regarding this proposition to call two pastors at the same time, as tending to produce unwarrantable complication, refused to comply. This gave rise to some sectional differences, which for a short time marred the peace of the Church; but these were soon happily adjusted. Each place employed and paid the pastor of its choice. The united gatherings of the Church for the observance of the Lord's Supper were held twice in succession in Granville, and the third time in St. Albans, thus corresponding to the ratio of membership in the two places.
But the natural consequence of holding separate meetings, with different pastors, was soon seen in the gradual weaning of the St. Albans members from perfect sympathy and cordial co-operation with the parent body, and in their desire for independent existence. At a Church meeting
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held March 24, 1827, they presented a petition, signed by eleven members, praying that they might "be set off, to be constituted, as soon as convenient, into a distinct Church." The petition was granted, and the Church property (comprising at that time only the Communion service, the Church records, and "Benedict's History,") was equally divided. Each body retained the name of the township in which it was situated.
The Granville Church invited Elder Hanks to preach for them a second year, but he declined. During the summer of 1827 they were without a pastor. They, however, resolved, "to hold meetings every Lord's day, except the third in each month; to read a sermon in the forenoon, and engage in prayer and conference in the afternoon." During the following autumn and winter Elder Wildman, of St. Albans, preached occasionally.
Eight years from now passed since the Church was constituted. Thus far it had struggled along, bravely maintaining its existence. Much of the time without a stated ministry of the Word, and, for the rest, supplied only with once-a-month preaching, not much gowth could be expected. A few had been added by letter; and at long intervals the assembly had gathered at the water side, (on the brink of "our little Jordan in the wilderness of St. Albans," as the record styles the place of baptism) to witness the significant rite by which another believer was prepared to be added to their number. Thus, though there had been no revival, the membership had more than doubled previous to the withdrawal of the St. Albans members. That event reduced them fully one-third.
But a better day was approaching. In April, 1828, Elder James Berry began his labors here. A revival followed almost immediately, and continued throughout the summer and autumn. About fifty were added in the Church, raising the membership to seventy-four.
The congregation now became too large to be accomodated in the school house. Elder Berry preached a sermon from the text, "The place is too strait for me; give room that I may dwell." He broadly hinted at the necessity of building a meeting-house. The question was agitated until, early in the year 1829, a determination was reached to undertake the work. The corner-stone was laid with the usual ceremonies, September 21, 1829, Elder G. C. Sedwick, of Zanesville, officiating. The house was not fully completed till 1833. It was "of brick, forty-five by thrity-five feet, with belfry and gallery, and a porch twenty by ten feet." Granville College, now Denison University, began operations December, 1831, in this brick church. It was then unfinished, loose planks being laid down for a floor. John Pratt was the first President.
Elder Berry continued to serve the Church, preaching every second and fourth Sabbath in each month, till September, 1832. For a part of the time while he was pastor, Elder Allen Darrow, who was licensed and ordained by this Church, preached also twice a month. During the year 1832, Prof. Pratt also preached frequently.
Elder Henry Carr began to preach here in the winter of 1832-3. His
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labors were largely successful. Twenty-six were added to the Church by baptism that winter. In July, 1833, Elder Carr assumed the regular pastoral care of the Church. He was the first who gave his whole time to this Church, and received a regular salary. He served three years; and, after an interval of two years, was called to the pastoral office the second time, and filled it for three and a half years longer. The interval between his first and second term was filled by Prof. Samuel B. Swaim, Pres. Going, Elder Clark, and Elder Ezra Going.
Besides the revival already mentioned at the beginning of Elder Carr's labors, another occured in the winter of 1835-6, in which thirty persons were converted; and a far greater one in 1839-40, when about ninety were added by baptism.
September 10, 1842, Elder Carr resigned the second time. In Church meeting, on the 19th, his resignation was accepted, and resolutions were adopted expressing "confidence in him as a sound and faithful minister of the Gospel," and hopes for his future success. On the same day the Church voted to call Rev. Edmund Turney, of Connecticut. He accepted the call, and was installed Dec. 24, 1842. He served the Church until Oct. 24, 1847, a period of five years.
The period was not marked by any striking event. A considerable revival occured in 1842-3, in which about forty were converted. The membership, however, was slightly diminshed during the whole five years. But, though the Church had lost somewhat in numbers, it had gained in other respects. Several members, who had been walking disorderly, had been cut off, and old dissensions had been healed. More successful modes of raising money for contingent expenses had been devised. The efficient working capacity of the Church had been developed and exercised.
About the time of Elder Turney's resignation, the question of building a new meeting-house began to be dicussed. The formal resolution to that effect was adopted in Church meeting, December 5, 1847. The house was completed about two years later. For the first year President Bailey was temporary pastor, and Prof. Pratt during the second. Both devoted the money paid for preaching to the erection of the new church. The house was dedicated in the usual manner, Nov. 10, 1849. The Rev. L. G. Leonard, of Zanesville, preached the dedicatory sermon.
In the winter and spring of 1850, there was a considerable revival, under the labors of Prof. Pratt. He served as temporary pastor till the end of that year.
In February, 1851, President Bailey began again to preach for the Church, and supplied the pulpit till a pastor was secured. There was a revival in the winter of 1850-51, in which about fifty persons were converted.
The Rev. Jeremiah Hall was called, and accepted the pastoral office september 14, 1851. When he had served a year and a half, he was excused from preaching for three months, at the request of the Executive Committee of Granville College, in order that he might serve that institution.
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At the end of these three months, having been elected President of the College, he resigned (July 23, 1853). Prof. Marsh was temporary pastor from the resignation of President Hall to the installment of Dr. Burton.
In February following, the Rev. N. S. Burton, of Ohio City, was called to the vacant pulpit. After some delay he accepted, and began his labors May 21, 1854. He preached to this Church, in all, eight and a half years -- eight years as pastor, and six months as supply. The chief event in this period was the great revival in the winter of 1857-8, which was shared by most of the Churches in this country. As the fruits of this great awakening, eighty persons were added to this Church by baptism.
Brother Burton was a pastor greatly beloved and esteemed by the people. Under his able and faithful administration, the Church steadily grew in all the elements of prosperity and power. He resigned May 25, 1862; but, as stated above, he continued to preach here six months longer. For three years after the close of his labors here, the pulpit was supplied for the most part by Dr. Stone and President Talbot.
The Rev. J. D. King, of Portsmouth, was called March 11, 1866, and assumed the duties of his office April, 1866. In June following, he, as chairman of a committee appointed by the Church, reported a plan for carrying on our benevolent operations, which has been adhered to since, and found very efficient. Brother King resigned April 6, 1867, and his resignation took effect July 1, 1867.
Since that time we have enjoyed the very acceptable ministrations of President Talbot; and lately, of the Rev. D. A. Randall, of Columbus, who brings to the elucidation of the sacred text the rich and striking illustrations drawn from his own observations and experience in the Holy Land.
For the past five or six years, scarcely a winter has passed without some religious interest, and the conversion of some souls. But the persons converted usually belong to the College or Seminary, and do not permanently unite with us. Hence our numbers have been slightly diminished since the great in-gathering of 1858, which was the culminating point of prosperity in this Church. May God soon give us a pastor, and begin again to enlarge the borders of Zion! ============= [From Columbus Baptist Association Minutes, 1871, pp. 12-16. The document is from Denison University Library, Special Collections. - Transcribed by Jim Duvall.]
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