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History of Granville Baptist Church
By Jacob Drake

GRANVILLE, Licking County, 1819. -- This church was collected by the labors of Br. Geo. Evans, in the service of the Massachusetts Baptist Missisonary Society. Br. Evans traveled extensively in this State, but his principle location was in this neighborhood, where he found an old acquaintance. There were a few scattered sheep among the population, and by the blessing of God on his labors, Br. Evans was gratified with the delightful privilege of baptizing a number of converts, and it became necessary to form them into church. The writer and a council of brethren assisted in the pleasing ceremony. Shortly after this, Br. Evans returned to the east. This church has seen many changes -- some prosperous -- some adverse. Br. Hanover served them awhile as pastor, then the writer, then Br. Berry. Br. N. Wildman, from Connecticut, spent some time with them while visiting a sister or two in Granville. His preaching was accompanied with the Holy Spirit and with power. A revival commenced under his labors, and a number were baptized,* but he was under the necessity of leaving in the midst of the good work. Br. Berry commenced when Br. Wildman left, and baptized a goodly number into the fellowship of the church. Br. Henry Carr has since had charge of the church, under whose ministry a large number were added by baptism, which, with the professing students in the College, have rendered this the largest church in the Association. Professor Swaim is the present pastor. The Female Seminary here has furnished its full share of converts to the Baptist Church.
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* Among these converts was Br. D. Adams, now (1859) pastor of the Johnstown Church. The old Granville Church was afterward Welsh Hills. - D. A. Randall, editor
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[Rev. Jacob Drake, "Historical Sketch of Churches Connected with Columbus Association" in A History of Columbus Baptist Association (OH) From its Organization to 1837, With a Brief Sketch of Ministers and Churches, 1859, p. 33, - Jim Duvall



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