Transcribed and submitted by Diane Bunting Lehner
This page is dedicated to the Old New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. This is one of the many older churches in Wayne County. Many thanks to Diane and the pastor for allowing her to transcribe this information and to place it on the web site. Most of all, thank you to all those that helped start this church and those that attend it today.
History of New Hope
General Baptist Church
An early history written for the 1965 church homecoming states that the New Hope General Baptist Church was organized in September 1874 by Elder J.F. Clevenger, Elder S.C. Sherwood, Deacon D. Smith and Deacon John Smith. However, the earliest church minutes that have been located are dated December, 1875.
The church is located in Section 25 of Big Mound Township, (T.2S.-R7.E.) approximately ¼ mile west of Highway 45 in Wayne County, Illinois. The building site was a gift from Brother Henry Tyler.
The first lighting system used was tallow candles, a little later they were discarded for kerosene lamps, then came the gas lights, a few years later a battery plant supplied the energy for a lighting system, and when the R.E.A. lines were brought to our Community, our present electric lights were installed.
The Church had no bell for several years, until around 1912, when Sister Rebecca Hall gave the Church one as a gift.
In 1958, the addition on the south side of the building was added.
Elders J. F. Clevenger and J. P. Turner were among the earliest pastors with Brothers Henry Tyler and W. T. Zimmerman serving in the position of church clerk.
This 1875 undated membership list was found in the book of church minutes that begins with the date August 1875.
| Aug 1875 | Dec 28, 1890 |
|---|---|
|
Catey Burges Z.W. Wood Issac Thurston Nancy J. Thurston Martin Cross Philip Peer Lavina Peer J.F. Clevenger James Crumton Ed B. Tyler G. W. Tyler Charles Zimmerman Wm. Zimmerman Jr Etta Honie Balou Joseph Sork Jr. Miranda Sork E.B. Clevenger Sabinia Clevenger John Sork T.M. Glasco Reverse of Page Wm. Tucker Wm. Kincart Salley Black James Baird Sina Baird Augusta M. Bairk(probably Baird) Cansadid Meeks Ida Shorb Hubbard (Shorb written in pencil) Lu (possibly Lee) Hines Jane Cline Henry Zimmerman William Turner Mary Turner Elizabeth Kincart Jesse M. Hubbard Barthena Hubbard John Bigerstaf Florida M. Bigerstaf Phaniah Honie ?anervey Were (page torn) hn R. Murp (page torn) Ercila Mur (page torn) ary M. Br (page torn) |
John Cross Mrs. Sarah Cross Elizabeth Cross Wm Zimmerman Mrs. Jane Cox Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton C C White Mrs. L. E. Turner P. Turner Sarah Joslin Sarah Greathous Andrew Caldwell John B. Boner Jr. Laffet Adsit Mrs. R. J. Caldwell Mrs. Sophronia Hart Thomas Smith David Clevenger July A Wood Malinda R Boneer Mrs. Eva J ?esort George M Cox Flovena Cox Mrs. Ida J Clevenger Mrs. Martha A Waters Emanuel D. Clevenger Mrs. Jane Tyler Mrs. R V Foster Mrs. M. V. Hamilton Mrs. Canzada Bunting Z. W Wood Isaac Thursten Nancy J Thursten Martin Cross Philip Peer J F Clevenger Ed B Tyler George W. Tyler Charles Zimmerman W T Zimmerman Mrs. Etta Ballue Joseph Sork Jr Mrs. Marenda Sork Mrs. Sabrina Sluder John Sork T M Glasco Mrs. Marthia Glasco Nancy O Murphy Mrs. Mary A. Clevenger Mrs. Martha Allen Emir Hornick Mrs. Mary Sork James Smith Wm Tyler Samuel Tyler Joseph Sork Barcilla Sork Henry Kincart Susan Kincart James Biard Mrs A.M. Parmer Mrs. Cansada Moris Ida Horb Mrs. Jane Collins Len Hines Mrs. Jane Morland Henry Zimmerman Wm Turner Mrs. Mary Turner Elazabath Kincart Jesse M Hubard Mrs. Barthenia Hubard Mrs. Phinia Hornick Mrs. Marerva Weres John R. Murphy Mrs. Pricilla Murphy Mrs Mary M. Brown Mrs. Etta Morland Wm Turker David Shoaf Mrs. Mary E. Zimmerman Mrs. Ellen Allen Mrs. Deborah Shoaf Mrs. Minie Cox Charles Wells Olover Scruder David Allen Joseph Fuller Eva Harlan Mrs. Emma Peer Tillie Peer Wm Wood Mrs. Helen Cross Mrs. Monroe Martin Antny Armer Etta Cox Cale Cline John Ledbetter Ec Keen John Baker Adline Keen Carrie B. Calwell Nora Baker Ev. Heiflin Connie Wright Charlie Wooen Ada Cox Sarah Bane Ida ?ame Mary Kenerly Nancy Kenerly Nani Wood George Kenerly |
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