THE HISTORY OF UNION BAPTIST CHURCH

On September 3, 1849, fifteen people met at Breed's Schoolhouse for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church. Union Baptist Church was the result of that meeting.

The first church was a one room schoolhouse with a dirt floor. The first church building was built in 1853 on property which was then part of Henry County. The sanctuary was built in 1887 and remodeled in 1964. The first Sunday School rooms were built in 1949.  They were replaced with a new addition, which included classrooms, fellowship hall and baptistery, and was dedicated on February 29, 1976. A pastorium was built by the men of the church, with help from neighbors, in 1961.

The first Deacon ordained at Union Baptist Church was S.N. Booles on May 22, 1852. Mr. Booles was one of the original fifteen that met to organize the church.  It was five years before another Deacon was ordained.

In November 1890, one half acre of land was set aside and cleared for a cemetery. Mrs. Dora Steele Hattaway was laid to rest on November 2, 1892, the first burial in the new cemetery.

Acetylene gas lights were installed in the church in 1914. Mr. T.R. Nutt provided acetylene gas to the church at no charge for eighteen years. In 1938 the church was wired for electricity.

During World War II, fourteen men from our church served their country in the military. Two, Ravel Apple and Connell Patrick, did not return.

A Centennial Celebration was held in 1949, and many were recognized for their service to Union Baptist Church and our Lord.  In the first one hundred years, three men had been called and sent out to preach the gospel. Their names and ordination dates were: Dr. T.J. Mitchell, M.D., 1891; William J. Smith, 1905; L. Wilson Walker, 1926. Also, there were 21 Deacons and 13 Church Clerks during the first one hundred years. Mr. D.L. Patrick was elected clerk in April of 1868 and served for 37 years. Later, Miss Frances Nutt served in the same capacity for 38 years. In 1949, there were 121 members.

On November 10, 1957, Swinton Futch was called as pastor. He led the church from meeting two Sundays each month to meeting each Sunday and became the first full time pastor. From 1969 to 1973, Union Baptist Church sponsored the Pomono Baptist Mission.

In 2000, the area to the north of the church in Henry County was experiencing a tremendous building boom and growth was rapidly moving south. Timothee’ E. Conort was called as pastor on June 4, 2000, and almost immediately the church began to see an increase of new members. In only a few months there was a shortage of space for worship, education, and fellowship. 

About the time of the initial construction, four families asked if they could buy the original church property and facilities for the purposes of planting a new church. This was accomplished and Ringgold Baptist Mission was established. One year later they constituted into Ringgold Baptist Church, a sister church that was birthed out of Union Baptist Church.

Union Baptist Church began over 161 years ago with 15 charter members. Many saints have kept the church alive over these years. May each who are part of this body today be found faithful in serving our Lord Jesus Christ as we continue to serve Him in reaching this community, state, nation, and world.  

Since September 1849, thirty one pastors have served Union Baptist Church.  They are:

The First 100 Years 1849-1949

            William McMichael                    T. J. Mitchell, M.D.
            C. Purifoy                                  R.F. Smith
            W.J. Stephens                          L.P. Glass
            J.T. Kimbell                               C.C. Heard
            Jasper Dickson                         T.J. Espy
            Barney Strickland                     L.W. Walker, Sr.
            A.C. Smith                                P.F. Davis, Ph.D.
            I.G. Walker                               A.H. Shuler
            B.J.W. Graham 

1949-Present