FARMINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH

During this period of fifty-six years the congregation has been served by nineteen ministers, though there have been twenty pastorates. Rev. J. W. Campbell, who was connected with the Farmington Baptist College, served the congregation twice for brief periods. From the church records it appears that the ministers were called for a period of one year which was the custom in the earlier days.

Three of the nineteen ministers have served the church for periods longer than five years and this helps to bring up the average. The first pastor, Rev. Hardy, served the church from its organization until 1886. Two ministers in more recent years have served for periods of seven years each, Rev. S. P. Brite and Rev. O. H. L. Cunningham.

The first church building, a frame structure on the same lot, was erected in 1892 and dedicated in 1893. Prior to that time the congregation had been using the chapel of the Farmington Baptist College for its services. Quite a few of the older members of the congregation recall the building of the first house of worship. The minute book of the church clerk shows a receipt from the contractor for the final payment on its building.

Under the able leadership of Pastor Brite a fund was started for the building of the present house of worship. The amount grew during the years. The committee was seriously hindered in its task by the panic of 1907, but the house of worship was finally completed in 1910. An interesting photograph has been preserved of the building committee on the steps of the building at the time of its completion. That picture shows Messrs. Haile, Mayberry, Evans, Zolman and Tensley, also Contractor McCarthy and Pastor Brite.

A dedication service was held on September 30, 1917. At that time the following were serving the church: Rev. O. H. L. Cunningham, pastor; O. L. Haile, clerk; J. H. Johnson, treasurer; J. P. Zolman, missionary treasurer; Mrs. Ethel Arnold, pianist. The deacons were O. J. Mayberry, J. H. Johnson, Dock Mackley, O. L. Haile, C. H. Menge, J. W. Brannon, J. W. Pinkston, G. M. London and T. E. Smith.

Mrs. Louisa Turley has the honor of being the senior member of the congregation, having united with the church in 1887. It is thought, without checking the record closely, that Mrs. O. J. Mayberry, Mrs. Grant Evans, and Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Haile follow closely after Mrs. Turley in length of continuous membership.

The present pastor, Rev. Frank Q. Crockett, has ministered to the congregation for almost eight years. The church has three hundred seating capacity with a membership of 425, and an average Sunday School attendance of 185. Recently the congregation purchased a Kimball pipe organ, a rather large instrument, and expect to have it installed by the first of July.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. June 10, 1938.