Hearn's Chapel Church of Christ
This church was located about two miles from Mt. Gilead Church on O'Brien Rd. It held a dedication service in 1912.
The lumber used in this building was furnished by H. C. Oakley and J. L. Hearn who operated a sawmill in "Gateley Town."
In the history of the Law Community written by Mrs. Alice Utley, it states, "The Hearn's Chapel Church of Christ originated in 1908 in a brush arbor built below the creek known as Barnes Branch on the Old Jackson-Clarksburg Road (now known as O'Brien Rd.). The congregation was organized by Green Utley, Yancy Utley, Wix Gateley, Joe Herron, Dave Stewart and others.
After meeting in the brush arbor and members homes for approximately 3 years, a new church building was built. In October 1911, for the sum of $25.00, David Stewart and wife Emma Stewart deeded land to Y. Y. Utley and T. W. Gateley, Trustees.
After meeting in this building for approximately twenty years (around 1932), it was decided that the building should be moved to its present location in the Law Community. The old building was town down piece by piece and rebuilt and became the Law Church of Christ and it still serves that community today.
This information was taken from Alice Utley's "History of the Law Community."
Click for Picture of Dedication Service
Mt. Gilead Baptist Church
Since 1879, Mt. Gilead Baptist Church has been a lighthouse to the people in this community lighting the way to Jesus Christ; and teaching God's Word to them, showing them how to have a good life and at the end of life, a heavenly home.
To see the history of Mt. Gilead Church click here
This history was written in 1979 to help celebrate the 100th birthday ofthe church. Since that time, we have seen major changes in our buildings.
In l984, we bought property across the road on the corner of O’Brien Rd. and Highway 104, and built a parsonage.
In l994, we began building our new sanctuary with a full basement of Sunday School Classrooms. Thanks to the generosity of so many people, this building was paid in full August, 2001.
To see the history of this building program click here
In October 2002, we bought a 26 passenger bus to be used to bus in unchurched children and youth in the community and for different groups within the church to take trips. Junior Cook has been and is our primary driver and being as dedicated and devoted as he is, you can always find him driving the bus every Wednesday night.
In October 2003, the church body voted to build a Family Life Center and in March of 2004, the old fellowship hall was torn down and a new building consisting of a gymnasium, fellowhip hall, kitchen, pastor's office and 6 new classrooms. Also a new nursery was added because we had outgrown the old nursery.
Recent Pastors
At the end of the History of Mt. Gilead in l979, Bro. Clayton Joyner was our pastor and continued to serve until the end of l983.
In June of l984, Bro. Wayne Rowan came to be our pastor and served until the end of February, 1988. We built the parsonage during the time he was here.
Then, Dr. David Irby was our interim pastor for a short time.
Bro. Phil Mitchell came in 1988 and was our pastor during the building of our new sanctuary; and he resigned in 2000.
Bro. Maurice Hays served as our interim pastor until Bro. Don Cooper came in April 2001.
Bro. Don spent almost 7 years with us, leaving in December, 2007. During those years, we grew by leaps and bounds. Our church welcomed 244 new members into our fellowship during these 7 years.
Under Bro. Don’s leadership, we celebrated our 125th anniversary in 2004. And it was under his leadership, that a new Family Life Center was built.
After Bro. Don left, we had the privilege of having Dr. Hiram Barefoot serve as interim pastor coming the 1st Sunday in January 2008 and leaving the last Sunday in December 2008. That was certainly a good year for all of us.
Bro. Dale Gravatt is our present pastor, beginning January 2009. He and his wife, Marcia and son, Clint live in the parsonage. We are so blessed to have them as our spiritual leaders.
Through the years the Lord has called several young men from our membership to preach his word. They are: Bro. Jimmy Burroughs, Bro. Don McKee, Bro. Greg Stanford, Bro Phillip Coffman, Bro. David Essary, Bro. Rodney Hardin and and recently Bro. Micheal Stanford. Bros. Greg, Jimmy and Rodney are pastors of churches in our local association and Bro. Don preaches in Carroll Co., Bro. David is in Iowa and serves as chaplain in the National Guard and Bro. Phillip serves as chaplain in the U. S. Navy in Virginia. Bro. Micheal Stanford is currently servicing at Scotts Hill Baptist Church.
Click for Picture of Dinner on the Ground
Click for Picture of Baptizing
Rhuhamer Baptist Church
Very little is known about this church; it was located on Rhuhamer Road in the vicinity of where Bible Hill Baptist Church is today. Across the road from the church, there is an old cemetery, but today no markers of any kind can be found. Mrs. Frances Tucker said there were only sand rocks as markers a long time ago.
In a deed dated November 26, 1851, David Spain deeded 12 acres of land to L. N. French and James Barr, Trustees for Ruhamer Baptist Church.
Brenda Kirk Fiddler remembers her mother, Mrs. Evie Spain Kirk saying several members from Rhuhamer Church left to help organize the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in 1879.
We do not know how long it was a church but think it was moved a little piece down the road to share the same building as the Smith School House. In 1915, another 3 acres of land was deeded to County Bd. of Education and Rhuhammer Baptist Church by J. D. Branch and wife Sallie Branch. We know that church services were held in the Smith School House.
In the July 6, 1923 issue of The Lexington Republican newspaper, it says in the Center Ridge items, "Rev. J. R. Page and family attended church service at Rheuhammah last Saturday."
As you have noticed Rhuhammer has been spelled different ways, I don't know the correct spelling. Every place has a different way of spelling it. In the Bible in the book of Hosea, he names one of his children, Ruhamah.
If anyone anywhere has any information on this church, please get in touch with us; any information would be valuable, but finding some church minutes would be a treasure!
Sharon Methodist Church
Sharon Methodist Church was located on Highway 104 where Interstate 40 and Highway 104 intersect.
I do not have any information on when it was established or how many years it served the community as a church. In Ms. Louise Oakley's History of Schools she stated Sharon Church had 65 members in 1940-41.
We have a picture of Sharon Church Singing School made around 1910. In the picture are Bob & Ida Patton Douglas with their two children and Ivie & Sallie Rainey Coffman. We have a picture of the church building.
Twin Oaks Baptist Church
Twin Oaks Baptist Church was organized in 1980 and was located on O'Brien Road and situated under two big oak trees. Those who established it were J. T. & Zonia Burnine Harper and B. C. & Jane Jones.
They bought the building that had been used for Moss' Rest School and moved it to O'Brien Road.
In the year of 1982, they moved to the corner of Highway 104 and Baudy James Road. Today it is a membership of around 85 and is a thriving church and Bro. Bobby Crowe serves as pastor.
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