Liberty Baptist Church (Thomasville, N.C.) records
Finding Aid & Inventory
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Biographical and Historical Note
Around November, 1824, Joshua Lee, Peter Owen, Phillip Copple and approximately 20 others met near a spring one mile east of the present Liberty Baptist Church and organized as an arm of Tom's Creek Baptist Church. On August 22, 1829 this arm was constituted into a Baptist church by a presbytery consisting of Elders Eli Phillips, Jesse Sowell, and Ashley Swaim, and the deacons of Tom's Creek Baptist Church. Liberty Baptist Church was constituted with a membership of 25.
Collection Overview
Reel 1: Church Minute Book, volume 1, 1832-1850: minutes of church conferences from September, 1832 - July 1850; articles of faith (undated); list of charter members, 1829; male and female membership roll, 1841. Subjects include: constitution of the church, August 22, 1829; the formation of Liberty Baptist Church as an arm of Tom's Creek Baptist Church, October, 1824; the ordination of Peter Owen, December, 1835; the election of church officers and delegates to the association; the reception, discipline, and dismissal of church members; the formation of an arm of the church at John Mize's, 1837; an investigation of a charge against Peter Owen by a member of Jersey Baptist Church, January, 1838; and the formation of an arm at Marion and subsequently an independent church. Church Minute Book, volume 2, 1852-1883: minutes of church conferences from April 2, 1852 - June 9, 1883 including rules of decorum, 1852, 1870; and male-female membership rolls, 1852, 1870, 1876, and 1877. Subjects include the election of church officers and delegates to the association; the reception, discipline, and dismissal of church members; lectures on Sunday Schools, plans for revivals, a controversy over the licensing of Fountain Lumsdon and his abrupt departure from the church, September through October, 1871; appointment of a committee to assist Pierce's Chapel, February, 1872; the construction of a new church building, September, 1875; special collections for a church bell, communion wine, a lamp, association missions, support of D.C. Culbreth, the expenses of a protracted meeting; committee reports; the licensing of D.C. Culbreth, March 1880. Church Minute Book, volume 3, 1883-1904: minutes of church conferences from July 7, 1883 - November 12, 1904 including, male-female membership rolls dated 1883, 1896, and 1901. Subjects mentioned include the reception, discipline, and dismissal of church members; the election of church officers and committees, and delegates to association and union meetings; committee reports; the church cemetery; Sunday Schools; special collections for association missions; the Education Board; and the pastor's support; the improvement of the church grounds and building; the arm of the church at Welborn's Schoolhouse, March, 1884; sermon topics and scripture references; the ordination of John A. Summey, October, 1886 (53); the ordination of John R. Miller called for by Jackson's Creek Baptist Church, September, 1897 (59); the building of an academy (57-58); revival plans; and the dismissal of members to constitute a church in the neighborhood of the "Black Schoolhouse" in November, 1889 (83). Church Minute Book, volume 4, 1904-1942: minutes of church conferences from December 10, 1904 - January 18, 1942, including a male membership roll, circa 1933, and female membership rolls, 1915, and undated. Subjects mentioned include the reception, discipline, and dismissal of church members; the election of church officers and committees, and delegates to association and union meetings; special collections for state, home, and foreign missions; the pastor's support, communion wine, a roof for the church, the Thomasville Orphanage, and the association fund; committee reports; plans for revivals, improvements, and repairs to the church building and grounds; the purchase of a new organ, 1908; the obituary of G. Furr (73-74); the construction of a new church building (136); histories of the church by G.W. Miller, May 17, 1925 (184-188) and H.T. Penry, November 23, 1930; and the death of Farrell F. James, November 19, 1940 (288). Church Minute Book, volume 5, 1949-1961: minutes of church conferences from December 4, 1949 - December 10, 1961, including the church budgets. Subjects mentioned include the Sunday Schools; the reception and dismissal of church members; dancing at Wake Forest College; the election of church officers and committees and delegates to association meetings and the Southern Baptist Convention; the purchase of a church bus (25); the construction of a parsonage (34); plans for Homecoming and revival services; sermon topics and scripture references; the church debt and other financial matters; plans for the Vacation Bible Schools; the church cemetery; improvements to the grounds; and additions to the church building and parsonage.
Collection Inventory
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Church Minutes (1832-1961)
- Church Minute Book, volume 1, 1832-1961 (1832-1961) Reel 1 Item 1
- Church Minute Book, volume 2, 1852-1883 (1852-1883) Reel 1 Item 2
- Church Minute Book, volume 3, 1883-1904 (1883-1904) Reel 1 Item 3
- Church Minute Book, volume 4, 1904-1942 (1904-1942) Reel 1 Item 4
- Church Minute Book, volume 5, 1949-1961 (1949-1961) Reel 1 Item 5
Summary Information
- Repository
- Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
- Creator
- Liberty Baptist Church (Thomasville, N.C.).
- Title
- Liberty Baptist Church (Thomasville, N.C.) records
- ID
- CRMF219
- Date [inclusive]
- 1832-1961
- Extent
- 1.0 microfilm reel(s) 35mm: positive
- Microform [Reel]
- 1
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
- Conditions Governing Use note
- Permission of the church must be obtained to copy these records in their entirety.