Bethlehem Church, near Marion,
Williamson County, Illinois
Quotations showing the claims of Missionary Baptist historians regarding Davis Prairie Church, formed by excluded members out of Bethlehem Church
Bethlehem Church was organized in 1827 or earlier, "on the waters of Crab Orchard," but the earliest records now available begin in 1839. This church united with the Muddy River Association in 1827, and in 1829 became a charter member of the Bethel Association. The messengers of Bethlehem Church to the Muddy River Association in 1827 were Dempsey Odum and Obediah West. The minutes of Bethel Association for the year 1832 show that Bethlehem Church had 84 members at that time.This church was the scene of a division on the modern mission question in southern Illinois. Elder Achilles Coffey, in his history, p. 76, wrote: "We will now proceed with the history of the Bethlehem Church, the Ferrels and their party. In the fall of 1839, there were sixty-one members belonging to said church; and when the vote, in relation to the Missionary question was taken, a large majority voted that they did not fellowship the system. The Ferrels and their party, which consisted of about twelve or fourteen in number, remonstrated against the act of the majority and utterly refused to be governed by it. In order to settle the difficulty the church solicited aid. Being present, I was appointed Moderator. Two tedious days were spent in the trial, which resulted in the exclusion of the Ferrels and party on charge of rebellion." The Ferrel party included Elders Wilfred and Hezekiah Ferrel (sons of Elder William Ferrel), and their followers.
Bethlehem Church at first met in a log building, and sometimes in school houses. The last meeting house, also a log building, was erected on land given to the church by Brother Edmund Wiggs. This building was located at the site of the Bethlehem Cemetery, and was still standing until at least 1925.
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