Church and Family History Research Assistance
for McLean County, Illinois
We invite Primitive Baptists in Bloomington/Normal, or within driving distance in any direction from Bloomington/Normal, to contact us at our email address shown below.
CHURCHES:
BIG GROVE CHURCH (1830)(See also Logan County)
Big Grove Church was organized in August 1830, and the records of New Hope Church of Warren County, Illinois, show that some of its members were dismissed by letter to join that church, and the letters show that Big Grove Church was located in McLean County at that time. Elder Hiram Bowman, an early member and pastor of the church, was living in McLean County in 1832.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS: See Logan County.
BETHEL ON MACKINAW (1832) (SEE LIVINGSTON COUNTY)
Bethel Church, which later met at Indian Grove, in Livingston County, was first organized in June 1832 near the head timber on the Mackinaw, in McLean County. For many years the church met at the home of Robert Cunningham and wife, in the vicinity of Saybrook. After the death of Robert Cunningham in 1858, the place of meeting was evidently moved to Indian Grove, in Livingston County. A union church house was built there in 1857. The church represented in the Sangamon Association for the first time in 1836.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS: See Livingston County.
BLOOMING GROVE (1833)
There is some evidence to believe a church was organized at Blooming Grove in about May or June 1833, but no further information is available. Blooming Grove later became Bloomington. The records of Lake Fork church disclose that in May 1833 a request was received from Elder Hiram Bowman, to send help to constitute a church at or near the Blooming Grove, and Elder Charles Harper agreed to go.
NEW SALEM (1872)
New Salem Church united with the Sandy Creek Association in 1872, at which time the membership reported was 12. Elder James H. Ring was listed as a member of this church. By 1879, the church had increased to 19 members. However, after 1881, the church ceased to represent in the Association, and no other information about the church could be found.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Bartley, Bowen, Ring, Roads, Simpson, Winegarner, Wood (very incomplete list due to loss of records).
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE SOURCES IN THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST LIBRARY:
Minutes of the Sandy Creek and Sangamon Associations.
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