Church and Family History Research Assistance
for Phelps County, Missouri
CHURCHES (INFORMATION SHOWN HERE IS INCOMPLETE):
LITTLE PINEY (BETWEEN ROLLA AND YANCY MILLS)(1834)
Little Piney Church was one of the original members of the Little Piney Association in 1834.
BIG PINEY (RELFE)(1834)
Big Piney Church, at Relfe, was one of the original members of the Little Piney Association, in 1834. Early records of this church have survived, from 1834 to 1861. In about January 1898, the meeting house was destroyed by fire. Another house was donated, and repaired, and a building committee appointed. The church declined after suffering a division and loss of about ten members in 1913, and as a result they decided to request one part of Bethel church to consolidate with them, in 1924.
BETHEL (EDGAR SPRINGS/FLAT)(1898)
Bethel Church, west of Edgar Springs (east of Flat), was organized July 9, 1898, at the West Point school house, about six miles southeast of Relfe, by members who were dismissed for that purpose from Big Piney Church, viz., S. F. Arthur, Josie M. Arthur, Nancy Kitchens, George Smith, Martha E. Smith, W. R. King, Martha King, T. R. Frazier, Isabelle Frazier, G. J. Bradford, M. J. Bradford, L. F. Webber, A. R. Dunham, and Mattie A. Dunham. The presbytery was composed of Elders A. M. Morris (moderator), T. H. Jenkins, and Deacons J. M. Lenox, J. M. Staton, William Brown, R. C. Jones, J. M. Howell, and John Friend. Meetings continued to be held at the West Point School House. Bethel Church divided in June 1913, after which part of the church began to meet at the Smith Cemetery site. Presently, this church meets at 19491 State Hwy M, Edgar Springs, Missouri. Pastors since 1913 have included Elders Thomas H. Jenkins, Elmer Calton, John Kimbrough, Wesley Barnett, and Tommy Jenkins Jr.
BIG PINEY-BETHEL (EDGAR SPRINGS/ROLLA)(1924)
After the division, in 1913, one part of Bethel Church continued to meet at the West Point schoolhouse, until April 1918, when they moved to the former Bassenger Memorial church building in Edgar Springs. In June 1924 steps were taken which resulted in the consolidation of Big Piney Church and Bethel Church, under the name "Big Piney-Bethel Church." The Big Piney Church building at Relfe was sold for $100 to Walter Duncan in December 1927. The consolidated body continued to meet where Bethel Church had been meeting. In 1950, the church obtained property two miles south of Rolla on U.S. Highway 63, and built a new meeting house there in 1951. An addition was made to the building for a dining hall, in 1975. The part of Bethel Church which continued to meet at the West Point School, merged with Big Piney Church, in 1924, after which time it became known as Big Piney-Bethel Church.They were served as pastor by Elders Walter L. Bradford, Haskell Wren, Atley Sapp, and Kenneth Clevenger.
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