Church and Family History Research
Assistance
for Randolph County, North Carolina
CHURCHES:
SANDY CREEK
Sandy Creek Church was organized on November 22, 1755, by Elder Sheubal Stearns, with the help of Brethren Daniel Marshall and Joseph Breed, who were preaching but not yet ordained at that time. There were sixteen charter members, viz., Shubal Stearns and wife, Peter Stearns and wife, Ebenezer Stearns and wife, Shubal Stearns Jr. and wife, Daniel Marshall and wife, Joseph Breed and wife, Enos Stimson and wife, and Jonathan Polk and wife.
A log meeting house (26 by 30 feet) was built by 1762, replaced by another in about 1802, which still stands, and has recently been restored. A new frame building was erected in 1946, where most of the services are held. The church flourished, and many other churches were formed from it. Within a few years, it had grown from sixteen members to 606 members. A church was organized at Abbott's Creek, about thirty miles distant, and Elder Daniel Marshall was ordained and served that church as pastor. Elder Stearns served as pastor at Sandy Creek until his death in 1771. A church called Little River was organized in 1760, and within three years it increased from five members to 500, and built five meeting houses.
In 1835 this church protested against the introduction of the modern mission system, and withdrew from the Sandy Creek Association, and joined the Abbott's Creek Union Association. It is now independent. Pastors who have served include Elders Shubal Stearns (1755-1771), Tidence Lane, Christopher Swindle (these two cover the time from 1771 until 1814), Adam Moffitt (1814-1826), William Reece (1826-1835), Abram Wright (1835-1881), R. W. Snider (1884-1891), T. L. Oakley (1891), J. E. Adams (1891-1904), S. H. Reed (1926-1937), L. G. Cashion (1937-1962), Dillard O. Gibbons (1962-1965), Gurney E. Nance, and Marshall Williard (1965-1976).
TIMBER RIDGE
PLEASANT HILL (ASHEBORO)
Pleasant Hill Church, located between Troy and Asheboro (four miles northwest of Seagrove), was originally organized as an arm of High Point Church, in 1945. The Almond and Lucas families built a frame meeting house where the early meetings were held, and after the constitution they gave the land and building to the church. Elder Virgil Willard assisted in the constitution of the church and served as pastor from then until his death in 1983. Elder C. M. Mills also assisted. Elder Roy Speir became joint pastor with Elder Willard in 1972.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Copyright c. 2001-2006. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
