History of  Gallatin County, Part 15

Six Charter Members of the Glencoe Christian Church Are Still Living

The Glencoe Christian Church was organized in 1876 with about twenty-five charter members and of this little group six or seven are still living though scattered to different parts of the State.  Brother Beasley held the first meeting and helped greatly in organizing the church.  The members worked hard and made many sacrifices for the building of a House of Worship.

We have often heard of the heroic efforts made by a little group of the women who were determined to have a church home.  Dr. Yager gave the lot where the church stands.  In 1925 the building was remodeled and enlarged.  For fifty-two years now this church has toiled on in the Master's Vineyard, always with loyal workers among the membership.

Brother L. H. Salin held a meeting in Glencoe in April 1877 that resulted in about twenty professions of conversion.  These new members were received at Ten Mile at the May meeting by experience and baptism.  Among these were Frank Williams, Dave Castleman, Daw Perry and Sisters Bettie Williams, Jennie Castleman and Mollie Carleton.  These and others were the charter members drawn from “Old Ten Mile,” where the Glencoe Church was organized in January 1878.

Plans were made for building a church.  Ten Mile passed an act to help Glencoe in building their church.  The church grew until the old building was inadequate and a few years ago the beautiful new church was built to meet the needs of an active membership.

There are three colored churches in the county - one Missionary, one Primitive Baptist in Warsaw, and one Missionary Baptist at Park Ridge near Sparta.  These churches have been well cared for by the colored people and have been a great help and comfort to them.

I have always heard Uncle Alec Hamilton gave the lot and was the leading spirit in organizing and building Park Ridge church.  He was a colored preacher, liked and respected by everyone. These three churches have drawn into their respective folds the colored people of the county.

undated, from the Gallatin County News, c. 1928-29