History of Second Oldest Church in Sandy Creek Association, June 4, 1925

A History of the Old Rock Springs Church

On the first Sunday in May, there was held at the old Rock Springs Baptist cemetery, a mile north of Pittsboro, the annual Memorial service. There was a large crowd in attendance.

The services were conducted by the pastor of Rock Springs church, Rev. Z.B. Teel, of East Durham, who used as his test Gen. 28:10-16 and Gen. 31: 13. The sermon was very impressive and was highly enjoyed by all those who heard him.

R.E. Cox, a former pastor, was also present and made a good talk also presenting a sketch of the history of old Rock Springs Church, which was read by the clerk, Mr. P.T. Farrell, and was much enjoyed. The sketch is given below for the many readers of this paper who will be interested in the history of the old church:

Rock Springs Church

This church is located two miles north of Pittsboro in Chatham county, North Carolina, and it weas probably known as Haw River church at first; then by the “Old Fork,” and finally when it was moved to its present location, it took the name of “Rock Springs.” It was no doubt an arm of the Sandy Creek church, at the formation of the Sandy Creek Association in 1758 and soon afterward constituted into an independent church; consequently, it may be considered as the second oldest church in this association, and Bear Creek the third. The church records previous to 1817 cannot be found. In1800 or during the next year, this church enjoyed an extensive revival of religion under the ministerial labors of Elder George Pope. Elder Elnathan Davis, we presume, succeeded him in the ministry at this place.

From 1816 to the present time, the following ministers in the order in which their names occur, have been the pastors of this church: Elders Robert T. Daniel, George Brown, Hezekiah Harman, Thomas D. Armstrong, William H. Merritt, George W. Purefoy, Jessie Sowell, and William Lineberry. The deacons have been Robert Ward, Blake Bradley, Stephen Moore, Richard Webster, Willie B. Straughan, Ransom C. Poe, Guilford Petty, Elisha H. Straughan, George W. Dismukes, and C.C.P. Dismukes. The clerks have been since 1816: Basil Manly, William Lightfoot, W.B. Straughan, S. Moore, E.R. Straughan and Joseph G. Dismukes.

Brother Basil Manly was licensed to preach at this church April 25.

(This story seems not to have been brought anything like down to date—Editor.)

From page 2 of the Chatham Record, Pittsboro, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 1925, O.J. Peterson, editor and owner.

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn85042115/1925-06-04/ed-1/seq-2/