SOUSANAH FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

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Harry Elliott
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1 SOUSANAH FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH The Sousanah Free Will Baptist Church came about, as an arm, or branch of the Culloden United Baptist Church. When the Church met, at a regular business meeting on Saturday, March 13, The names of 15 individuals were presented which wished "to organize a church at the Hudson School house." By the church records, it appears that no decision was made at that time. The Church met again on March 22, 1897, at a special called boniness meeting, where they again discussed the item. At that meeting, "The church was called to order by Br. H.A. McCallister... Br. J.H. Holley was chosen moderator protem." The item was presented once again, and the Culloden United Baptist Church voted to allow certain members to branch off, and organize another church. According to the minutes, "H.S. McCallister" was chosen "moderator protem" of the group, and the group was "organized," and the meeting was "dismissed." The charter members "names" that were listed in the minutes "are:" Martha Meadows, Deller Davis, Ora Steel, Nela Sarver, John Sarver, Milly E./ White, Mary Jo White, Ann Reyhill, Bill Janey, J.R. Janey, Peter Woods, Isaac Janey, J.V.B. Janey, Martha Harshbarger, Dale Pridemore, William Janey, Elizabeth Janey, Emma F. Woods, J.L. Braley, Green Meadows," The members of the newly formed church began to meet at the old Hudson Scholl House, at the mouth of Hudson (creek). People walked and rode horseback out of hollows and hills. The name given to the original church was not found in the information given. In 1906, a new church was built on donated land at the mouth of Wolf Pen, on Charley's Creek Road, in Culloden, W.V. The property was donated by Susan Hadley Akers, wife of John W. Akers. At that time the name of the church was changed to The Sousanah Free Will Baptist Church, in honor of Mrs. Akers (born Oct. 5, died Jan. 6, 1926). When the new church was built, it had two doors on the front, one of the left and one on the right. The men went in the left door, the women the right door. After entering the church, the men sat on the left, the women on the right. In the middle of the floor, sat an old pot bellied stove which was used to heat the church.

2 In 1937, The Brotherhood Free Will Baptist Quarterly Conference was established at the Sousanah Free Will Baptist Church. On February 5, 1977, at about 3:00am in the morning, a fire began in a floor furnace and quickly spread throughout the church. Since there were "no fire hydrants near by, the volunteer firefighters broke ice on a stream running beside the church. They drew water from the creek with a portable plump;" however, "their efforts were futile." The church was completely destroyed by the fire, and with it, their records were also destroyed. "The determined congregation met at the Culloden Fire Department," and through great desire and determination, the Sousanah Free Will Baptist Church was rebuilt. The first services in the new church was held on November 6, The church was dedicated on June 4, In , two Sunday School rooms and restrooms were build, when Roy Sovine was their pastor. In 1993 the church had it's first Bible School, formed a women's club, and added a steeple. In 1994, a handicap accessible ramp was added, the church purchased a lot and began excavation to enlarge the parking area, and in the future build a fellowship hall. These things were done when Gilbert Jr. Smith was their pastor. The Church belongs to the Brotherhood Conference of Free Will Baptist, the West Virginia State Association of Free Will Baptist, and the National Association of Free Will Baptist. Ministers who have pastored the Sousanah Free Will Baptist Church are as follows (in alphabetical order): Rev. C.J. Adkins Rev. Caudle Adkins Rev. Vallas Bell Rev. Orvil Berry Rev. Earnest Bias Rev. Roscoe Bias Rev. Arthur Collins Rev. Bud Cooper Rev. Carl Cooper Rev. Nathan Cremeans Rev. Richard Cremeans Rev. Truman Davis

3 Rev. Ralph Dean Rev. Earl Gillenwater Rev. Paul Harbour Rev. John Henson Rev. Basil Hodge Rev. Woodrow Lawson Rev. T.C. Morgan Rev. George Elden Pauley Rev. James O. Sizemore Rev. Junior Smith Rev. Ray Sovine Rev. Lloyd Sowards Rev. Jack Stanley Rev. Lee Stanley Rev. Jack Thomas Rev. Don Workman Attached you will find: a picture of the old church; a picture of church after the fire; a picture of the present church; picture of Susan Akers; pictures of some of their pastors; and pictures of the congregation NOTE: This information was given to the Historical Committee of the West Virginia State Association of Free Will Baptist, sometime in, or around September Information was taken from several sources: information from clerk, Kathy Roberts; a page copied from the records of the Culloden United Baptist Church; an article from The Charleston Daily Mail (Feb. 15, 1997); an artilce from The Cabell Record (???1997); a couple un-named newspaper articles; a church booklet celebrating their 100th anniversary on March 22,

4 A Sketch Drawing Of The Old Church

5 The Sousanah Free Will Baptist Church Today

6 Rev. Caudle Adkins Rev. Ernest Bias

7 Rev. Carl cooper Rev. John Henson

8 Rev. Woodrow Lawson Rev. George Pauley Rev. James Sizemore Rev. Gilbert Smith

9 Rev. Ray Sovine Congregation - year unknown

10 Congregation

11 Congregation

VALLEY VIEW FREE WILL BAPTIST THE CHURCH WAS OFFICIALLY FOUNDED ON MARCH 22, 1952

VALLEY VIEW FREE WILL BAPTIST THE CHURCH WAS OFFICIALLY FOUNDED ON MARCH 22, 1952 PREACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN SENT UP TO THE CONFERENCE TO PREACH: 1. BISHOP WYANT--------1961 (DECEASED) 2. LAWRENCE CHAPMAN----1969