Sunday, June 3, 2001
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Sunday, June 3, 2001 |
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Fayette's first five still function
By CAROLYN CARY
Not too many counties can boast of having five churches that formed just after the county did and are still viable congregations. Fayette County was formed in 1821 and within the next eight years the Fayetteville United Methodist, Fayetteville First Baptist, Antioch Baptist, Whitewater Baptist and Flat Creek Baptist were all started. Between them today, they enjoy a membership of almost 6,000. At the time they were formed, there were only 5,000 people in the whole county. The churches are all within a relatively short distance from the county's point of origin. Many started with only one worship service a month due to traveling preachers being somewhat hard to come by. Both the Methodist and Baptist churches in Fayetteville usually shared services when necessary; if there was a Baptist preacher in attendance both congregations would attend the Baptist church and vice versa. Needless to say, with the Methodist and Baptist churches in Fayetteville directly across the street from one another, parking on Sunday mornings can sometimes require a little forethought and a little leaving home earlier than you used to. There are currently 106 congregations in Fayette County. About 80 of these are quite active and continue to grow as the county grows. Of these 106 churches, 25 existed in the 19th century and the remainder were started throughout the 20th century. The five original churches all began under brush arbors and later built small wooden structures. Today their physical plants are worth over $20 million.
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