Chapter Thirty-One

Marion County Churches

by Mrs. Bernice Johnson

Churches of Christ

Church of Christ in Caney and Mull

Page 500

By: Earl Berry

Shortly after 1900 a preacher named Bryant came to Marion County and began preaching in the communities of Caney and Mull. The residents of these communities consisted largely of Dillards, McClains, Moores and Davenports. They held services in a small building near Water Creek at the mouth of Caney Hollow. It was first called the Christian Church.

When the Battenfield brothers, John and Ben, came into the area of southern Marion County, they stirred great interest among the people concerning "setting up the kingdom" in the Water Creek community. Much labor was expended by some in this effort, but it came to naught.

About 1930 a much larger church building was erected at the site where the Caney Church of Christ now stands. By 1940 this building seemed inadequate. A supervisor was employed and the families of the community donated their time and labor to construct the building now used. The stones that were used were dug and hauled from the nearby creek bed.

In the late 1930's and early 1940's the Mull congregation had been meeting in the old school building. The Stamper building was purchased in the early 1940's and is still used by the Mull Church of Christ congregation. G. B. Keeter, deceased, was an active worker and an outstanding leader in the Caney and Mull communities. At present, both communities have strong and active congregations with Doyle Davenport preaching at Caney and John Dillard preaching at Mull