Chapter Thirty-One

Marion County Churches

by Mrs. Bernice Johnson

Community Churches

Page 482-484

Several of the small churches have closed their doors as few people live in the old communities since schools and post offices have consolidated and transportation has greatly improved. One such church is the little Brown Church about two miles southwest of Yellville. The information relative to the Little Brown Church was supplied by Mrs. D. U. Morrow (Gladys Still). The Brown Church was built because of the desire of five young girls to have a place to attend church. Leona Still (Mrs. Leona Wickersham), Gladys Still (Mrs. D. G. Morrow), Berneice McEntire Mrs. Jim Sullivan, Beatrice McEntire and Helen Thayers (Mrs. George Buchanan) wanted to go to church but after walking to Yellville several times (wearing their old shoes and carrying their good ones as far as the Crooked Creek bridge where they changed and left their old shoes until they returned) they decided it was too far to walk and they had no other way of transportation. The only answer, as far as they could see, was to have a place in their own community where they could attend church. They decided to build a brush arbor and have someone hold a revival. B. F. Still (Uncle Frank) said he would find a preacher when the place was ready. Soon they were busy with hoes, rakes and axes and, with the help of others in the community, the place was cleaned off and benches were fixed for people to sit on. It was advertised by word of mouth and the first revival under the trees, held by Clum Hudspeth, was a success with 25 people being baptized after the revival. The idea was so successful, and met with so much enthusiasm by the people, that they decided to put up a building where services could be held each week with Sunday School as well as preaching. The people of the community with Uncle Frank Still as overseer (he notched the logs and made the shingles) were soon cutting logs and all other necessary things to get the building up. Money, material and labor were all donated and everyone (men, women and children) helped to fill cracks between the logs, papering and cleaning the inside, and getting the building ready for use. The first service was held on the first Sunday in October 1934. Carl Keeter, Uncle Frank Still, Tom Ott and Joel James were some of the early Sunday School superintendents. The preachers from the different churches in town came once a month to hold services. It was a growing, flourishing un-denominational church for years with singing schools and revivals being held and special all-day services on Mother's Day, Easter and Christmas. Uncle Frank Still was always there to open the door, ring the bell and, in winter, build fires. When World War II ended, the bell was rung to gather the people for a special thanksgiving service. Much real and lasting good was done while the church was active and it is a tragedy that the church stands empty today, decaying from neglect and misuse.

Another little church building which has been torn down due to lack of use is the Mountain View Church. The community centered around the school and the church which met in the same building for some time. Brother Wesley Sullivan was the preacher most of the time.

In 1907 a brush arbor meeting was held with a Brother Kastning doing the preaching. A result of the meeting led to the building of a new building on land belonging to the Jim Rowden family. The building was used until around 1921 when it was moved to a new location where it stood until it was torn down in the early 1970's.

The building was built as a union church, mostly used by the General Baptist. Sunday School was held each Sunday with church about once a month. Association meetings or camp meetings were held here where families came together bringing their own tents, bedding and food-camping, preaching and enjoying the fellowship. This group practiced "Foot Washing" showing humility as Christ washed the feet of his disciples.

Among those who were early worshippers were the families of Noes, Crit, Tom and a Doctor Noe, the Bob and Gid and Ambrose Estes families, the Al Beavers and Welches, the Sanders, the Briggs, the Pilgrims, the Eugene Johnsons and the Walter Moores. One of the youngest converts was Marion Briggs who became an ordained Baptist minister and was an active worker. He, doubtless, would have become a leading preacher had he not died while yet a young man.

The Assembly of God church came to Marion County in the early 1920's. The first church was established in Yellville spreading into other parts of the county. There are churches in Yellville, Flippin, Pyatt and Summit. Histories of the Flippin and Summit churches are in this History of Marion County churches.