Chapter Thirty-One

Marion County Churches

by Mrs. Bernice Johnson

Baptist Churches

Yellville Baptist Church

Page 496-498

History provided by Fern Angel Tipton, daughter of Thomas and Donna Angel of Yellville

Three dates for the organization of Baptist Churches in Yellville before 1913 are given in H. D. Morton's History of White River Association. The first is 1844. Dr. Morton quotes from Roger's History of Arkansas Baptist: "A Baptist Church was organized at Yellville in 1844 by Elders W. M. Wallace and P. S. G. Watson. Elder Watson became the first pastor. Records are not available to indicate how long this old organization functioned."

From the same source Dr. Morton records; in the minutes for 1900, is the following: "Call for petitionary letters. A letter was presented by the First Baptist Church of Yellville. The letter was received and accepted and messengers seated." Again in 1910, Dr. Morton records that minutes show that Yellville is represented at the Associational meeting by four members and gives the date of organization as 1910.

On April 26, 1913, a Baptist Church was organized in Yeliville. This is the same church that is today called the First Baptist Church. Mrs. T. G. Angel, in a history she started before her death in 1971, states: "Twenty-one excited Baptists came that appointed day asking that their names he written on the charter member roster of the new church. These names as they appear in the minutes of that first meeting are as follows: J. L. McCarty, Wm. Clem, W. R. Jones, A. M. Reed, R. L Carson, Leslie Clem, T. G. Angel, G. W. Callahan, L. W. Angel, Sisters M. J. Callahan, Etta Canon, Kate Hamlet, Tinnie Doshier, Abbie and Kate McCarty, Emma Glass, Lizzie Clem, Myrtle Clem, Martha Smith, Donnie Angel and Alice Angel." During the meeting Bro. and Sister Tom Clem united with the church by letter. At the same meeting J. P. Lovelace was voted the first pastor, Wm. Clem first deacon, L. W. Angel the first clerk, and R. L Carson and A. M. Reed were recognized as ministers of the gospel. T. G. and L W. Angel, W. R. Jones, G. W. Callahan, and J. L. McCarty were appointed as a building committee to solicit subscriptions for a church house. J. H. Thompson, A. W. Estes, and J. L. McCarty gave the lots on which to build the church. At the dedication service of the church in November 1913, W. H. Bryant and T. G. Angel were ordained as deacons. The letter to the White River Baptist Association shows in 1914 a membership of 31, Sunday School enrollment 35, pastor's salary $125 and the cost of church building as $1700. Sometime soon after the above report was made, the church was left pastorless and it was an experience which was repeated far too often in the long struggle for existence during the next forty years.

The darkest period of Yellville Baptist Church history came between the years of 1926-1945. It had no pastor except for very short periods of time, mostly ministerial students from Mtn. Home Baptist College. Nevertheless, the Sunday School went on, except for a short time; so did the Training Union and the missionary organizations.

From the History of the White River Baptist Association by H. D. Morton, Claude Crigler, Associational Missionary, said, "During the dark days from 1935-1945 when most everyone else gave up, Bro. E. B. Risley and L. G. Clem, with Mrs. T. G. Angel, kept carrying on."

It was not until November 1934 that the church was able to have a regular pastor, Rev. E. F. Cox. The need for more deacons resulted in the ordination of E. B. Risley, Leslie Clem, and W. E. Willbanks on December 20, 1934. The annual report for 1935 gave the members as 62, pastor's salary $150, church expenses $143.20, and Co-operative Program $18.

The minutes show nothing of importance happening during the next few years until 1950 when L. A. Perry came as pastor. In May 1950 a revival, held by Bro. R. A. Hill, resulted in 25 new members. According to minutes 19 were by baptism and 6 by letter. Through the 1950's the church grew steadily. The report for 1950 gave a membership of 58, 1951 membership of 108, 1952 a total of 186, in 1953 the membership was 218.

August 10, 1952, a new sanctuary was dedicated. The old part of the church was divided into classrooms. Both parts were rocked with native red marble and a large part of the work was done by volunteer help.

In September 1955 the property north of the church was purchased from Margaret Hutchinson for a parsonage, later used as classrooms. Then the property just north of that on Broadway was bought from Mac Phillips for a pastorium. Three lots to the west were also bought and have since been blacktopped for parking.

In March 1955 a new baptistry was installed in the sanctuary. In June 1956 the Summit Mission was organized. Minutes for that year lists B. F. Stills as Superintendent of the mission. In March 1958 a mission was established at Tomahawk with Sunday School in the morning and church in the afternoon. Burl Risley was the Superintendent of the school. Bro. Dale Barnett was pastor of the church at this time. Both of these missions have since become strong churches.

The latest addition is the new educational building which was dedicated in 1973. Bro. Edward Powers was pastor during the building program and the church voted to call this building the "Angel Fellowship Hall".

Pastors of the church include: J. P. Lovelace 1912-1914; A. M. Craine 1915-1916; H. F. Vermillion 1917; A. A. Dulaney 1918; W. B. O'Neal 1919-1920; W. L. Muncy 1920; D. M. Carter 1921-1922; L. H. Davis 1923; M. D. King 1924-1925; W. K. Wharton 1929; Elmer Cox 1934; Earnest Cox 1935; P. W. Clampitt 1937-1938; Lehman Webb 1941; W. B. O'Neal; Oakley Long 1948-1949; L. A. Perry 1949-1950; Ben Kelly 1950-1954; John Stratton 1954-1955; Curtis Bryant 1955-1956; Dale Barnett 1957-1959; Delbert Garrett 1959-1962; Dale Barnett 1963-1964; Paul Lewis 1965-1966; Edward Powers 1966-1972; Dennis James, interim 1972; John Edwards 1973-1974; R. M. Blackwood 1974-1976; interim, Carl White 1976.

The annual church letter to the White River Baptist Association in 1975 lists the membership as 377, Sunday School 193, and the value of church property as $115,000: The deacons for 1975 were Jarrel Nanney, John Angel, W. W. Miller, Earl Wood, George Stice, Faye Jefferson, Lester Jefferson, and Dutch Raugh.

With the spiritual momentum and increased membership gained in recent years, this church is taking a large place in the religious life of the rapidly developing Twin Lakes area.