History Of Providence Baptist Church
INTRODUCTION
History written from church records, Association Records, and other information. The following history of Providence Baptist Church is written from information obtained from 1) available church records; 2) minutes of Irvine Association, Landmark Association, and Boons Creek Association in Kentucky; 4) interviewing a number of people; and 5) corresponding with several persons in Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, California, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
I. A CHURCH IS CONSTITUTED
Early church records incomplete, 1856 accepted as date church was constituted. Early church records of Providence Baptist Church are incomplete, and they are missing completely for the first nine years after the church is thought to have been constituted. The cover to the church minutes, constituted in 1856. The 1919 minutes of Boone's Creek Association lists Providence as having been constituted in 1856. That date is accepted as the date the church was gathered together and constituted.
Elders J. J. Edwards and John Ward credited with constituting Providence. The following information concerning Providence Baptist Church of Estill Country is taken from S. J. Conkwright's History of the Churches of Boone's Creek Association of Kentucky:
It is understood that Elders J. J. Edwards and John Ward were instrumental in gathering this church about the year 1857 and that most of the members who went into the constitution of this church came from Clear Creek Church in Estill County.
Elders Joseph Ambrose and John Ward may have constituted Providence. Although Conkwright credited J. J. Edwards with assisting in the constitution of Providence Baptist Church, there is no evidence to place his arrival in Estill County until after 1856. The 1850 census of Estill County until after 1856. The 1850 census of Estill County lists Joseph Ampbrose as being fifty-two years old and a Baptist minister. John H. Spencer's History of Kentucky Baptist refers to Joseph Ambrose as the most effective preacher in South For, Association. Elder Ambrose was pastor of Union City Church in Madison County from September 1846 until October 1855; that church was a member of South Fork Association 1847-1856. Providence Church is listed as a member of South Fork Association in 1856, and since Joseph Ambrose was a resident of Estill Country, credited with gathering Woodwards Creek, White Oak, Union and Clear Creek Churches of Estill County and recognized as the most effective preacher in the Association, it seems probable that he, along with John Ward who also served in the Association, had something to do with gathering Providence Church.
Providence had two different names, maybe the same name twice. The data of 1857 is believed to be inaccurate as the date Providence was constituted. There is evidence to suggest there may have been a church before 1856 and that the church was first called Providence, then called Newman, and then the name changed to Providence again. Church records show that the present Providence Church and the Newman Church are the same church, but it is not clear if the Newman Church was first called Providence. The lack of church records during the first nine years of her existence contributes to the uncertainty of the church's name during those years.
Elder J. J. Edwards may have arrived in Estill County after 1856. As previously sated, there is some question where J. J. Edwards assisted in gathering the church. According to Frank M. Master's History of Baptist in Kentucky, J. J. Edwards arrived in Kentucky from Virginia about 1858. It is known that J. J. Edwards first came from Virginia to Clay County, Kentucky and carried on ministerial work there before coming to Estill County. The obituary of Elder William R. Irvine in the 1890.minutes of the General Association of Kentucky Baptist states that Elder Irvine was "baptized into the fellowship of Clear Creek Church in Estill County by J. J. Edwards in January 1859." The 1893 minutes of Irvine Association, giving the obituary of Elders Abloom B. Williams a brother-in-law of J. J. Edwards, states that Brother Williams was baptized by J. J. Edwards in Lee County, Virginia, in 1854, and that he came to Clay County, Kentucky, in 1857. That is thought to be about the date J. J. Edwards also came to Clay County, moving to Estill County sometime during 1858.
Providence was a member of South Fork, Kentucky River Association in 1856. While researching records in Rochester, New York, concerning the seven churches that constituted Irvine Association in 1859, Mrs. James T. Ssser of Richmond, Kentucky discovered that in 1856 the South For, Kentucky River Association, referred to in John H. Spencer's History of Kentucky Baptist as south Fork Association, reported seventeen churches. Four of those same churches: Providence, Woodward's Creek, Drowning Creek, and Clear Creek were charter members of Irvine Association; two of those same churches: Providence and Drowning Creek joined Landmark Association in 1898, the next year after the Association was constituted.
Irvine Association list boh Providence and Newman Churches, 1863-1872. The minutes of Irvine Association in 1869 records twenty-six member churches located in Madison, Jackson, Clay, Owsley, and Estill Counties; Lee County was not created until 1870. From 1863 through 1872, the minutes of Irvine Association list both Providence and Newman Churches; However, Providence Church was not active in the Association during those years. Only the name Newman is listed in the Irvine Association minutes from 1873 through 1877. After 1877 only the name Providence appears in the minutes. In 1878 the Newman Church moved from the old location at the Newman Cemetery to a new church building located at the present church site.
The Reform Committee. The fact that both Providence and Newman names appear in the Irvine Association minutes indicates the possibility of a split in the congregation prior to 1863.
Providence has been a member of four different Baptist Assocations. Doing her 122 year history, 1856-1978, Baptist Associations. In 1856 Providence belonged to South Fork, Kentucky River Association; in 1859 Providence was one of seven churches that met at the Drowning Creek Church and constituted Irvine Association; in 1898 Providence left Irvine Association and joined Landmark Association which had been constituted November 12, 1897 at the Derby Knob Church in Jackson County; and in 1910 Providence joined Boone's Creek Association. Providence Baptist Church was a member of South For, Kentucky River Association for three years; she was a member of Irvine Association for thirty-nine years; she was a member of Landmark Association for twelve years; and she has been a member of Boone's Creek Association or sixty-eight years.
Elders J. J. Edwards and John Ward credited with constituting Providence. The following information concerning Providence Baptist Church of Estill Country is taken from S. J. Conkwright's History of the Churches of Boone's Creek Association of Kentucky:
It is understood that Elders J. J. Edwards and John Ward were instrumental in gathering this church about the year 1857 and that most of the members who went into the constitution of this church came from Clear Creek Church in Estill County.
Elders Joseph Ambrose and John Ward may have constituted Providence. Although Conkwright credited J. J. Edwards with assisting in the constitution of Providence Baptist Church, there is no evidence to place his arrival in Estill County until after 1856. The 1850 census of Estill County until after 1856. The 1850 census of Estill County lists Joseph Ampbrose as being fifty-two years old and a Baptist minister. John H. Spencer's History of Kentucky Baptist refers to Joseph Ambrose as the most effective preacher in South For, Association. Elder Ambrose was pastor of Union City Church in Madison County from September 1846 until October 1855; that church was a member of South Fork Association 1847-1856. Providence Church is listed as a member of South Fork Association in 1856, and since Joseph Ambrose was a resident of Estill Country, credited with gathering Woodwards Creek, White Oak, Union and Clear Creek Churches of Estill County and recognized as the most effective preacher in the Association, it seems probable that he, along with John Ward who also served in the Association, had something to do with gathering Providence Church.
Providence had two different names, maybe the same name twice. The data of 1857 is believed to be inaccurate as the date Providence was constituted. There is evidence to suggest there may have been a church before 1856 and that the church was first called Providence, then called Newman, and then the name changed to Providence again. Church records show that the present Providence Church and the Newman Church are the same church, but it is not clear if the Newman Church was first called Providence. The lack of church records during the first nine years of her existence contributes to the uncertainty of the church's name during those years.
Elder J. J. Edwards may have arrived in Estill County after 1856. As previously sated, there is some question where J. J. Edwards assisted in gathering the church. According to Frank M. Master's History of Baptist in Kentucky, J. J. Edwards arrived in Kentucky from Virginia about 1858. It is known that J. J. Edwards first came from Virginia to Clay County, Kentucky and carried on ministerial work there before coming to Estill County. The obituary of Elder William R. Irvine in the 1890.minutes of the General Association of Kentucky Baptist states that Elder Irvine was "baptized into the fellowship of Clear Creek Church in Estill County by J. J. Edwards in January 1859." The 1893 minutes of Irvine Association, giving the obituary of Elders Abloom B. Williams a brother-in-law of J. J. Edwards, states that Brother Williams was baptized by J. J. Edwards in Lee County, Virginia, in 1854, and that he came to Clay County, Kentucky, in 1857. That is thought to be about the date J. J. Edwards also came to Clay County, moving to Estill County sometime during 1858.
Providence was a member of South Fork, Kentucky River Association in 1856. While researching records in Rochester, New York, concerning the seven churches that constituted Irvine Association in 1859, Mrs. James T. Ssser of Richmond, Kentucky discovered that in 1856 the South For, Kentucky River Association, referred to in John H. Spencer's History of Kentucky Baptist as south Fork Association, reported seventeen churches. Four of those same churches: Providence, Woodward's Creek, Drowning Creek, and Clear Creek were charter members of Irvine Association; two of those same churches: Providence and Drowning Creek joined Landmark Association in 1898, the next year after the Association was constituted.
Irvine Association list boh Providence and Newman Churches, 1863-1872. The minutes of Irvine Association in 1869 records twenty-six member churches located in Madison, Jackson, Clay, Owsley, and Estill Counties; Lee County was not created until 1870. From 1863 through 1872, the minutes of Irvine Association list both Providence and Newman Churches; However, Providence Church was not active in the Association during those years. Only the name Newman is listed in the Irvine Association minutes from 1873 through 1877. After 1877 only the name Providence appears in the minutes. In 1878 the Newman Church moved from the old location at the Newman Cemetery to a new church building located at the present church site.
The Reform Committee. The fact that both Providence and Newman names appear in the Irvine Association minutes indicates the possibility of a split in the congregation prior to 1863.
Providence has been a member of four different Baptist Assocations. Doing her 122 year history, 1856-1978, Baptist Associations. In 1856 Providence belonged to South Fork, Kentucky River Association; in 1859 Providence was one of seven churches that met at the Drowning Creek Church and constituted Irvine Association; in 1898 Providence left Irvine Association and joined Landmark Association which had been constituted November 12, 1897 at the Derby Knob Church in Jackson County; and in 1910 Providence joined Boone's Creek Association. Providence Baptist Church was a member of South For, Kentucky River Association for three years; she was a member of Irvine Association for thirty-nine years; she was a member of Landmark Association for twelve years; and she has been a member of Boone's Creek Association or sixty-eight years.