Research done by Dr. Ben Hilbun, former president of Mississippi State University, gives evidence that meetings of Big Creek Church began in the 1820's. The Big Creek "meeting house" was a log cabin on the west side of the creek approximately one-fourth mule downstream from the location of the present church, near what was known as "The Blue Hole."
The Big Creek Meeting House was a small log structure with a dirt floor. The contemporary design of the church wouldn't take place until 1964, but changes were still made to accommodate the amount of people gathering in the meeting house.
Dr. Hilbun was instrumental in having the historical plaque placed at the Highway 84 entrance of the church. With his help, the minutes from 1862 through 1955 have been placed on microfilm in the library at Mississippi State University. This historical preservation was covered in the local paper, The Laurel Leader Call, April 15, 1956.
During the church's existence, thirty-three men have pastored Big Creek Baptist Church. Seventeen men have been ordained as ministers and nine have been licensed through the church. Thirty-five men have carried out the duties of deacon.
Through the records of Mrs. Juanita Jefcoat, church historian, we have learned and preserved much of Big Creek Church's heritage. Her efforts have been greatly appreciated.
1940s Church Model: J.E. Hill
The October 1857 minutes of Indian Springs Baptist Church reveal a vote to extend Big Creek Meeting House as a n arm of Indian Springs Baptist Church. On December 26, 1857, Lucinda Todd was received as a member of Indian Springs Baptist Church through the arm of Big Creek. On March 24, 1860, Brother Williams was authorized by the church to receive members at the arm of Big Creek.
In July 1955, the following information was found by Willie J. Jefcoat, church clerk:
August 17, 1862, the arm of Indian Springs Baptist Church met at Big Creek Meeting House. After divine services, the doors were opened for reception of members.
C.A. Hill, Mary Ann Hill, and Elizabeth Reddoch were received as members. On August 18, 1862, the members who joined the day before asked for dismissal from Indian Springs Baptist Church to become members of Big Creek. They were granted their letters and this in effect organized Big Creek Baptist Church as an arm of Indian Springs Baptist Church. After the meeting, J.A. Boutwell, moderator, and clerk, Rigdon Powell signed off on the first recorded minutes dated August 18th, 1862.
Charter members agreed to the following: We, whose names are herewith subscribed being of the regular Baptist Church of Christ holding each to secure the benefits of church fellowship, do agree to unite ourselves into a Gospel Church on the following principals..."
The following was placed on the record by the clerk:
In the year 1921, information was presented that these names were signed as charter members: S. Bruce, W.A. Bruce, A.M. Drennan, W.A. Drennan, J.G. Warren, Betsy Warren, C.A. Hill, Mary Ann Hill, Z.Z. Jefcoat, and Elizabeth Reddoch. J.A. Boutwell and R.N. Roberson signed as presbytery.
In August 1865, the church chose a building committee, presumably to plan the construction of the first building on the present sight.
The first structure was made of logs and boasted a stack chimney. You can see the original log meeting house in the background of this painting done by R.L. Willett.
The main building pictured here is the second building which was a rough, sawed framed and dressed lumber structure with glass windows. It was painted white like most churches of that day. The one large room was finished with homemade furniture, except for a tiny, old fashioned organ. This building was located in a setting of tall pine trees and mountain laurel.
Paul King, born in New York, became an accomplished lithographer while in his teens and became a student at the Art Students Leagues of Buffalo and New York. He spent time studying in Holland and then was the vice president and president of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women from 1908 to 1921. During World War I, King worked in the army's camouflage unit and was then named in the National Academy of Design in 1933.
King was intrigued by the church and painted an accurate rendering of it in its setting. The painting of the third sanctuary, named Big Creek Church (1926), hangs in the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, MS.
Timber on the church ground and cemetery was sold in October 1908. The money received was used to build a fence around the cemetery because cattle and other livestock were allowed to roam where they pleased. There were no livestock laws at this time. In September 1916, a right - of - way through the cemetery was given for a road to be built. On November 18, 1916, the Board of Supervisors reimbursed the church for the land used for the new road. They gave double the amount used by buying one acre, which was on the south side of the cemetery, from Mrs. Martha Jane Welch. In 1962, the church bought several more acres north and east of the church ground from George and Mary Riley. This land was to be used for the expansion of building areas and cemetery area.
The third sanctuary was constructed in the fall of 1940 and the spring of 1941. This building contained an auditorium and four Sunday school rooms. Mr. John Earl Hill built the replica of this building in 1993 (pictured above) and R.L. Willet rendered it's likeness in this painting.
Shortly after its organization, Big Creek Baptist Church joined the Ebenezer Association. Delegates were sent to meetings in the fall of each year until the association dissolved on October 20, 1906. The church did not align itself with any association until September 19,1914. A motion was made and approved by the church, to represent herself in the Landmark Association and delegates were elected. In January 1929, the church voted to be represented at the American Baptist Association. Not long after this, Big Creek joined the State Association. On February 17,1924, the church sent a donation to the General Association in Texarkana, Arkansas for foreign missions. The church began to regularly support Interstate and Foreign Missions in January 1929. In May 1929, the clerk was authorized to send mission money on a quarterly basis. To date, the church sends money monthly for local, state, interstate, and foreign missions. Big Creek Missionary Baptist Church is now a member of the Baptist Missionary Association.
The Big Meetin'
In November 1862, the church voted to have its yearly meetings begin on Friday before the 3rd Sabbath in August. At the same time, they also voted to have communion services during the regular monthly meetings in January, April, July, and October. The yearly meetings, which are now known as revival meetings, were changed in October of 1864 to the week beginning with the 3rd Sunday in July.
On May 16, 1868, the church passed the following motion:
"The yearly meeting will be held on the third Sabbath in July, commencing on Friday before the third Sabbath in July each and every year."
Before this motion, the church held these meetings whenever they felt a need. In March, before each yearly revival, the church would select two to five ministers to be invited to help with the evangelistic part of the meeting. Services would be held twice daily with picnic lunches served on long tables under the beautiful trees. Sometimes two or more services would be going simultaneously. One minister inside the building and one outside. On Sunday, July 18, 1914, the minutes recorded that three sermons took place at 11:00AM. But by the 1920's, the practice of more than one evangelist chosen for revival had faded.
The revival in July 1937 was one of the highlights as far as revivals go at Big Creek. Fifty-nine persons came on profession of faith and were baptized. Nine others cam by letter. According to the Workers progressive Agency manuscript in 1937, it was common to see cars parked for a radius of more than a mile of the church during the Sunday of Revival. Former members returned for this day, as well as local people from town and countryside. These meetings were quite special to the people then and remains to be a memorable time each year.
Baptismal Services were held at the creek until the baptistry was added to the building in the 1950's. In July 2001, baptismal services were held at the creek as a special occasion for recent professions of faith. This brought back memories for some and made memories for those who had never attended baptismal services at the creek.
In the 1950s, the church added a kitchen, several other classrooms, a baptistry, and bathrooms were added.
In 1961, after the flood, more classrooms were added and the building was given a brick veneer exterior and steeple. The church held dedication services for this addition in the fall of 1961.
In August 1962, Big Creek Baptist Church observed its 100th anniversary. Special services were held with the morning sermon deliver by Rev. Van Hill. Lunch was served and an afternoon service was held afterward with a brief reading of the church's history, a song service, and a few words from Andrew Todd (a direct descendant of Lucinda Todd, a charter member of BCBC).
The Great Floods
Big Creek Baptist Church has been at the mercy of the rising creek waters all throughout its history of existence. On February 23, 1961, water engulfed the church. According to the local paper, it had been more than sixty years since rising creek water entered the church building.
After torrential rains in April of 1974, Big Creek rose higher than anyone could remember. Many members and friends worked several hours trying to protect the building and fixtures. The organs and pianos were placed on tables and benches. Other things were placed in safe positions. Large crowds watched as the waters rose higher and higher. Shortly after 1:00PM on April the 13th, the church was entered to survey the damage. Not only was the church flooded, but the grounds around the church were more of a lake than a parking lot. The water levels began to drop after 5:00 PM that day, but the flooding heavily damaged the church.
On Sunday afternoon, many members came to church with mops and buckets to begin the cleanup. Men were secured to syphon the water out of the carpet. The church's bulletin was sent out that week stating, "We don't know at this time if the carpet can be saved, or if the pews suffered permanent damage. But we are deeply grateful for all who gave a helping hand. We do not know the exact number who came to service last Sunday morning, but it was well over a hundred." People in the Big Creek community never let the flooding get in the way of their worship time. No matter if the carpet was muddy or the pews were wet, the people of Big Creek worshipped the Lord.
Since the Great Floods, the creek has been engineered to prevent water from entering the church. The most recent flood was in 2011. The water stopped at the edge of the church property thanks to the cautionary measures taken by the county's engineers.
In 1964, a new sanctuary was built. The Laurel Leader Call state, "The new structure is of contemprary design with central cooling and heating. The outside walls are constructed of brick and cement. The inside walls are pale green, with a darker green used for the wall-to-wall carpeting. The exposed beams and ceiling are stained to match the walnut furniture. Ceiling height stained glass windows are in the foyer and behind the baptistry and choir loft. The new sanctuary measures 46ft. by 124ft."
The old sanctuary was converted into a chapel and educational space. In addition, an extension of 15ft. by 84ft. was added to the northern section of the old educational department. The new construction gave the church a total of 15,548 square feet of floor space!
On Sunday, July 19, 1964, a dedication service was held for the new sanctuary where Mrs. Juanita Jefcoat presented a reading of the church history.
On September 3,1983, the church appointed a Study Committee to determine the needs for additional space for new Sunday School rooms, a new fellowship hall, activities area and nursery, and a new front to the sanctuary.
By the end of 1984, the church had established a building fund and in February 1985, plans were approved. The church then selected a building committee and a finance committee. After a prayer vigil, the church received nearly $60,000 in cash and pledges. One week later, on May 19, 1985, ground breaking services were held. C.C. Pennington (the oldest member) and Brad Dykes (the youngest member), turned the first shovel of dirt and the foundation was poured in July of 1985.
In January 1986, the church named the building "The Education and Activities Building". Downstairs, this building includes a large kitchen and fellowship hall, a storage area, a gym, four classrooms, and an assembly room. Upstairs, in the loft, there are four classrooms and a large assembly room used by the youth group.
A dedication service for the Education and Activities Building was held February 2, 1986. Unveiling the cornerstone, along with Dr. Eugene Murphy, pastor, was Mrs. Rosa Hill (the oldest member) and Susannah Murphy (the youngest member). Mr. Kimble Shows, chairman of the building committee and Mr. Kenny Hill, a member of the committee, had the privilege of cutting the ribbon. At the conclusion of the ceremony, lunch was served in the new kitchen and fellowship hall with tables set up in the gym to accommodate the crowd.
On June 18th, 2000, the building committee presented a proposal to the church membership to remove the existing foyer and add a new foyer with two dressing rooms, an upstairs sound booth, a music room, and restrooms. This addition would be thirty feet long and forty-six feet wide. The proposal also included a new front entrance, stained glass windows, a covered porch, and a steeple. The proposal was accepted and work began in July of 2000. The addition was finished in March of 2001.
Due to damage sustained from Hurricane Katrina, the church voted to replace the original educational building behind the sanctuary with a new educational and office building between the existing sanctuary and the Family Life Building. The building now houses the nursery, children's worship, library, choir room, bell room, and 8 class rooms. The office section includes an office for the secretary, the pastor, the youth pastor, and the music minister. Groundbreaking for the facility took place on June 22,2008. On February 1, 2009, the facility was used for the first time.
