Records show that all the land adjacent to the church was purchased from the
Government by the year 1840. This was part of the territory ceded to the
Government in 1809 by the Indiana, bounded on the north by the Ten O’clock
line, which is about three miles north of the present church building.
It is uncertain when or who held the first services of this church, but
tradition informs that services were held in neighboring homes by circuit
riders or able laymen. It is a matter of history that in 1825 there were
three Baptists, one Methodist, and one Newlight in the surrounding
community. The latter of these proved to be the Croy’s Creek Christian
Church, which in the early days was known exclusively as the Newlight
Church.
Not too much is known of the progress of this organization because no
records were kept. But one William KEYS, a resident of the community who was
later ordained as a minister of the conference, was an able leader. David
HAYES, another of the early ministers, worked with Reverend KEYS. They were
assisted by able laymen; to one of these, William BELK must be given special
credit. Some of the early settlers of the community were VICKERS, MURPHY,
FINLEY, GOOD, MYERS, BELK, JOHNSON, LAWSON, BOLING, DEVORE, LUCAS, and
KINGERY.
The construction of the first church for worship alone was about 1844. The
membership having increased, a large structure was undertaken measuring
about forty by sixty feet. As the majority of the members and interested
people resided on the north and east side of Croy’s Creek stream, it was
decided to erect the building in Putnam County, about seventy-five yards
southwest of the present church site, in the Northwest corner of the
Southwest Quarter of Section Six (6), Township Twelve (12), Range Five (5).
This land was purchased from the Government in 1828 by William BELK, father
of William BELK mentioned elsewhere in the history, one of the early
organizers of the church. This was the earliest purchase of the four
sections surrounding the present church site. An abstract quotes that one
acre and eight rods near the northwest corner off and out of said southwest
half of the southwest fractional quarter of said section, township, and
range, was deeded to the trustees of the Union Meeting House by William L.
GOOD on March 1, 1860.
(Due to the limited amount of pages available, several paragraphs will be
omitted that do not have family names in them. The remainder of the article
can be found at the library in the file cabinet containing information about
towns, schools, and churches.)
Reverend A. L. CARNEY served the church during the Civil War period. He had
a son who served the church later; the only father and son to ever serve the
church…..Reverend A. L. CARNEY was a strong abolitionist and worked in the
organization of the Home Guards. He created quite a bit of interest in the
election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. That there was quite a difference of
opinion concerning the Civil War issues was evidenced by the fact that
Reverend CARNEY used the precaution of carrying a revolver, which was placed
before him when he arose to preach. The church was used as a meeting place
for miles around for those who favored the abolition of slavery. It is said
that firearms were kept in the church at all times for emergency use by the
Home Guards. Reverend CARNEY was known as Captain CARNEY of The Home Guards.
An old stable northwest of the church was use as a meeting place for the
Knights of the Golden Circle. (See February 2005 Researcher, pages 2-4 for
more information concerning this organization.) Some members of the church
who served in the army were William EALY, M. CLARK, J.T. RISSLER, William
BELK, F.F. BELK, W. H. LAWSON, John JOHNSON, Pleasant LUCAS, and James SINER.
During the period from 1865 to 1875, singing schools were organized and
industrial activities increased. Four mills on Croy’s Creek were in
operation and about one and one fourth miles south of the church site was
located a large kiln in which drain tile and building bricks were burned.
Also about two miles north of the church iron ore was being mined and hauled
by wagons to a furnace near Harmony.
In 1876 the first report of business of the church was recorded by R. M.
JOHNSON as clerk. In 1879 the first Children’s Day Program was held on the
third Sunday in June; this program contributed money to both foreign and
home missions. About this time the Sunday School was organized with R. M.
JOHNSON as superintendent. The eastern half-acre of the present cemetery was
donated to the church by James A. FINLEY during the period from 1870 to
1880. The ordinance of foot washing was suspended during this period.
During the winter of 1882 and 1883 a great revival was held. It is
unofficially stated that sixty new members were added to the church. In
January of 1883 the members met to discuss plans for the erection of a new
church building. According to the minutes of that meeting, it was promptly
voted to erect an edifice just north and east of the site at that time, on
an acre of ground donated by R. M. JOHNSON. A soliciting committee was
appointed and five hundred and fifty dollars was pledged. A few days later
the committee reported a total of eight hundred and fifty dollars pledged. A
building committee consisting of J. C. PLUMMER, J. T. RISSLER, B. F. BELK,
and James SINER was appointed and directed to examine plans and let the
contract…The building was dedicated on Sunday, November 15, 1883. One of the
older ministers gave the invocation, scripture reading by R. M. JOHNSON, and
the dedicatory sermon by Reverend J. T. PHILLIPS, a former pastor of the
church.
At a business meeting May 17, 1884, the trustees were instructed to sell the
old building and its furniture. Peter DARTING bought the fence for $1.25;
for the seats, $10.00 from B. F. BELK; for the house, $21.00 from B. F.
BELK; for the stand, 50 cents from J. R. FINLEY; for the lamps, 50 cents
from William BELK. This was all applied on the new building.
In 1871 when Reverend A.L. CARNEY was president of the organization (Western
Indiana Christian Conference)…..By 1920 the membership saw the need of a
basement for Sunday School classes, youth groups, and other social
activities. At this time an energetic and money making Ladies Aid was doing
a great work. The building was raised some two feet and moved north half the
width of itself…..The church officials placed the box and the cement block
was sealed in. John FINLEY from Brazil gave a reminiscent talk, which closed
the service. A dedicatory service was held the first Sunday in September
(1928) with Reverend R. E. LUCAS, pastor of the church preaching the sermon.
During the remodeling period, a door was cut in the east end of the
church…..A new floor was laid in the auditorium, the money donated by Lillis
BELK….
Then at a business meeting in 1930, John LOGAN was appointed to write the
history of the church…In 1962 new pews were purchased, replacing the old
ones which were the ones installed in 1883 when the church was built….Then
recently a stained glass window was installed in memory of Everett LOGAN, an
elder of the church.
After the merger, the church became a member of the National Congregational
Christian Churches. Since the Western Indiana Conference is non-existent,
the church has had ministers from Butler University. Names of some were
Larry SCOTT, James MACKEY, and James COLE. The church is now served by
Reverend John J. JAMES of Brazil.
This was prepared for the Sesquicentennial of the State of Indiana in 1966.