Belleville Baptist Church placed on historic register on April 21, 1981

Belleville Baptist Church in May 2014.

(Belleville Baptist Church in Conecuh County was placed on Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on April 21, 1981. The story below, which was written by Margaret Gaston, originally published in the May 28, 1981 edition of The Evergreen Courant under the headline, "Belleville Baptist Church recognized.")

  

The Alabama Historical Commission has added the Belleville Baptist Church to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. The Alabama Register is a prestigious listing of historic architectural and archaeological landmarks. These selected landmarks are worthy of both recognition and restoration.

Belleville Baptist Church was organized Oct. 28, 1818 by Reverends Alexander Travis and David Wood. Travis was called as pastor of the church in April 1820 and served in this capacity until his death in 1852.

The present building was begun in 1851 and completed in 1852. And is the third building erected by the church membership since being organized.

The church minutes of July 22, 1851 record the following – “the committee appointed to raise funds and superintend the building of a new meeting house report that they had added to their number Mr. Chesley Crosby as one of the committee and that the building of the house would be let out forthwith …” (Mr. Crosby donated $500 to the building fund.)

The church minutes of Aug. 22, 1851 record – “the committee appointed to superintend the building of a new meeting house reported that they had let out the building of the same to J.R. Hawthorn for $1,900.”

The church pews are handmade as was the bricks used in the foundation. The original inside walls of plaster had pig bristles mixed in to help prevent cracking.

At the annual Association in September 1867, Belleville’s circular letter to the Association reads in part – “the statistics of our church are as follows – whites, 70; the colored members who were formally connected with this church have been organized into a separate church at this place and seem to be in prosperous condition. They have a licensed minister of their own color preaching stately to them, and are acting under the immediate advice and counsel of this church.

“There are two Sabbath schools connected with this church. One in the neighborhood of brethren Burt and Gully, who live at too great a distance to attend at the church and the other at the church…”

On Oct. 25, 1981 Belleville Baptist Church will have a Birthday Anniversary celebration, on the occasion of the church’s 163rd birthday. There will be a special program for that day which will be submitted to The Courant for release later in the summer.