A BRIEF HISTORY OF LOVELACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Lovelace Baptist Church had its beginning as an organization of the Cave Springs Sabbath School. Lovelace is a stable community, who have sought to worship God from the beginning to the present. At Homecoming each year, members and community inhabitants honor those who founded the Church and those who have contributed to the leadership of His service.
On Sunday evening, March 31, 1878, a large group of Cave Springs Community people met for the purpose of organizing a Sabbath School. W. A. J. Moore was elected the first Superintendent of the Sunday School.
One month later, April 1878, a revival was held by E. F. Jones, assisted by Edd Hite Crouch. Several souls were saved and united with the Fall Branch Baptist Church. In order to have regular church attendance, especially in the winter, the group decided a church in the Cave Springs Community was necessary. The school Director permitted the meetings to be held in the Cave Springs School House.
The Cave Springs Baptist Church was organized on Saturday, June 21, 1879, by forty-five members of the Fall Branch Baptist Church who met to establish the new church. The first members were: J. K. P. Hall, Martha Hall, Middia Hall, Annie Roberts, G. W. Baskette, Mollie Baskette, Ruby Baskette, William Pierce, Nancy Pierce, George W. Pierce, Mattie Perce, Bessie Pierce, Adison Frazier, Rebecca Frazier, J. M. Brancon, Margaret Brandon, Alice McCrary, James McCrary, Lydia Hall, Bessie Hall, Mollie Hall, T. C. Quinn, William Quinne, Bessie Quinn, William Baskett, Patience Baskett, S. M. Brandon, S. A. Brandon, Thomas Pierce, A. J. Baxter, Jonathen Gregg, Martha Gregg, Lucinda Hall, A. H. Pierce, Jennie Pierce, Florence Pritchard, Alex Whitlock, S. H. Moulton, Lavina Moulton, Martha Brandon, W. A. J. Moore, Mary J. Brandon, David Dobbins, and John H. Headrick.
They elected E. F. Jones as Moderator and A. H. Pierce as Clerk. W. A. J. Moore, J. K. P. Hall, and G. W. Baskett were elected deacons and were ordained on Sunday, June 22, 1879. Rev. E. J. Jones was called to be the Pastor. The Cave Springs Baptist Church changed the name to Lovelace Baptist Church on December 18, 1880. A search was made for the meaning of Lovelace name, and it was found that Midda Taylor, member from 1903 to 1979, wife of deacon Orval Taylor, stated that Sarah Jane Brandon ran the combination Cave Springs Post Office and General Store on the corner near the location of the Church sign on the Baileyton/Horton highway. Mrs. Brandon loved to make lace. Many told her they loved lace and the two words caught on and Lovelace was adopted for the new community name.
The original church building was constructed in 1887 upon land deeded and given by A. H. Pierce. The church building continued to serve the spiritual needs of the community. Thirty dedicated servants of God have served as Pastors. Forty servants have served as Deacons.
On December 25, 1966, Rev. Joe Wall became Pastor of Lovelace Baptist Church. Under his leadership new programs were started such as, church bulletins, library, visitation programs, and training union. Outside improvements were added such as, black topping for the parking lot and cemetery circle, and picnic grounds in the woods. Building accomplishments were installed stained glass windows, new light fixtures and doors, new church roof, and air condition in the auditorium.
In the spring of 1972, a new education building with bathrooms and baptistery was constructed. On October 13, 1972, money was borrowed to complete payment on the new edition. On September e8, 1974, the ninety-fifth birthday of the church was celebrated with homecoming and dedication of the new building. The note was paid, and the note-burning was February 1975, only six months later. On September 12, 1976, Rev. Joe Wall resigned as Pastor feeling his work completed after ten years.
On November 30, 1976, the church building burned to the ground. Many though everything was lost. Only the badly damaged bell rolled out of the smoldering ashes. The people of Lovelace rejoiced when Rev. Joe Wall returned as Pastor the following Sunday, December 5, 1976.
With faith and prayers, the people of Lovelace started to build again. Sunday services were held at the Oak Glen Community Building. Wednesday night services were in homes at first. Later they were on the church grounds, near the building construction. Much planning, work, and prayers were required by all. The church elected a Building Committee of Lester Pitt, chairman, Foster Taylor, Denzil Taylor, Marrell Parker, Weldon Sells, Basil Carr, and Carson Edison. The building committee was faithful and dedicatred to many decisions for the Lord's house. Special recognition is given to Lester Pitt, chairman, Foster Tayor, Denzil Taylor, and Weldon Sells for countless hours of labor, plus faith and prayers.
Under the leadership of Rev. Joe Wall, the people of the church, with the help of other churches, the community, and individuals began the new church on the same site of the lost building. Ground-breaking ceremonies held My 15, 1977, and construction started. The building was contracted to Luther Murray and there were sub-contractors. However, the number of hours and the amount of labor by the church members spent in clean-up, mowing, shoveling dirt, staining tables, or any required task can never be measured. Members gathered back together each evening to discuss the progress of the day and to make plans for the next day.
On Sunday, October 2, 1977, (ninety-nine and a half years after Cave Springs, eleven months and two days after the fire, four months and seventeen days after the ground-breaking), the people celebrated the dedication of the new building and Homecoming with friends and church people who had shared in the dreams and accomplishments.
Lovelace people continued to work. The restoration of the bell and the outside bulletin board were established for all to see. The cornerstone was laid containing mementos for future generations. Water is in the church, complete with drinking fountains. The library has an excellent collection of books, wrought iron railings add decorative design to the building, drapes were made for all classrooms, cushions were added to the church benches, bulldozer work cleared the cemetery surroundings and made the grounds accessible, and the outdoor picnic building added electricity, tables, and benches for better utilization.
The church updated the kitchen March 13, 2005. They also voted to purchase top and bottom cabinets with Formica countertops and backsplash with the Building and Grounds paying $4,000 towards the cabinets and the Ladies Class paying $1,500 towards the cabinets and kitchen. In 2012, the church voted on getting new carpet for the sanctuary and seat cushions were purchased in May 2013. The carpet and cushions are now a brick red color, instead of the orange color they used to be. The Church bought new Baptist Hymnals in February 2013, and CDs for the hymnal with music were also purchased and donated by a Church member. The Church is currently installing cabinets in the fellowship hall to help with storage and dinners and this work was completed by Homecoming, September 14, 2014, with the men of the Church installing them.
