Church and Family History Research Assistance for Morgan County, Missouri
CHURCHES:
BETHLEHEM (BIG ROCK), VERSAILLES
Bethlehem Church (later called Big Rock) was organized August 9, 1827, at the home of Jacob Chism, with three charter members, viz., Jacob Chism, William Jennings, and Kemp Scott. They were soon joined by Permela Chism, George Chapman, Mary Hughes, and Isaac N. Bernard. Elder Jacob Chism was elected pastor and moderator of the new church.
In April 1828 it was decided to meet in The Academy in Boonville. In 1833 a group from Melford Church, Greenville District of South Carolina, became members, including John B. Thruston, Street Thruston, William R. Thruston, Sarah A. Thruston, Jeremiah Thruston, William S. Barnett, Minerva Barnett, William Scott, Priscilla Scott, and John and Mariah Harmon.
In 1836 it was agreed to move the place of meeting from Bro. Chism's to Versailles. For several years the places of meetings were irregular, sometimes in the Hardscrabble School. In 1847 a small building was purchased and moved to a site south of the last church, near an enormous rock formation, from which came the name of Big Rock. This building was used until about 1871. The site of the last building was purchased in May 1874, including ground for a cemetery, at the NW corner of SW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec. 18, Twp. 42, R. 16, Morgan County. In 1886 the trustees built a larger house, 32 by 50 feet on this site, and the old building near Big Rock was sold.
Pastors included Elders Jacob Chism, Howard Jackson (1858), J. W. West (1861), Ephraim F. Gunn (1882), J. L. C. Woods (1893), J. J. Christean (1900), F. M. Robinson (1901), W. J. Hardesty (1902), W. S. Jefferies (1910), W. J. Hardesty (1910), Murray Jackson (1931), Loyd T. Sapp (1942), Frank E. Kays (1951-1958), Hugh Hall, Herbert Vogan, and Paul Christensen.
Deacons after 1858 included E. F. Gunn, W. P. Ross, S. A. Phillips, S. N. Madole, Nathan Kays, Hiram Madole, E. A. Gunn, James J. Kays, A. Cochran, and Marshall McKinley. Clerks included Francis L. Ross, Ephraim F. Gunn, Benjamin H. Jackson, S. N. Madole, E. A. Gunn, J. D. Pennington, E. A. Gunn, and Sudie Ferrin.
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