October 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A new book has just been released that chronicles the 200 year history of the New Hope Baptist Church located on New Hope Road near Alexandria.
This Sunday, October 6 the congregation will be celebrating the church’s bicentennial beginning with worship at 11 a.m. followed by a meal from noon until 2 p.m.
The 84 page hardback book, compiled by local author Ria Baker, is now available for sale at $30 per copy. It delves into the background of the church, community, and families in that area and many of the photos are in color.
Although she is not a member at New Hope Baptist, Baker said she was contacted about doing a history of the church from others who knew she had done similar projects in the past.
“My sister and the church do a black light puppet show that I help with and since I had done a book about the lake and other church books, they wanted me to do one for them,” said Baker.
“This book has all the pictures I could find of all the church buildings, preachers, and deacons that have ever been there. They already had a pretty thorough preachers list because Salem Association had that in their records,” said Baker.
According to Baker, the original church was built on grounds donated by the Grandstaff family. “They had a farm there and donated a little piece of property and that’s where they put the church”.
Some years later a tornado destroyed the church but a new building was erected on the same grounds only to be demolished by another twister in 1955.
“After that second tornado, the church was built back again but this time on another piece of property donated by the Grandstaff’s located in front of a cemetery the family had decided to make larger. The existing church still sets on that property today.
The Sandlin’s, Malone’s, Parkerson’s, Grandstaff’s, and Nixon’s are just a few of the families who have had a place in the church from its founding.
While doing her research, Baker discovered in another historical account that generations ago a preacher at both New Hope and Sycamore Baptist Churches had been shot by another man although no details were given as to the circumstances surrounding the event other than he is buried at Sycamore.
To obtain a copy of the book you may call Ria Baker at 615-529-2840 or contact a member of the church. Only 200 copies are available and there will be no second printing so get your copy today.
The beginnings of the church actually date back to 1817 when Elder William Dale of Salem Church at Liberty began preaching at the home of Thomas Findley which was in the community. In 1818, an arm from Salem Church was established.
A building was completed and the first service was held at New Hope in October 1818 with 11 members present.
By March 27, 1819, the number had increased to 18 and the mission was constituted into an independent church.
At one time, New Hope had more members than any other church in the association, and was in every way one of the leading churches in the association.
This church first joined Concord Association in 1819 which convened at Providence Church. It was a constituent member of Salem Association in 1822 and has represented in the body ever since. By 1877, the church was the largest in Salem Association. It was then divided when Elder William J. Bomer led all but 16 members in another church. It divided again in 1839 and many of the members embraced the Primitive Baptist doctrine. This was the beginning of the Helton Creek Primitive Baptist Church.
New Hope Baptist Church is the mother of the following churches: Mount Zion, New Union, Cooper’s Chapel, and Alexandria Baptist, which is First Baptist Church.
In 1865, the church headed the list of Salem Association with 298 members. However, in 1902 the number dropped to 80 members.
Come join the congregation in the celebration of the church’s 200th anniversary Sunday.