Located on the banks of Lulbegrud Creek, Montgomery Co., Ky. The church was constituted on 3rd Saturday in March 1793. "We united Baptists, 24 in number, where constituted a Gospel Church of Jesus Christ .... Believers in baptism by immersion, and final preservation fo the saints through grace."
Elders Thomas Ammon and Andrew Tribble of South Ky Assn. assisted in the consititution of this church.
In 1794 John Summers and John Allen were chosen elders. At the smae meeting Martin Dewitt an dEdward Williams were elected deacons. And the following August they elected Elijah Summers, Daniel Williams, John Treadway and Anthony Griffin as messengers to the South Ky Assn., which was met at Gilbert's Church. Tradition says Daniel Williams preached for them for several years.
In July 1799 the church entered a call for Elder Daniel Williams. The first pastor of this church, at their first meeting, was that eminent maud of God. Moses Bledsoe who preached for them several years. It is believed he was succeeded by Elder David Barrow, but he did not officiate for many years on account of his emancipation views. He was a man of the highest order of talent, a vine preacher, very zealous, well educated and posessed a thorough knowledge of the scriptures. Before coming to Ky., in 1798, he lived in Va. .... he employed his talents and influence to obtain [in Va.]. He was known in his day as the "Wise Man".
There were intervals when the church had no pastor, but the members met on regular days, had singing and prayer and conducted church business. Following is an example of the brief record" "Met in peace, parted in love."
In Oct 1801 we find this entry:
"Querry: Can this church fellowship the conduct of her members, communing with societies that do not hold with, nor practice baptism by immersion."
Answer: We do not fellowship such conduct."
In July 1802 the church agreed to hold their meetings at the Lulbegrad school house until bette accomodations could be obtained.
In March 1803 Moses Bledsoe being moderator and Will Orear Clerk of the meeting.
On May 21, 1803 James French was received by letter from Otter Creek Church of Madison Co,
On Sept. 13, 1804 the churh appointed a committee to confer with a committee from Mt. Sterling to erect a joint church house. Brother Jilson Payne was moderator at this meeting. The Lulbegrud congregation .... betweek 1806 and 1810, bult a new house of worship about 1 mile from where the first stood. The church built a new house.... new house of worship between 1806 and 1813. The new house was built of hewn logs with 12 corners to represent the 12 apostles. According to tradition his pouse of twelve corners was planned by Mrs. Keziah Callaway French, wife of the uncompromising Baptist, James French. There was a church house in Halifax Co. Va., called Republican Grove of similar construction, with 12 corners.
About in 1810 Jeremiah Vardeman, a great revivalist, came into their midst and held a series of meetings and many were added to the church. He was called as pastor and served them until 1817. During his ministry over 100 were added to their number.
At those revivals they would meet at 11 o'clock and after preaching would continue in erhartation, singing and prayer until admonished by the going down of the sun that it was time for dismissal. Vardeman could paint in living colors the happiness of the redeemed and the torments of the damed. He weighed 300 pounds and was well proportined.
Elder Vardeman was succeeded in 1817 by another remarkable man. Elder Raccoon John Smith who served them until 1823. During his ministry the church was greatly revived and had 120 additions in one of the years of his ministry. He wa a man of extraordinary talents, full of wit and humor, a logician and warrior. About this time he embraced the teachings of Elder Campbell and he had a powerful influence in North District and Boone's Creek Associations.
About 1823 Elder Smith was succeeded by Elder Thomas Boone, who was their pastor for more than 20 years; the church then had about 200 members.
In the spring of 1843 some of the members invited Elder G.A. Pitts to hold a meeting which he did for 10 days, resulting in a number of additions. A contraversary arose that resulted in a division.
In Aug. 1843 the church excluded the following member: Charles Hazelrigg, Stephen Treadway, Eli Biggers, Samuel Charm, James Spry, Melvin McKee, Mary French, Polly Treadway, Nancy Hzelrigg, Nancy Fletcher, Elizabeth Bartlett jr., Kitty Biggers, Sharlotty nelson, Sally Morris, Martha Morris, Sally Brookshire, Elvira McKee, Theodosia Hood, Elizabeth Ragland, Yonna Morris (late Burton) and Polly Ann Treadway for splitting off from the chruch and falsely saying they were a majority.
At the next meeting more of the members were excluded, namely: Nimrod Garrett and wife Betsy and Polly Davis. These excluded members formed a new church and in Sept. 1843 were received into Boones Creek Assn. with 49 members.
The courts were appealed to in order to settle property rights. The case pended several years. The Pitts party improved the house at a cost of $450. About 1847 the Court of Appeals gave the property to the Boone party by their first paying the $450.
In 1848 another church was built near the old one and it too was called Lulbegrud Church. The Primitive Baptists (the Boone party) remained in full fellowship with the North Dist. Assn. until it ceased to exist a few years ago.
James French Sr. was one of the frontiersmen of Ky. and was in the fort at Boonesborough when the town was laid off in lots, one of the streets being named in his honor. While in the fort he married Keziah Gallaway (see French family, First Winchester Church).
James French was clerk of the Church at Lulbegrud for years, was clerk of north Dist. Assn. in 1803 and clerk for 30 consecutive years. He ws an uncompromising Baptist, and when differences between the Baptists and the so-called Reformers arose, James French saw that there must be a separation, so he called a meeting extraordinary at Lulbegrud in April 183- and invited only such churches as stood firmly upon Baptist grounds.
Elder Raccoon Smith, who had embraced the teachings of Elder Alexander Campbell in allowing to this difference in his biography says of French: "He was indeed the wisdom of the opposition." It was French and not John Calvin that withstood John Smith so obstinately in the North Dist. Association.
In 1844 Lulbegrud Church called Elder A.R. Macey as pastor; he served several years. He was succeeded by Elder B.E. Allen (see Boone's Creek Church). He remained their pastor 2 years and was succeeded by Elder S.L. Helm, who remained 1 year.
After 2 years without a pastor, Elder B.E. Allen accepted care of the church until 1860, at which time Elder A.D. Rash became their leader and remained until the latter part of 1865 when Dr. R.T. Dillard accepted the pastorate until 1868. He was succeeded by Brother Murphy for 1 year. When Elder John Brown was called and served about 2 years. After 2 year without a pastor, Elder J. Pike Powers was chosen and served April meeting in 1879, when the church ws disbanded,. At the annual session of Boonme's Creek Assn. in 1879, Lulbegrud Church was stricken from the list of churches comprising this body. After the congregation withdrew from old Lulbegrud Church her membership never exceeded 91. NB. Tipton was the last church clerk. |
