In 1988, The Centennial History of Hurricane, WV was published to commemorate the town’s 100th anniversary. The publication included the histories of 16 Hurricane area churches. This week’s selection is the 16th of the church histories which were published in 1988.
YOUNG CHAPEL FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH
Submitted by Mairlis Edwards Johnson
Young Chapel Freewill Baptist Church on Bridge Creek, near Hurricane, was organized in 1887, one hundred years ago this year, and later built and completed by 1889. A beautiful and sacred country church, a light in the community, welcoming all who enter its doors.
Thompson Young, a Freewill Baptist minister of the Mt. Union Conference in Lincoln County came to this vicinity and held a three week revival in the Old Beech Grove school house, had many conversions for Jesus Christ. This was in the early winter of 1886. Rev. Young visited the converts once a month during the winter and in March had a two week revival, at the close of which he organized the church, with Tom Howard as Clerk and Floyd Adkins as Deacon. In March 1887 it was, and in respect to the one that got the church organized, the church was called Young Chapel. They then elected Thompson Young as the first pastor. He served three years, and passed on to his reward. They then elected J .F. Roberts, who served faithfully for twelve years, having great success. The following are a record of the pastors and the years they served up to this date.
1902 W.R. NESTER 1916 CECIL FOSTER
1903 J.L. GLISPIE 1918 LEE STANLEY
1904 H.K. FREEMAN 1920 D.W. WADE
1906 JEFF THOMAS 1922 E.L. McCALLISTER
1907 H.C. McNEALY 1924 R.L. STANLEY
1908 T. MURPHY 1927 D.W. WADE
1910 E.S. MYNES 1932 HERMAN CARPENTER
1912 E.S. GUTHRIE 1934 D.W. WADE
1915 LEE STANLEY 1936 W. l. MARLOW
1937 JOHN HENSON 1952 RICHARD CREMEANS
1939 ORVILLE BERRY 1953 EARL MAZE
1943 WALTER WOOD 1959 0.S. THOMAS
1944 W.T. MARLO 1962 EARL MAZE
1945 G.E. PAULEY · 1964 RICHARD CREMEANS
1947 ORVILLE BERRY 1965 OSCAR YOUNG
1948 ARNOLD MALLETT (15 years)
l 950 JOHN HENSON 1980 TONY COOPER – still pastor to 1987
The church has undergone some changes. In 1945, a choir loft and pulpit was added on back of the church. In 1950, wired for electricity. Later inside was remodeled, new pews, carpet, new piano, new windows in 1970. The church is still a great light to the community, reaching out to the needs of others, spiritual or financial!
