1875-Present
Judson Baptist Church
Atmore, Alabama AL
Historian and Pastor Brett Chancery has reviewed an undated and unpublished history of this Alabama congregation in this summary.
In a history of Judson Baptist Church compiled by Mrs. Florence A. Crane (undated) the congregation was organized in 1875. It was originally called Baptist Church but later the name Judson was added in honor of Adoniram Judson, the first Baptist missionary to the Far East. The land for the church was donated by Dr. Charles Moore and the original structure was “a small wood building.” The area is home to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama.
Mrs. Crane states that there were a “few Indians and two Negro slaves who worshipped there identified as Uncle Joe and Serene Coley.” (Since the church was founded around 1875, slavery would have been abolished by that point.)
Close by the church building is the Judson Cemetery though it is not actually owned by the congregation. The cemetery is private property owned by a family in the church. The cemetery has a unique history as well. The adjoining property to the Judson Cemetery is owned by the Poarch Creek Indians and is also a cemetery. The two properties essentially form one cemetery.
The report by Mrs. Crane continues to explain that the minister came only one Sunday of every month, “However, everyone looked forward to ‘Preaching Day’ and they came in wagons, buggies, on horseback and some walked many miles.” She also writes, “In the earlier years some pastors came to Atmore on the train and were met by one of the Deacons of the church. He would stay from Saturday until Monday morning, others came in horse and buggy.” She notes that the church joined the Baptist Association November 7, 1912.
The church “went half time with Rev. Dennis Howell” as pastor on July 8, 1948. Mrs. Crane notes that in September 1953, “it was voted to go on full time bases [sic] with Rev. Ernest Rockwell of Mobile as pastor.” Later, a pastorium was built, and Rev. David Strebeck was the first pastor to live in the pastorium. The author writes that the old church was torn down and sold in 1966. A new brick educational building was built first and was used as an “Auditorium” until the new church could be constructed at a later time.[1]
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[1] March 6, 2024, email to compiler Jerry Cain from Rev. Brett Chancery, Pastor of Judson Baptist Church, Atmore, Alabama, and instructor in history at Coastal Alabama Community College.