History of the Church of Christ in North Alabama

Compiled by Leo Creel and Quinton Nigg

Typed and posted by Patsy Box Johnson member of Northside Church of Christ 

The Church of Christ has no creed but the Bible and has no organization larger than the local congregation. Its officers are the Elders and Deacons. The first church in the Jackson County, Alabama area was organized in Antioch, near Bridgeport in 1815. James ANDERSON was one of the first ministers of this church. He began to preach in 1827. The Elders were Elisha M. PRICE, William KING, Andrew RUSSELL. It is said the Antioch Church was started through the preaching of Barton W. STONE, E. D. MOORE, and their associates. This no doubt is the first Church of Christ established in Alabama.
In 1846, the Antioch Church moved to Rocky Spring, the first building was of hewn logs, 20x30 feet, and had a stone chimney. It was destroyed by Northern soldiers during the Civil war. The following ministers preached in this house: Reese JONES, Tolbert FANNING, James and Andrew BILINGSLEY, Madison LOVE, and SIKES all from Tennessee, and Dr. HOOKER of Georgia. George Washington CONE and Washington BACON preached here before the Civil War.

In the early part of the 19^th Century, about the time Alabama became a territory in 1817 and was admitted to the union, 14 Dec 1819, the families of James Allen WILLIAMS, the SELF, RANDOLPH, SANDLIN and others migrated from Virginia. They came by way of the Cumberland Gap, through Huntsville, crossed the Tennessee River at Guntersville, and settled in the area later known as Hanceville, Alabama.

In 1817 Blountsville area Alexander WILLIAMS and Thomas BILLINGSLEY were in Hanceville.

In 1819 the Indian Territory of Mississippi which was removed by the U.S. Army to North East Blount County. Before then you had to have a permit to even cross Indian Territory.

Prior to 1820 there were members of the Church of Christ meeting in areas around Hanceville and the surrounding towns in Cullman County, Alabama.

In 1825 James Allen WILLIAMS married Jemina BILLINGSLEY. They went to Jones Valley Courthouse in Birmingham to be married. He was the first preacher in the area to be given a licence to marry people around 1846.

Soon after the arrival of the Allen WILLIAMS family from Virginia in 1838 to what is now know as Hanceville, a log church building was erected a mile north of Hanceville. Allen WILLIAMS and Brother GIBSON were the first ministers.

In 1897 a frame building was erected one half mile east of the old railroad.

In 1839 there was a Log Cabin built and used for the church services and records show there were spelling bee’s held. It was referred to in records as the Christian Church.

In 1840 Hopewell Baptist Church was organized and met in the Christian Church building. It was called Baptist Church of Christ.

In 1859 a deed to some property and a building was erected for a Christian Church. Churches of Christ continued to worship until 1880.

In 1880 there was a wood frame building erected at the corner of Blountsville Road and Edmonds Road. Preachers from this time were, J.H. HORTON, R.E. CREEL, Pryde HINTON, Howard HORTON, Wayne CHAPPELL, and Dewy SIMS.

Sulphur Springs Church was built in 1894-1895 at corner of Blountsville and Edmonds Street. The log cabin was sold at this time for $50.

In 1949 the congregation moved into the new brick building located in Hanceville. There were 76 members with an average attendance of 95. Their preacher then was Leo PLYLER. The following preachers have been gone out from this congregation to preach the gospel: Henry HORTON (deceased), M.A. CREEL (deceased), Pryde E. HINTON, A.C. KNIGHT, R.E. CREEL, Floyd HORTON (deceased), Howard HORTON, and Dewey SIMS.

Preachers from this time were, J.H. Horton, M. A. CREEL, R.E. Creel, Pryde HINTON, Floyd HORTON, Howard HORTON Wayne CHAPPELL, and Dewy SIMS.Many members of these families and the BILLINGSLEYS and WILLIAMS migrated west to Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas establishing Churches of Christ where ever they settled.

Mime WILLIAMS a descendant of the BILLINGSLEY and WILLIAMS families passed away
in 1992. She was in her 90’s and was an English Professor at Abileen Christian College.

The Northside Church of Christ in Hanceville, Alabama had its beginning August 21, 1970, with eight families meeting in the home of James and Laura HARRIS in Hanceville, Alabama. Jerry THOMPSON was the treasure, G.W. SELVAGE was the song leader, Jack MITCHELL and James HARRIS were teachers and U.L. Allen was the preacher at the time. At the time there were about 25-30 present at the first service. Brother U.L. ALLEN started preaching for Northside September 6, 1970. Thanks to the faith, encouragement and foresight of Brother ALLEN who sold his bonds to later build the building.

In 1971 U.L. ALLEN loaned money to buy the property for the church building and he was the one who named Northside Church of Christ. Five months and eight days later in February 1971, they moved into the new building. U.L. ALLEN did the preaching for eighteen mounts with no pay.

Open house was held February 14, 1971. Brother Allen continued with us until September 20, 1971, when Brother Dewey Sims began preaching for Northside.

Brothers R.E. CREEL, G.W. SELVAGE and Dewey SIMS served as Elders of the North Side congregation. Brother SIMS continued preaching until June 14, 1978.

Brother Randy LYONS worked with us from July 12, 1976 through November 11, 1979. Brother Roger LATHAM filled in from November 18, 1979 until January 13, 1980. Brother Tommy VERNON, who is presently working with us, began work on January 27, 1980.

Preachers and wives at Northside were, U.L. and Dorothy ALLEN, Dewey and Myrle SIMS, Randy and Annette LYON, Tommy and Frankie VERNON, Mike and Donna RAINS, Guy and Shirley HESTER, Lawrence and Patsy WILSON, Tom and Darlene HORTON, Larry and Brenda PRUITT, Chris BARNETT, Eddie and Dean DICKEY, Joe and Karen MITCHELL, Jon and Kim CREEL and Larry and Brenda PRUITT is again preaching his second term.

At the present time, 2007, Northside’s minister is Larry PRUITT. The Elders are, Robert CREEL, Durwood DEAN, Allen GAMBLE, Bill PATE and Larry PRUITT. The deacons are, Don CREEL, Joe MITCHELL, Ed ROBERSON and Peanut SMITH.

Update 1 July 2013:

Larry Pruitt resigned around the first of 2013 and the Northside COC Elders hired Ken Forrest. So he and his wife, Anita and their family moved into the preacher home. On 2 November 2014 Ken Forrest moved to Foley, AL and began preaching for Summerdale COC. At this time Northside is without a full time preacher.