Piney Grove Christian Church

Piney Grove Christian Church is located southeast of Falkville on Piney Grove Road. According to Watson’s History and The History of the Christian Churches in the Alabama Area by Mrs. Ethel Patillo, the church was orgainized in 1839. It is accepted to be one of the oldest Christian Churches in the state. Among its first leaders were Peter Couch, Randolph Couch, John S. Edwards, Hiram Smith, and Miles Hay. The first preacher at this church was probably done by B.F. Hall, Tolbert Fanning, David Speigel, or William Stringer.

Land for the first church was donated by the Hiram Smith’s. Watson says, “The Harts and Spiegels were members of old Hickory Log Church at Lacon…before joining the brethren at Piney Grove, or New Hope Campground, as it was at that time. Miss Annie King, a granddaughter of both families, relates that they were of Disciple origin, through records do no exist of a church at Lacon.

Falkville Church of Christ

by

Rhona H. Summerford

Falkville Church of Christ was established after Brother Rex Turner conducted a tent meeting in the summer of 1938.

This group first met in the home of Miss Sallie King. Later a building was moved from Cullman County and located on a lot back of the present building. This was in the 1940’s. Some of the early members of the church were the King Family, the E.F. Powell Family, and the Adlie Walling Family.

The property where the church is now located was purchased in 1962 from the Charlie Howse Family. The house in which the Howse Family lived became the first church parsonage. This house was then torn down and the new or present church building was constructed.

The church is active today and has a church van or bus and has a large number of members.

Falkville Christian Church

By

Rhona H. Summerford

Dr. A.C. Henry, physician/minister, lived in Falkville in the 1870’s, but the church was not organized until September 24, 1903, when S.P. and O.P. Speegel held a meeting. There were 37 members and a Sunday school of 57.

The lot for the church was purchased from E.L. and Leona C. Hays, for $100. S.P. Speegle, J.D. Wallace, M.V. Parker, Dr. W.M. Stringer, and John J. Wilhite were trustees.

Earliest records date from 1916, but early information comes from the “Alabama Christian.” In 1908 James Curtis, evangelist, held a short meeting in the Methodist Church, baptizing in Flint Creek. Evangelist H.G. Sedinger noted in 1909 that there was a nucleus for a fine congregation. S.M. Wilhite, preaching for Cedar Plains and Piney Grove, wrote in 1910 that there were five to eight members, a beautiful lot, but no building. By 1911 John G. Boone reported that over $500. had been raised for construction. Shortly after, the building was erected.

Falkville had irregular preaching for many years. Some early ministers were J.H. Hill, E.F. Corley, L.F. Abbott, Noble Edwards, C. Howard Matheny, E.N. Anthony, J.H. Gardner. W.M. Goodwin, T.P. Sharp, J.H. Havener, T.V. Hatchett, O.P. Speegle, W.O. Henderson, Paul E. Walker, O. Paul Walker, Ray McCulloch. and James H. Henderson, 1958 until the Falkville congregation joined with Piney Grove congregation in the building of the sanctuary adjacent to the old Piney Grove building.

On February 5, 1961, the church united with Piney Grove

Hartselle Church of Christ

The Hartselle Church of Christ had its beginning in 1920, with 17 charter members. Bro Oscar Norton was the first preacher. Proberty was purchased on the Rock and Hammett Streets and a building erected in Sept 1920. The church met at that location until 1945, when land was purchased on Sparkman Street and a building was completed in November, 1947. The membership had grown to approximately 100. The dedication services for the new building was held on November 16, 1947. Frank Andrews was the minister.

The church continued to grow in the 1950’s, with A.L. Butler, George Marshall, W.O. Norton, Roy Fudge, and Charles Stidham as ministers.

Elders in 1957 were E.H. Bennett, J.M. Dunnaway, J.F. Kelly, H.L. Slate, and L.T. Wagnon.

A renovation of the church building was completed in August 1960. A third, larger building program was completed in August 1972, with a membership of 300 members. Other ministers since then have been Charles Curtis, Hoyt Nelson, Charles Balcom, and Philip Hines, the present minister who preacher his first sermon at Hartselle on September 1, 1980.

The church continues to grow under the leadership of four elders, Tom Sneed, Dee Proctor, Bob Smith and Talnadge Reynolds. Another building project was completed in 1973. The church has missionaries in Romania and Nigeria and sponsors medical mission trips to Romania each year.

Cedar Plains Christian Church

by

Pernie Morris

Cedar Plains is one of the historic churches of Morgan County, located five miles west of Falkville. It is probably the oldest Christian Church in the state of Alabama with continuous service. Dr. A.C. Henry pioneer preacher, preached there in 1874 and several years afterward. The church was able to furnish provisions for him and his family and Brother William Wood proposed to teach his children for half price.

Early records were destroyed when the home of W.P. Wallace burned, making it difficult to state exact dates of early events. I have known that in the fall of 1839, William M. Hackworth made their confessions and were immersed. In 1849 or 1850, another building was built for the use of church and school. Before there was a building meetings were held in the dwelling.

One of the early preachers was Jessie T. Wood Sr., called the “Walking Bible”. The land for the church was given by J.T. and Mary Jane Wood. Between 1880 and 1884, a frame building was erected about twenty feet north of the log building. W. O. Henderson returned home in 1947. The Falkville Christian Unity was formed of Piney Grove and Cedar Plains Christian Churches. They bought a house in Falkville for a parsonage.

On April 24, 1955, the church building was destroyed by a tornado. Work on a new building began in July. Most of the labor was voluntary. Money from insurance, sale of the parsonage, and contributions enabled the church to be paid for when dedicated October 14, 1956. Since then, many improvements have been made. Brother Jim Henderson is currently pastor.