2nd MUDDY CREEK CHURCH OF CHRIST before it was demolshed ca 1980's
Frye Bridge Road, Clemmons, NC. New church is now Muddy Creek Christian
Church.
ann sheek
Frye Bridge Road, Clemmons, NC. New church is now Muddy Creek Christian
Church.
ann sheek
| BUILT 1882 |
| MUDDY CREEK CHURCH OF CHRIST Clemmons Courier Nov. 29, 1973 by Ann Sheek |
In 1882, the Muddy Creek Church of Christ near Clemmons worshipped at the old Muddy Creek Meeting House located across the Frye
Bridge Road from the present church.
The old Meeting House was a log building that was a Primitive Baptist Church. After the Primitive Baptists in the area ceased meeting in the
building, a group of denominational Christians began using it.
Mrs. Sallie E. Phelps, who lives on Frye Bridge Rd. in the Muddy Creek community is a life-long resident of that area. At 83, she is one of the
oldest active members at the church.
Mrs. Phelps related, "To build the first frame church building, PHILLIP HEGE and URIAH PHELPS gave the trees for the timber or lumber in
1882. Although they were not members of the church, but conscientious and generous neighbors.
Mrs. Phelps now possesses the oldest known record book of the congregation. The book originally was in the possession of her father, JOHN
W. ELLIS.
Mrs. Phelps' father, JOHN WILLIAM ELLIS, was a carpenter and he supervised the building.
"I remember my father telling that in a few years he paid for the addition of a belfry to the top of the building and that CICERO BREWER and
OLLIE DOTY built this belfry," recalled Mrs. Phelps.
Seerving as pastors at this first church, according to Mrs. Phelps were: D.A. BRINDLE, BOB (R.A.) HELSABECK, B.T. BIDDING, ALEXANDER
H. ELLIS, O.J. HELSABECK, T.J. GLENN, T.S. FROST, P.B. ABBOTT and W.B. HENDERSHOOT.
As far as is known, there has never been a history printed before now on this particular church.
Original Members
From this first record book, the following was copied: Names of the 36 original members were: LINY BRINDLE, ENOCH and KATIE MULLICAN,
JOHN and MARTHA BRINDLE, LEWIS and CAROLINE CORNISH, SARAH CLINE, S.J. DAVIS.
Also EDWIN SINK, ALVIN and MOLLIE PHELPS, U.S. and REBECCA NELSON, JOHN STEWART, HIRAM PAINTER, LEWIS and SARAH
WEAVER, GEORGE and WILLIAM KSITSFEEZER, ELIZA SELLS.
FLORENCE LOWERY, LOUVENIE ARMSWORTHY, SALLIE BRINDLE, SUSAN THOMPSON, MARY PAINTER DUNK, FRANCES PAINTER,
SALLIE CORNISH, JANE PAINTER.
And TEMPEY ROBERSON, J.P. NELSON, C.A. BRINDLE, MILTON BRINDLE, L.S. ELI W., and LEWIS C. MULLICAN
The second old record book, now in the possession of the present pastor, Robert Stewart, a brief history of the church is written. The
author of this is not known. This history states:
Founder
"Muddy Chrrek Church of Christ was foundedd April, 1882 by the Rev. Richard Poindexter, a pioneer preacher of Yadkin County.
He preached 17 nights in the old log building that stood first across the road (Frye Bridge Rd.) As a result of this meeting, there were 37
additions. These happy worshippers were to take the grave responsibility of a newly established church."
Second Book
From the second record book, the history states:
"Poindexter served his newly established church until probably in the 90s. Then travelling preachers passed by and gave their service.
Williams, Nealy, Sutton and probably many others."
In the second record book on the history, the following notations were entered:
1903- Dr. Bidding preached to 1906 or 1907. He was followed y many preachers of short duration. Some of the names are Frost, Ernest
Helsabeck, Abbott, Moore and Jones.
March 1915- R.A. Helsabeck took work and served until December, 1930. Membership doubled. He travelled 30 miles to keep his
appointment with his little flock.
New Building
1920- decided to build a new church building. Just after a World War and with money hard to come by, a committee of five was appointed and
in April 1920 work began and in August 1924 we held our first service in the new church
"My father John W. Ellis and four other men U.S. NELSON, JOHN NELSON, DANIEL WOOSLEY, and LEWIS CORNISH were the five men
who were the building committe for the second Muddy Creek Church," Mrs. Phelps remembered hearing her father say.
The first panist was Miss HATTIS NELSON.
JOHN PHELPS revealed that the present land that the church is built on was purchased from the heirs of ROSWELL ELLIS.
First Service
According to Mrs. Phelps...."Tom and Petton Woosley were the building supervisors on the second church building." She agreed that it did
take four years to build this second building and services were held first in 1924.
One interesting item that was listed in one of the first Sunday School books was the amount of collection taken in the years 1914 to 1916.
This varied from 2 to 28 cents each Sunday.
Until 1950 Muddy Creek's congregation was tool small to be able financiall to support a full-time pastor. The second record book gives the
amount of money allotted annually for the cost of preaching. This varied from $155 in 1933 to $250 in 1947.
Pastors
The present pastor, Robert Stewart listed the following full-time pastors from 1950 to present time.
James Dial - 1950 to 1953; Kenneth D. Smith 1953 to 1958; Larry Settle - summer of 1958; James Scott 1958 to 1960; Edward
Headen 1960 to 1961.
Ben James- 1962 to 1966. He was the first pastor to live in the newly built parsonage.
Charles Burns 1966 to 1968; John Phelps 1968 for six months; Ronnie Smith 1969 TO 1973; Robert Stewart came to Muddy Creek
Church in June 1973.
Current membership is about 135 members according to Stewart.
Bridge Road from the present church.
The old Meeting House was a log building that was a Primitive Baptist Church. After the Primitive Baptists in the area ceased meeting in the
building, a group of denominational Christians began using it.
Mrs. Sallie E. Phelps, who lives on Frye Bridge Rd. in the Muddy Creek community is a life-long resident of that area. At 83, she is one of the
oldest active members at the church.
Mrs. Phelps related, "To build the first frame church building, PHILLIP HEGE and URIAH PHELPS gave the trees for the timber or lumber in
1882. Although they were not members of the church, but conscientious and generous neighbors.
Mrs. Phelps now possesses the oldest known record book of the congregation. The book originally was in the possession of her father, JOHN
W. ELLIS.
Mrs. Phelps' father, JOHN WILLIAM ELLIS, was a carpenter and he supervised the building.
"I remember my father telling that in a few years he paid for the addition of a belfry to the top of the building and that CICERO BREWER and
OLLIE DOTY built this belfry," recalled Mrs. Phelps.
Seerving as pastors at this first church, according to Mrs. Phelps were: D.A. BRINDLE, BOB (R.A.) HELSABECK, B.T. BIDDING, ALEXANDER
H. ELLIS, O.J. HELSABECK, T.J. GLENN, T.S. FROST, P.B. ABBOTT and W.B. HENDERSHOOT.
As far as is known, there has never been a history printed before now on this particular church.
Original Members
From this first record book, the following was copied: Names of the 36 original members were: LINY BRINDLE, ENOCH and KATIE MULLICAN,
JOHN and MARTHA BRINDLE, LEWIS and CAROLINE CORNISH, SARAH CLINE, S.J. DAVIS.
Also EDWIN SINK, ALVIN and MOLLIE PHELPS, U.S. and REBECCA NELSON, JOHN STEWART, HIRAM PAINTER, LEWIS and SARAH
WEAVER, GEORGE and WILLIAM KSITSFEEZER, ELIZA SELLS.
FLORENCE LOWERY, LOUVENIE ARMSWORTHY, SALLIE BRINDLE, SUSAN THOMPSON, MARY PAINTER DUNK, FRANCES PAINTER,
SALLIE CORNISH, JANE PAINTER.
And TEMPEY ROBERSON, J.P. NELSON, C.A. BRINDLE, MILTON BRINDLE, L.S. ELI W., and LEWIS C. MULLICAN
The second old record book, now in the possession of the present pastor, Robert Stewart, a brief history of the church is written. The
author of this is not known. This history states:
Founder
"Muddy Chrrek Church of Christ was foundedd April, 1882 by the Rev. Richard Poindexter, a pioneer preacher of Yadkin County.
He preached 17 nights in the old log building that stood first across the road (Frye Bridge Rd.) As a result of this meeting, there were 37
additions. These happy worshippers were to take the grave responsibility of a newly established church."
Second Book
From the second record book, the history states:
"Poindexter served his newly established church until probably in the 90s. Then travelling preachers passed by and gave their service.
Williams, Nealy, Sutton and probably many others."
In the second record book on the history, the following notations were entered:
1903- Dr. Bidding preached to 1906 or 1907. He was followed y many preachers of short duration. Some of the names are Frost, Ernest
Helsabeck, Abbott, Moore and Jones.
March 1915- R.A. Helsabeck took work and served until December, 1930. Membership doubled. He travelled 30 miles to keep his
appointment with his little flock.
New Building
1920- decided to build a new church building. Just after a World War and with money hard to come by, a committee of five was appointed and
in April 1920 work began and in August 1924 we held our first service in the new church
"My father John W. Ellis and four other men U.S. NELSON, JOHN NELSON, DANIEL WOOSLEY, and LEWIS CORNISH were the five men
who were the building committe for the second Muddy Creek Church," Mrs. Phelps remembered hearing her father say.
The first panist was Miss HATTIS NELSON.
JOHN PHELPS revealed that the present land that the church is built on was purchased from the heirs of ROSWELL ELLIS.
First Service
According to Mrs. Phelps...."Tom and Petton Woosley were the building supervisors on the second church building." She agreed that it did
take four years to build this second building and services were held first in 1924.
One interesting item that was listed in one of the first Sunday School books was the amount of collection taken in the years 1914 to 1916.
This varied from 2 to 28 cents each Sunday.
Until 1950 Muddy Creek's congregation was tool small to be able financiall to support a full-time pastor. The second record book gives the
amount of money allotted annually for the cost of preaching. This varied from $155 in 1933 to $250 in 1947.
Pastors
The present pastor, Robert Stewart listed the following full-time pastors from 1950 to present time.
James Dial - 1950 to 1953; Kenneth D. Smith 1953 to 1958; Larry Settle - summer of 1958; James Scott 1958 to 1960; Edward
Headen 1960 to 1961.
Ben James- 1962 to 1966. He was the first pastor to live in the newly built parsonage.
Charles Burns 1966 to 1968; John Phelps 1968 for six months; Ronnie Smith 1969 TO 1973; Robert Stewart came to Muddy Creek
Church in June 1973.
Current membership is about 135 members according to Stewart.
State of North Carolina
Davidson Co., NC
May 2nd 1882
Organization of theChurch of Christ
worshipping at Old Muddy Creek Meeting
house. For (?) that everything may be done
decently and order, and for the
better regulation of The Deciples of Christ
and good order in the Church of God
and that the cause of the Lord Jesus
Christ may be promoted his Kingdom
builded up and his people edified (?) and
protected. Therefore, we the Deciples of
Christ worshiping at this place do
this day come together in order that
our congregation may be an organized,
worshipping at this place, and in as
much as the names together of this
first Church, worshipping in Jerusalem
were about one hundred and twenty-
Acts 1 & 15 so our names together are
about thirty seven, which are as
follows viz--:
Tiny Brindle B
Enoch Mulican B baptized May 1882
withdrew from con - May 1895
Katie Mulican B May 1882
withdrew from con May 1895
John Brindle B Dead
Martha Brindle B Dead
Lewis Cornish B
Davidson Co., NC
May 2nd 1882
Organization of theChurch of Christ
worshipping at Old Muddy Creek Meeting
house. For (?) that everything may be done
decently and order, and for the
better regulation of The Deciples of Christ
and good order in the Church of God
and that the cause of the Lord Jesus
Christ may be promoted his Kingdom
builded up and his people edified (?) and
protected. Therefore, we the Deciples of
Christ worshiping at this place do
this day come together in order that
our congregation may be an organized,
worshipping at this place, and in as
much as the names together of this
first Church, worshipping in Jerusalem
were about one hundred and twenty-
Acts 1 & 15 so our names together are
about thirty seven, which are as
follows viz--:
Tiny Brindle B
Enoch Mulican B baptized May 1882
withdrew from con - May 1895
Katie Mulican B May 1882
withdrew from con May 1895
John Brindle B Dead
Martha Brindle B Dead
Lewis Cornish B
The Old Church record book tells of the preceps upon which the
church was founded in 1882 and lists its "about 37" original
members.
church was founded in 1882 and lists its "about 37" original
members.
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