Our Beliefs

Our History

West Union Baptist Church was organized in 1905 by a group of dedicated members of Union Baptist Church who were unable to attend services regularly because of poor roads and inadequate transportation. They first began meeting at Lumpkin School on what is now Reese Road in Carriere.

Bro. R.W. Langham, a teacher at the Lumpkin School was instrumental in encouraging the people and getting them to see the need of organizing a church near their homes. Bro. John A. Price, the first recorded minister, would come up from Pearl River, Louisiana one weekend a month for services, and the members of the congregation would provide his lodging. The church was named West Union because it was west of their former church.

The church was chartered at the Hobolochitto Baptist Association meeting held at Harmony Baptist Church in Hancock County on the second day of October 1905.

The charter members who withdrew membership from Union Baptist Church were Bro. R.W. Langham; Rosa Kirkland; W.T. Kirkland; Randal and Louise Penton; Mr. and Mrs. W.L. (Billy) Stockstill; Mrs. Laura Stockstill; Mr. and Mrs. B.E. Lumpkin; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Stockstill and children Janie, Lula, Cordelia, and John; Mr. and Mrs. W.M. (Cripple Billy) Stockstill and children Litha, Martha, and Hugo; Mr. and Mrs. Leander Stockstill and children Rachel and Maggie; Mrs. Sarah (Dutch) Spiers and children, Ben, Harvie, Tom, and Mary Ann; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lumpkin and children John, Pate, and Vianna; Leroy and Quenie Lumpkin, and Manuel Lumpkin. These along with several others who had accepted Christ and had been baptized made the approximate number of charter members between thirty-five and forty.

According to records from the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission, D.G. Varnado was the pastor in 1909 receiving a salary of $53.80 with 71 members.

By 1911 the church membership had grown to 92 with an enrollment in Sunday School of 36 with three teachers. In 1912 Bro. G.W. Holcomb was called as pastor. Also in 1912 B.E. Lumpkin donated the land on which the church is now located for a new home for West Union, and the men of the church began working on a one-room wood construction building. As the men worked the ladies of the community brought lunch. Nehemiah 4:6, “So built we the wall; and all the walls were joined together unto the half thereof, for the people had a mind to work” was their inspiration.

In 1913 the work was completed and the ninety-five members left behind the old school building and worshiped for the first time with Bro. Holcomb as pastor. The estimated value of the church property was $750, the Sunday School membership was 45, and the pastor’s salary was $201.70, and $5.60 was spent on literature.

In 1921 the church became affiliated with the Pearl River Baptist Association in conjunction with surrounding churches. Services were still being held only one Sunday a month and sometimes on Saturday. In 1935 with Bro. C.H. Hogan as pastor, a balcony was built and Sunday School rooms were partitioned over and under the balcony.

In November 1935 the church voted to have preaching twice a month. Under the leadership of Bro. Clyde Gordon in 1935, a building fund was begun with 20% of offerings added to the fund.

Weekly services began in 1948 while Bro. Eugene Keebler was the pastor. By 1949 $7000 had accumulated in the building fund and work was begun on the new brick veneer building. The building committee consisted of Hollis Stockstill, Austin Kirkland, Benton Pigott, John Davis, and Joe Rayburn.

Additional money was raised through pledges and contributions from friends. The church was completed and was debt-free for the first service on December 17, 1950. Only three charter members were alive to worship in the new church: Mrs. Litha Davis, W.T. Kirkland, and W.L. Stockstill.

Construction was begun on a parsonage in 1952 with Houston Kirkland, Curtis Roche, and Leroy Palmer on the building committee. Bro. Morrell Lee was the first pastor to occupy the home.

In 1961 while Bro. Wendell Gilmore was the pastor, and the Litha Davis Library was established in honor of the sole surviving charter member. In 1962 a flower planter was built in the vestibule in honor of Mrs. Nancy (Hugo) Stockstill.

Groundbreaking for an educational building, including a fellowship hall and kitchen, was held on May 8, 1963. The Powell family furnished a Prayer Room in memory of their brother Jessie Fred Powell in the new building.

Destruction struck on August 19, 1969, as Hurricane Camille with winds up to 200 miles per hour, roared in on a Sunday night as a revival was just beginning. Bro. John Wilson was the pastor at this time. As many gathered at the church for shelter, the roof was torn from the sanctuary. For the remainder of the revival, the fellowship hall was used for services with candles and oil lamps for lighting. Cooking on grills and opening canned foods, the ladies fed the preachers. The church was soon repaired.

West Union Baptist Church Cemetery was established in 1971 on three acres given to the church by Mr. Sam Dyer. In 197 4 with Bro. James Beck as pastor, the parsonage kitchen was remodeled and a room was added.

In 1974 a bus was purchased. It was a 1963 Chevrolet.

The next major addition to the church, under Bro. Billy Dowdy’s leadership in 1989, was an educational building adjacent to the sanctuary. It consisted of a new kitchen and fellowship hall, two Sunday School rooms, and restrooms.

Bro. Harvey “Bud” Putnam was called as pastor in 2004. Since then the sanctuary and education building behind it have been renovated with new carpeting and painting, the lighted sign was purchased, and the parking area was improved.

The membership of West Union began planning and looking forward to the celebration of the 100th Anniversary. It was set for October 2, 2005, exactly 100 years from the charter date in 1905. Committees were appointed, plans were made, invitations were sent to former pastors and music and youth ministers, and several had accepted the invitations. On August 29, 2005, all that changed as Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Damage to West Union included roof and siding damage, the interior of several rooms damaged from water, the new sign destroyed, and trees blown down. Many members received extensive damage to their homes and properties. The anniversary celebration had to be postponed. Now on October 1, 2006, a year later, we are happy to have each of you with us to celebrate what God has done at West Union for 101 years.

To God be the glory for the things he has done.

Historical Pastors

Historical Ministers of Music & Youth