Pastors of

Wells Chapel Baptist Church

Current Pastor: Eric Rich, serving since 2009

Samuel Newton

1756-1783

Wells Chapel Church was organized in 1756 with Samuel Newton as pastor.  He continued until his death during the revolutionary war.  Until 1835 the Church was called “Bull Tail Meeting House”.  We have no record to show when Elder William Cooper began his Ministry here, but he was already pastor in 1789.

Samuel, Jacob, George and Isaac Newton were the four brothers that came to this section about 1755.  The results of his ministry is proof that Samuel was a great spiritual leader, organizing this Church and at the same time working with another group of baptized believers in Brunswick County.  We believe that he was a real missionary at heart, and that he organized this Church with that spirit as a foundation.  He married a Lee and had two daughters, no sons.  We sincerely hope time will uncover more details of the work of this great man of God.

Mission work was going strong when elder William Cooper was pastor.  All the records of Moores Creek Church from 1930, back, were destroyed by fire, as related by Bro. Johnny Pope of Atkinson, NC.  Moores Creek Church was organized in the latter part of the eighteenth century by eight of the Alder family from Bull Tail, perhaps under the leadership of Elder Cooper as was a branch of Bull Tail until 1833

William Cooper

1789- (?)

The Rev. William Cooper was the third son of Fleet Cooper, Sr. He was born in 1752, in what was then known as Duplin County.  Of his childhood, little is known other than that his parents provided private school teachers for their children thus they received a good education.  It was not found the name of his first wife nor date of marriage but it is known that he married about 1773, and that in 1790 he was the father of six children, four sons and two daughters. 

William Cooper enlisted in the Revolutionary War, April 20, 1776.  He was discharged honorably two and a half years later that he might become a minister.  At the time of his discharge, he was paid a balance of 49 pounds, 5 shillings and 3 pence.  He further received a land grant of 200 acres in 1782 and another grant of 106 acres in 1789, “on the west side of Great Coharie and at the mouth of Big Branch”  In the will of his father, Fleet Cooper, Sr. dated 2^nd Of July, 1795 was written, “likewise to my son William Cooper, 150 acres of land”.

In 1780, he became pastor of Bull’s Tail Baptist Church in New Hanover County.  During the years from 1780 to1796-7 he co-pastored Cape Fear and Bull’s Tail.  He served Bulls Tail for twenty-two years.  He resigned to become pastor of the Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Bladen County.  Due to county boundary line changes, this church is now located in Cumberland County.  He served at Beaver Dam until 1814, at that time he resigned to go to the Territory of Mississippi.  He was one of the first settlers at Monticello, Mississippi.  Monticello was the first town of white people north of Biloxi.  Rev. Wm. started the first school in Lawrence Co., MS, (Pearl River Academy). At Monticello, William Cooper built the first two story house of residence, and built it so well that it was the only house in town that remained standing after the cyclone in 1889

Rev. Wm. Cooper died 14 Dec. 1821

William Wells

1802-1835

WILLIAM WELLS (ref. J.T. Albriton’s Centenniel Address at Island Creek Baptist Church June 5, 1903.  And a part was received from other reliable sources) was born about the middle of the eighteenth century on the west side of the W & W Railroad not far from the highway leading from Magnolia to Concord Baptist Church.  The first years of his ministry were spent with the Methodist denomination.  There is a tradition, as has been learned from Mrs. James Heath, his granddaughter several years ago, that while Bro. Wells was a Methodist minister, he and one of the Coopers, William or Fleet, Agreed to have a public debate on Baptist, at this church, then Bull Tail, Bro. Wells, to fortify himself, began a different and prayerful search of the scriptures.  On the day appointed for the debate, Bro. Wells came but stopped at the Church spring and sent for Elder Cooper to come out.  He asked for an extension of time, as he was not fully prepared.  Another date was set and Elder Cooper went back to the crowded Church of anxious friends of both ministers and told them to come back on another date.  At the arrival of the second appointed day, Bro. Wells braved the host of friends and spectators, went directly to the front, took Bro. Cooper by the hand and offered himself for baptism into the Baptist Faith.

Elder William Wells continued the mission work of this Church in organizing Churches in the neighboring communities, and also by training young men into the service of the Lord.  During the last thirteen years of his service here, there were six men ordained to the Gospel Ministry.  According to the only records that we have, this is about half of the entire number ordained in this church during its one hundred and ninety-five years of existence.

“Conference held at Bull Tail Meeting House Saturday before the second Sabbath in Jan 1825… Art. 5 – Bro. Swinson applied for a dismission of that branch of this Church at Concord in order to become a constituted Church at Concord.  The church agreed to dismiss the members that compose that branch of the Church except Elder William Wells who is to continue pastor of the church at Bull Tail”

Eight years later, in July 1833 there were 93 members dismissed in order to become a constituted Church at Moores Creek.

One peculiarity of Bro Wells was his refusal to accept compensation for any ministerial and pastoral labor.  On one occasion Bro. Wells, after having preached and before leaving the house, was tendered a purse of about $20.00.  He reluctantly took it and then passed it to a poor widow near him.  The brethren were aggrieved, “why” he said “after you gave it to me, was it not mine to dispose of as I pleased?”  “Yes,” said they.  “Besides” he continued, “you will readily admit that this poor widow needs the money worse than I do”.  Thus he silenced them.

Saturday before the second Sunday in July 1835 it voted unanimously to change the name of this church from Bull Tail to Wells Chapel.  Two months later September 17, 1835 our beloved William Wells departed from this life.

George Fennell

1835-1853

The Reverend George Fennell, a pioneer Baptist minister, born 1790, married Elizabeth Bryan, a daughter of Kedar Bryan and they lived on a plantation (3,422 acres) west of Harrell’s. Reverend Fennell was a deacon of the Baptist Church in Lisbon for several years. 1823 George Fennell was ordained to Gospel Ministry.  In 1824 he was ordained for the pastoral care of Lisbon. On the Saturday before the first Sunday in October 1835, Fennell was unanimously called to take the pastoral care of Bull Tail Baptist Church which is now known as Wells Chapel Baptist Church. The most of the records for the period that Bro. Fennell served this Church are lost, however we pick them up again in 1853 and he is still pastor and continued until Dec. 1853

• George Fennell was in the legislature from 1812-15 and 1819-20

David Wells

1854-1856

DAVID WELLS was a native of Duplin County.  He married a daughter of Enoch Newton, who evidently was a grandson of one of the three brothers of Rev. Samuel Newton, the founder of this church.  Bro. David Wells moved his membership to Bull Tail by letter from Concord February 1827.

We notice in early days a convert was baptized immediately upon confession of faith.  But when a man was given a responsible position, he was first tried and proven.  Bro. Wells was elected assistant deacon July 1830, he was ordained and given the charge as deacon July 1833.

Jan. 1825 – The evangelistic note was sounded at every resended meeting…. The Church hath unanimously agreed that between sunset and dark on every day they will petition the throne of grace for a revival of religion; and Saturday before the second Sunday in every month a day of fasting and prayer.

Sept. 1831 – A footnote, “The alarm of the negro arising is great.” Oct. 1831 – Resolved unanimously that we retire to some secret place every Sunday PM and try with the assistance of the Lord to pray for a revival of religion among us for the conversion of sinners and that the Lord will send fourth laborers into his vineyard, as the harvest is great and the laborers are few.”

Bro. David Wells was ordained to the Ministry some time between 1837 and 1853.  Jan. 1854 Elder G.W. Wallace was called as pastor by a majority of the conference.  He declined the call.  Elder David Wells agreed to preach for us until we obtain a pastor.  Although he served as pastor only two years, he was a great religious leader all his life.  He helped in every revival from 1853 until his death Nov. 20, 1863.

During the latter years of Bro. Wells an imposter came to Moores Creek Church as an evangelist.  He came with such power and enthusiasm that 52 names were added to the church roll.  After the meeting ended he went to some church in Bladen County and changed his name to Elder David Wells.  This was a great boost for him until some one who knew Bro. Wells came up and ended his racket… Moores Creek Church dropped the entire 52 from the church roll and mailed each one a letter asking them that if they were sincere in their action, to come back and they would be reinstated.  Of the 52 only two came back.

In July 1861 an offering was made to procure Bibles and Testaments for the soldiers.  In April 1862 another offering was made for testaments and tracts.

August 1863 Elder Kennedy pastor, assisted by Elder David Wells held a nine day revival resulting in 75 baptisms.  Among them were J.E. Page long a faithful deacon.   A.T. Herring father of Rev. Carey Herring and L.R. Highsmith Sunday School Superintendent, Church Clerk, Deacon and finally Senior Deacon Elder David Wells who departed from this life three months later, Nov. 20, 1863.

W.M. Kennedy

1858-1869

August 1863 Elder Kennedy pastor, assisted by Elder David Wells held a nine day revival resulting in 75 baptisms.  Among them were J.E. Page long a faithful deacon.   A.T. Herring father of Rev. Carey Herring and L.R. Highsmith Sunday School Superintendent, Church Clerk, Deacon and finally Senior Deacon Elder David Wells who departed from this life three months later, Nov. 20, 1863.

C.C. Newton

1877-1884

C.C. NEWTON was pastor of this church seven years, and later he went to Africa as a missionary.  His son Carey Newton was a missionary to China.

W.B. Oliver

1884-1884

W.B. OLIVER accepted a call to pastor this church May 1884 directly out of Wake Forest College.  In July 1884 Rev. D.W. Herring assisted in a revival resulting in 43 converts.  Sept. of the same year Bro. Oliver resigned to attend the seminary.

F.T. Wooten

1888-1895

F.T. Wooten was pastor here seven years.  It is found in the records a statement “Bro. F.T. Wooten was the most successful pastor this Church has ever had.”

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Sept. 1887 while Bro. Wooten was pastor 36 members were given letter of dis-mission to form a constituted Church at Siloam.

J.H. Booth

1912-1921

20^th pastor of Wells Chapel Baptist Church (formerly Bull Tail Meeting House) Wallace enterprise, 1970.

Married to Mary Virginia (Jennie) Bland, great granddaughter of Rev.David Wells, 5^th pastor of Wells Chapel Baptist church.

Rev. Booth was born on 9-18-1869 and died 5-4-1940. Educated at Wake Forest College. He was a state missionary with the North Carolina Baptist Association when he came to Duplin county in 1904.  He served pastorates in Richmond, Duplin and Pender counties and was Pastor of Wells Chapel Baptist church, Sampson County.

Ralph Herring

1922-1923

Bro. Ralph Herring graciously served this church for eleven months, there were 32 converts.

J.E. Allard

1925-1950

J.E. ALLARD came to this country from England in 1901.  He met his wife in Oklahoma.  She was from Albany, Georgia.  Bro. Allard relates how he spent the first ten years in this country in the wilds f the West, gambling and drinking and with out entering a church.  The untiring and constant prayers of a Godly mother across the water was answered.  In Oelwein, Iowa in 1911 Bro. Allard surrendered his life to the Lord.  He came to Wilmington in 1915.  In 1921 he started preaching at Shilo Baptist Church.  In 1922 Shilo called for his ordination for him to continue his pastorate there.  He resigned as pastor at Shilo to accept a call at Wells Chapel July 1925.

Bro. Allard was a faithful servant of the Lord here for twenty-five years.  The most of this time he had no set salary.  Only small offerings were given him, always a large part of this was given right back into the church treasury.  And in many cases several times the amount received, was given to the church.  Our most beloved pastor resigned August 1950