Wells Chapel Baptist Church

History as written by

 James K. Rooks

 On July 2^nd 1951

PRESENT CHURCH ORGANIZATION

JUNE 1951

ORDAINED DEACONS

W.J. Rooks (Honorary)

R.F. Highsmith (Honorary)

Bland Carr (Chairman)

H.S. Bland Sr.

J.R. Moore

Nolan Cook

Hybert Moore

James Moore

James K.Rooks

TRUSTEES

Earl Cockman

Thomas Moore

James K. Rooks

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 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.

The Pastors of this Church have been noble servants of the Lord, each doing his part under the leadership of Christ to build here a “Holy Temple” unto the Lord.  Their names and years of service are stated as follows:

GEORGE FENNELL, was a deacon of this Church for several years, then in January 1824, he was ordained for the pastoral care of Lisbon, Saturday before the second Sunday in Oct. 1835, Elder George Fennell was unanimously called to take the pastoral care of Bull Tail.

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.

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.

The first missionary society that we have a record of was organized in 1824, when the missionary spirit was so strong.  New churches were branching out in every direction.  Young men were answering the call to preach the Gospel.  Note the following ordination services

THOMAS ROOKS and a brother Johnnie and a cousin Joe Rooks came to this country from Scotland the latter part of the eighteenth century and settled down in the Moores Creek section.  Thomas was never married, he spent most of his life going from place to place teaching vocal music in the churches.  Johnnie’s son James M. Rooks was also very active in the Moores Creek Church. He was the father of W.J. Rooks who in turn was the father of the writer of this summary.

C.C. GORDON was called as pastor, he served a little more than a year.

Sept. 1858 steps were taken to either repair or build a new Church W. M. Kennedy was pastor at this time.  April 1859 Lewis Highsmith presented plans for a new church – they were adopted.

May 1859 it was discovered that a deed for the Church property could not be found so Elder David Wells being in possession of the surrounding land at that time gave the church a deed.  They continued their work of preparing the materials for the new church building, but the Civil War came on and every thing stopped.  Work was resumed after the war and the present building, the main body, was dedicated the second Sunday in July 1868.  The old building was given to the negros and they moved it to Harrells Store and called it Keithans Chapel.  The negro members were given letters of dismission at this time.

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 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 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.”

D.W. Herring went as a missionary to China under the Baptist Foreign Mission Board.  In July 1896 he went under the Gospel Mission Plan.  He requested that the second Sunday in July each year, this Church have a special service for their mission in China, and even though it would be night in China.  He would stay up and worship all through the hours of service here.  He continued on the gospel mission plan for eleven years.

In July 1907 Bro. Herring went back to the board.

Sept. 1887 while Bro. Wooten was pastor 36 members were given letter of dismisison to forma constituted Church at Siloam.

We should especially take notice of an occurrence in conference Oct. 1893.  A certain man was given license to preach the gospel.  He was soon noticed as doing questionable things for a Christian to do.  These habits grew worse and worse and finally his license were revoked.  He went deeper and deeper in sin, and to escape the hands of the law he left this country.  We as a church should be very careful in choosing those to whom we entrust the work of the Lord.

Some of the important happenings in our July meeting are as follows

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

J.H. Booth was a faithful pastor for nine years.

L.L. JOHNSON was pastor for 17 months, but Bro. Stephens supplied a part of that time

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

JAMES BUERER accepted the call as pastor November 1950.

May God bless you and keep you every one till we meet again.

Reverently compiled and submitted by

-James K. Rooks