Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church
Notes
From http://www.aigensoc.org/cemetery_pigeon_creek.asp:
"PIGEON CREEK PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH (NO GRAVE LAYOUT)
This cemetery is in Boulogne, Florida. To reach it, take US 301 north from Callahan and through Hilliard. Just before the St. Marys River and crossing into Georgia, turn right on Lake Hampton Road. Go .4 mile to Pigeon Creek Road. Turn right on this dirt road and follow to the church on the right and the cemetery on the left.
Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church was Florida's only known Protestant church when the territory became a part of the United States. The church was organized on 7 January 1821 by Isom Peacock and Fleming Bates. Other founding church members were Britton Knight, Edward Dixon, Thomas Prevatt, J. E. R. Prevatt, Chloe Knight, Polley Knight, Sarah Dixon, Polley Prevatt, Susannah Prevatt, Susannah Dixon and Ellender Cread. Bates was the first pastor of the church. In 1822, a man named Peter was the first black member of the church making this the first integrated church in Florida. A concrete block church building replaced the original hard pine board and batten building in 1957.
The cemetery is laid out facing east with the gate on the west side. The inventory was made in two parts B north half and south half starting on the easternmost row. The north half was begun on the north end of the row working towards the middle; the south half was begun on the south end of the row working towards the middle. Inscription are copies exactly as they appear on the markers. Rows 2 and 3 have No graves. Some rows have graves between rows, and these are marked as half rows (for example, a grave between row 4 and 5 is marked row 4 1/2). At the center of the cemetery with an old wooden fence, (row 13 1/2) and only a cross. This may be the oldest grave in the cemetery, but the occupant is unknown.
This survey was done on August 15, 2001, by Mary Nelson and Jean Mann. Photographs are courtesy Michael Toomey."
From http://www.dangly.com/nassauqueries/_nassaudisc1/00000026.htm
Comments
The following is from a book titled A HISTORY OF FLORIDA BAPTISTS by Edward Earl Joiner:
"Although some preaching and organized worship may have occurred earlier, the first established Baptist church in Florida was the Pigeon Creek Baptist Church, organized on January 7, 1821, in Nassau County near what is now Callahan. The Spanish flag still waved over Florida. Some interesting facts about this first Baptist church in Florida, organized near the border of Georgia, are worth review- ing because it seems typical of the early Baptist churches in Florida and in other Southern states. It was organized by Isom Peacock and Fleming Bates with twelve members including Bates, who is listed in the minutes of the church as the first Pastor.
"A Calvinist type theology was implied in the statement of faith, along with a strict code of discipline. When the question of footwashing arose, it was discussed and readily accepted as an appropriate part of the observance of the Lord's Supper. Moreover, no hesitation or discussion is indicated in the minutes when on July 20, 1822, "a black man of Brother Lopers by the name of Peter" is reported to have come forward for membership in the church. Thus, the first Baptist church to be organized in Florida was integrated."
About early ministers, the same book provides the following:
Fleming Bates: "While nothing is known of his early life, it is clear that Fleming Bates came from the Sardis Church in southeast Georgia around 1820 to participate in the organization of Pigeon Creek Church and to become it first pastor, as mentioned above. Apparently, he was the only minister working in north- east Florida for some years until the coming of John Tucker. He served as pastor of Pigeon Creek for several years, but eventually moved to Alachua County, where he continued his labors. Bates became ensnared ;by the anti-missionary movement near the end of his life and gave most of his energies to that movement, perhaps being partly responsible for the loss Pigeon Creek to the Primitive Baptists."
The book also contains a picture of either the original or very early church building at Pigeon Creek.
The church and cemetery are actually located west of Boulogne (a wide spot in the road on U.S. 1 just south of the St. Marys River).
Hope this helps.
Links
Related Sources
Related Documents
Pigeon Creek Church, Page 241, (Primitive Baptists of the Wiregrass South)
.jpg)