Looking Back at Historic Church
By HOLLY TINNEY
When Ed Westbrook isn’t teaching Emergency Management classes, he can be found spending time with his family, helping his neighbors, and serving his community through his role of pastor at Providence Baptist Church.
For 18 years, Mr. Westbrook has served as the church’s pastor, which is the oldest operating church in Jasper County. He has been married to Mrs. Sabrina Westbrook for 50 years.
Providence Baptist Church was originally founded in 1810, on 10 acres of land, one mile west of the current location. The original land was a gift from a Revolutionary War soldier named Timothy Landrum.
The original church was a log cabin structure, with an adjacent building next door for meeting purposes. In 1832, the church was gifted land from James Beeland, four acres at its current location. Only one church appears to pre-date Providence, but Hopewell Baptist Church appears to have ceased operation years ago.
When the church was gifted land for the second time, (that also happened to be conveniently accessible by the stagecoach) and it was time to build a new place of worship, the old building (not the cabin) was dismantled and parts of it, like the hand-hewn outside bands of the foundation, were repurposed as the outside bands of the new structure.
The stained glass is relatively ‘new’, it was added in the last 25 years or so, thanks to the contributions of generous donors.
The church’s founding members include members of the Mercer family, and the church’s minutes and recordings have been digitized at the university by one of the historical departments. The records of the church also include the history of Machen, which is a smaller community immediately outside of the Shady Dale City Limits.
Apparently there was a distinct line between the two communities, and with Providence being located in such proximity to Machen, the minutes and recordings of the Machen community ended up being digitized as well. The historical value provided by the digitization of the records, of all types is truly fascinating. Reading the pages of decorative and elaborate penmanship would take hours, sometimes it is a little faster when you are able to scroll through the pages on a screen.
Since the 1800s, the church has served the community in a variety of different capacities. Not only was the church a location where community members could gather for worship and fellowship, but at one time the church held regular meetings, and attendance by the male members was considered mandatory.
The church leadership held the leaders and members accountable for their actions in and out of church, whether it be spitting on the sidewalk, being drunk in public, or using profanity. Sometimes the members were banned or removed from the church roster, depending on the infraction.
Around this time, the population of Shady Dale surpassed the other areas of the county according to census records, establishing itself as a hub for trade and travel, with families settling down close by for convenience.
Another notable feature in the history of the church, is that during the time of slavery, the church ministered to the black community, and the first minister for the first congregation of Greenwood Baptist Church was ordained by the pastor of Providence at the time.
Providence has been an anchor in the community, supporting all of those around, not just their members, but anyone in need. The church is not just a landmark, or a location, it also serves the community as an example of what it means to really love your neighbor. The church hosts their own functions for its members, but Mr. Westbrook says they host just as many community events where the public is invited.
All are welcome at Providence Baptist Church in Shady Dale, whether for a church service or a community event. Sunday services include Sunday School at 10 a.m., Morning Worship at 11 a.m., and an evening service at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening Bible Study is held at 7 p.m.
The church stands as a testament to rural faith and community resilience in Jasper County. From its modest log structure in 1810, to its current form with corner entry and stained glass, it has transitioned through relocations, architectural changes, and countless generations – all while preserving deep roots in the area and in the hearts of many.
Maybe one day, someone will ‘look back’ to this spotlight and be reminded of the history that surrounds us, where ever we take the time to look.
(Editor’s Note: This is the first in a new “Looking Back” feature we plan to include in the paper at least bi-monthly. Please send in your suggestions on buildings, places, or people to feature so we can keep this going. This segment is sponsored by Jasper Health Serices. If you’d like to sponsor a future segment, please contact us. Reach us at editor@themonticellonews.com or call 706-468-6511.)