Editor's Note: The following article was written by Michael C. Mills and published in 1994 in Knox County, Kentucky History and Families. All photos were supplied from the Michael C. Mills collection and Knox Historical Museum archives.
The Springfield Baptist Church was founded by members of the Bimble community in 1885. Organizational meetings and early services were conducted in the homes of the members.
In the 1920s, services were held in the old Yeager School-house at the intersection of U.S. 25E and present route 1304 at Bimble, Kentucky. This area located on the old Wilderness Road through Knox County was known as Fighting Creek in the 1800s and was later called Yeager. In the early 1900s, one of the church's early members was Mr. L.R. Yeager who joined the church in 1901.
In 1937, property near the old school house was purchased by the church members, and a building committee was appointed. Members were Ed Bargo, Perry Garland, Ewell Bright, Jabe Mills, Andrew Morris, Joe Goodin, Ewell Sams, Sam Morris, A.D. Merida, Loss Yeager, Walter Morris, Arthur Gambrel, Jeff Baker, Senior Smith, George Goodin, and Ben Black. The finance committee members were Chester Payne, Judge Stamper, George Goodin, George Messer, J.D. Fox, and S.M. Perkins. The church clerk was Lula Perkins, and the secretary was Ethel Morris. The original church clerk, Lula Huddleston Perkins, joined the church in 1908 and was church clerk and treasurer throughout the 1940s.
In 1938, a boxed and weather-boarded building was erected, and much of the original furniture was handmade by Mr. S.M. Perkins. Services were at first held monthly, and pastors or moderators were elected yearly. The church had a very active Sunday School program in the 1940s. Church records include ten pastors in the 1940s and early 1950s. These men were Bill Garland (1941), George Harris (1942), William Brock (1943), R.S. Voris, (1943), Arlon Davis (1946), W.H. Jackson (1947), Jabe Centers (1949), Lloyd Smith (1950), Beckham Stanley (1951), W.P. Garland (1951), and W.H. Jackson (1951). Deacons have always played a major part in leading the Springfield Baptist Church. An early deacon was Ben Sipples, who was ordained in 1943.
In the early 1950s, the church was meeting twice monthly on the second and fourth Saturday nights and Sunday mornings and had joined with local Baptist organizations. It was also giving to missions on a regular basis. Another early deacon of the church was Ewell Sams, who joined the membership in 1927. In October, 1951, Perry Garland was ordained as deacon of the church. He and his wife Ida joined the church in 1930. Mr. Garland was also the church moderator during the latter part of 1951. In 1952, Jimmy Messer was elected pastor for a short time. The treasurer reported $16.38 in the treasury out of which $5.00 was paid to Joe Goodin for a load of coal, and there was also a $6.25 debt from the previous year.
The church began to meet weekly shortly after Eugene Ore became pastor in 1953. The church officers were Mae Hinkle, Nan Sams, Chelsia Jordan, Rosa Fortney, Barbara Jean Smith, and the piano player was Anna Mae Martin. Deacons at this time were Ewell Sams, Ben Sipples, and Perry Garland.
In May of 1954, Reed and Ruth Mills joined the church and became active members. William and Mary Lee Mills were also baptized into the church in October of 1954. Reed Mills was ordained as a deacon in September, and Ruth later became church clerk in 1956. Leeman McKinney came to the church as pastor in 1955, and Reed Mills was elected church song leader, a position he would hold until 1989. 0ther officers in 1955 were Arnold Payne, Bible class teacher; Oscar Abner, Sunday School superintendent; Louise Abner, Clerk; Thelma McKinney, treasurer; Rosa Fortney and Barbara Jean Smith, teachers.
In August of 1957, the old original church building was renovated and classrooms were added in the basement. This work was accomplished under the leadership of Pastor McKinney, Reed and William Mills. On March 24,1957, new members were Ethel Payne, Fount Mills and Don I. Bingham. On May 2 of the same year, Sally Bargo joined the church's membership.
In the late 1950s, the church worked very hard with its singing program. Song leader Reed Mills called on singing teachers such as Nealy Jordan and others to help build a church choir. Sometimes singing conventions were held under the direction of Mr. Tip Hinkle. Members of this early choir were Reed and Ruth Mills, Fount Mills, Oscar and Louise Abner, William and Mary Lee Mills, Martha Jane Mills, Don and Erma Bingham, Ed Callebs, Marrion McKinney, and piano player Anna Mae Martin. In 1959, church officers were Margaret Payne, clerk; Erma Bingham, treasurer; Mae Hinkle, janitor; Reed Mills, song leader; Virgil Gambrel, Sunday School superintendent. Teachers were Arnold Payne, adult class; Reed Mills, youth teacher; Tina Callihan, junior class; and Helen Gambrel, beginners' class.
In December, 1959, Robert Finley from the Clear Creek School was elected pastor, and the church affiliated itself more closely with the Southern Baptist Convention and its literature and programs. The church added to its ministry a Summer Bible School under the direction of Mr. S.R. Helton. Mr. Helton was the local Concord Baptist Association Missionary. The church also voted to purchase new pews and pulpit furniture in September of 1960. Martha Jane Mills was elected janitor, and Don. I. Bingham and Arnold Payne were set aside as deacons. A strong youth organization was started under the leadership of Arnold Payne. Mr. Payne moderated a Sunday morning youth assembly and Saturday athletic competitions as well as youth picnics on weekends. Pastor Finley began printing the church's first weekly bulletin, a task that was continued throughout the 1980s by Debbie Rogers and in the 1990s by Eryleen Hammons. A church training union was also started under the pastorate of Reverend Finley on June 3, 1959.
In 1961, Willis McCormick was pastor for a short time, and Delphus Ore was Sunday School Superintendent. The church voted to send 10% of its offerings to the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program. Willis McCormick was also very interested in working with youth. He organized a men's and boy's camping trip and helped recruit many young people to the church during his ministry. On August 26,1961, Don I. Bingham was ordained as a deacon. He had joined the church in 1957.
In November, 1961, Lester Maples was elected pastor. During this year, the church voted to support the Clear Creek Baptist School as part of its missionary work. Pastor Maples was responsible for the training of many of the young people who would lead the church in the 1970s and 1980s.
Robert Finley returned as pastor for a short time in 1963. On February 7 of that year the church first discussed possibilities of going into a full-time ministry. In October, a building committee was selected to look into building an addition to the church building.
On February 6, 1964, Reverend L.W. Buchanan, Assistant Superintendent of Knox County Schools, was elected pastor and was to lead this church for the next seven years. In 1965, the church voted 10% quarterly support to the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention. Church outreach was begun through an updated church census. Active visitation programs and monthly Bible study courses were started. Land was purchased, parking space was increased, and the church bought its first bus and began a bus ministry. In 1966, Pastor Buchanan and Reed Mills discussed plans to build a five thousand dollar expansion to the church adding new classrooms, restrooms, and a church baptistery. This addition was joined to the rear of the church building, and the entire building was enclosed with brick. In August, 1966, new members by baptism were Jerry Mills, Conley Mills, Dennis Bargo, Ted Bargo, Charlotte Merida, Eryleen Bingham, Michael Don Bingham, Ray Payne, and Tony Moreland.
In March, 1967, new deacons were ordained. These men were Bill Callihan, William Mills, and Arnold Payne. Reed Mills was elected chairman of the deacon board and Don I. Bingham was elected vice-chairman.
On February 3, 1971, H.C. Christie was elected pastor of the Springfield Baptist Church. He was the church's first "full-time" pastor. Reed and William Mills were directed to lead the men of the church in building a parsonage on existing church property. Brother Christie's ministry was extremely successful as the church added record numbers to its membership and attendance. A Sunday night evangelistic service replaced training union, and a new commitment was made to reach the people of Knox County. The church bus ministry became a key element in the church outreach program and the church which just thirty years early was only meeting monthly was now one of the very few county churches venturing out with a vision of full time service to its community. In December of 1975, the church purchased the first of three new buses which served the Knox County area in the 1970s and 1980s. The church voted to support missionaries in Africa and continuing support of Clear Creek Baptist School, giving 10% of its offerings to each cause.
The church's second full-time pastor was William Wolfe. He would lead the church for the next four years (1974-1978) and set the stage for even greater expansion of both church facility and membership. In 1975, another church bus was purchased. In 1977, the deacons elected to meet monthly with pastor before each business meeting. Pastor Wolfe added to the church staff four new deacons: Larry Mills, Ray Payne, Frank Townsley, and E.J. Gray. The church held many Vacation Bible Schools, boasting record numbers under the direction of Larry Mills in the 1970s and 1980s. Monthly singings were held, sometimes featuring professional groups such as Jerry and the Goffs, the McKameys, Squire Parsons, and the Mid South Boys.
On May 8, 1977, Reed Mills announced that a note burning would take place during homecoming September 18th to celebrate the church paying off its most recent church addition debt. Pastor Wolfe helped lead several great revivals and introduced a monthly men's prayer breakfast which was held in the homes of the men. Deacon Ray Payne led the men in Saturday night prayer meetings, and Larry Mills was Sunday School superintendent during this time.
December 10, 1978, David Shook was elected pastor. Frank Townsley was elected Sunday School superintendent. Reed and William Mills were busy with yet another forty thousand dollar addition to the front of the church building. On September 23, 1979, church officers were Frank Townsley, Sunday School superintendent; Arnold Payne, adult teacher; Michael Mills, young adult class; E.J. Gray, intermediate boys class, Grace Gilliam, intermediate girls class; Ray Payne, junior boys class; and Nancy Noel, junior girls class, Florine Gray was the nursery teacher; Erma Bingham, church clerk, Ruth Mills, treasurer; and Reed Mills was song leader. William Mills was in charge of the flower fund, and Debbie Rogers printed the weekly bulletin.
On October 8, 1979, Pastor Shook reported that 49 new members joined the church during the previous year and the monthly prayer breakfast would be held in the home of Michael Mills. On May 5, 1979, the church dedicated its latest additions to the building; four new classrooms, a kitchen, a youth assembly hall, and a nursery. Deacon Don I. Bingham announced that future prayer breakfasts would be held in the church's new kitchen and fellowship hall.
On December 16, 1979, Pastor Shook recognized the deacons of the church. They were Reed Mills, chairman, and William Mills, Arnold Payne, Don I. Bingham, E.J. Gray, Frank Townsley, Larry Mills, and Ray Payne. John Hash was elected pastor November 9th, 1980, and Don I. Bingham was elected Sunday School superintendent. Frank and Loraine Townsley were directors of the youth program. The church enjoyed a period of tremendous growth. Pastor Hash introduced many special services with guest preachers and singing groups. A yearly homecoming was set for September of each year. Youth-led services were started as well as a yearly "old fashioned" night service, where the members dressed like their pioneer ancestors and the service was held by candle light. On April 18th of 1993, Michael Collins, one of several young men to surrender to the ministry during this time, brought the evening message. Mike Collins would later serve the church as interim pastor and moderator in 1993.
On September 12, 1982, during homecoming services, Reed Mills announced that another note burning would take place as the church has built and paid for a new one-hundred thousand dollar, 350 seat auditorium. The church also purchased a third church bus to help with the growing membership during this year. By Sunday, November 14, 1982, Sunday School attendance was 201 and worship attendance was 273. Pastor Hash announced 16 baptisms during the previous week.
On September 30, 1984, Tony Smith was elected pastor, and the church continued to make great progress. The church youth group added record numbers, and activities were numerous. In February of 1985, Pastor Smith, his wife Kristi, and chairman of the deacons, Reed Mills, toured the Holy Lands for one week. Kenneth Merida and John Payne surrendered to the ministry and were ordained October 6, 1986. The church purchased a new baby grand piano, and several gospel singing groups were started, including the Singing Laymen (Michael Bingham, Ted Bargo, and Rick Hammons) and the Melody Aires (Sandy Ledington, Carol Phipps, and Eryleen Hammons). H.M. Mills, who was baptized into the church in 1958 and had since changed residence, came back to the church serving as a deacon and Sunday School teacher in October, 1986.
On March 2, 1988, Jack Geurin was elected pastor and served the church for the next twelve months. He was followed by Pastor Ralph Duncan April 9, 1989. A native of Claiborne County, Tennessee, Pastor Duncan led the church into a very successful radio and print ministry with both daily and weekly radio programs on several area radio stations. "Bread From Bimble" was a daily devotional program and "Sunshine From Springfield" was a Sunday morning service program. Pastor Duncan contributed weekly newspaper columns to four local newspapers in the surrounding area. The church elected Brother Dennis Chesnut in April of 1994.
At the beginning of 1993, the Springfield Baptist Church was found busy working toward its 200th year of Christian ministry to the people of Knox County, Kentucky.