Rock Enon Baptist Church (1847-1961)

Rock Enon Baptist Church (1847-1961)

West of Enon

Pictures of the church built in the 1870s posted by Jeremy Amick and James Morrow to Facebook.

From History of Concord Baptist Association (Cole, 1973):

On October 22, 1961, the Rock Enon Baptist Church - Number 1 voted to merge with the Enon Church - Number 2. This old church was first organized in 1847 with nine charter members. They first worshiped in a one room log house. The present beautiful stone house was erected in 1878 and has a famous living spring on the grounds. The building is located on Highway "V" two and one half miles from Enon. The building had not been used for the past ten years, therefore it and the grounds were sold in January 1971.

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An article by Marvin Crawford in the September 15, 1927 California Democrat tells some history of the Rock Enon church.

"Nestling in the woods at the foot of a hill near the bank of a small stream which bears its name is the Rock Enon Baptist Church, 2 1-2 miles northwest of town of Enon, which also owes its name to this religios institution.

On a recent visit to Enon and vicinity I passed this church for the first time. It had the appearance of being a rather old building and as its stone masonry seemed precisely like that of a set of unique farm buildings belonging to Henry M. Hunter and located just across the stream from it, I thought perhaps it had an interesting history.

Inquiry among residents of Enon revealed nothing definite as to the history of the place, but I was told that John F. Enloe, 72 years old, president of the Exchange Bank of Enon, a life-long resident of that community and most of his life closely connected with the town's business interests, might be able to throw some light on the subject.

Accordingly I called upon Mr. Enloe at his home on a little hill which overlooks the town from the west. "Yes" said Mr. Enloe when I told him of my mission, I can give you some of the earlier history of the church, part of which I know first hand and part of which was handed down to me by my parents.

When I can first remember the stone church was not there. However, standing just of east of where the stone church is now there was an old log church building. It was a large double-log affair with a little extension built in on either side between the ends of the large logs. One of these extensions was used as a pulpit and the other for a doorway. Then there was a door at each end. I do not know the exact dimensions of this old building but am of the opinion that it was about 25x50 feet. I do not know the date when this church was built but am of the opinion it was sometime during the 1830s. My mother, Elizabeth Enloe, was one of the charter members.

I was brought up going to this old log church. My parents went to church Saturday and Sunday regardless of weather and harvest time and they saw to it that I went along.

The preachers came on horseback with their saddle pockets. Some of the earlier preachers there were Snelling Johnson of Jamestown, J. P. L. Maxey of Pisgah, W. M. Robertson of Tipton and W. D. Jordan of Hickory Hill. It was one of the first church buildings in this section of the country.

I cannot give you the exact date when the stone church was built but think it was about 1871. L. B. Bruce, a Virginian, grandfather of E. A. Taylor of Russellville and Wm. Hunsaker of Olean, came to this country and bought land on the creek in the vicinity of the church. He opened a stone quarry in the hill a short distance from the church and took out stone for the construction of the farm buildings where Henry M. Hunter now lives.

The buildings looked so well and the stone could be obtained so easily that it was decided to build a church of them to take place of the old log one. Mr. Hunter, although not a church man himself, donated the stone from his quarry. My father, S. C. Enloe, was on the building committee. Geo. Gobel did the work."

Mr. Enloe said that according to tradition the church got its name from the Biblical passage, John 3:23, "And John also was baptizing in Enon, near Salem, because there was much water there, and they came and were baptized."

In early times the Enon Baptist church was a center for Baptists over a huge territory. It later served as the mother church for three others, the Second Enon Baptist which was built in the town of Enon about 1909, the Green Ridge and Mt Herman Baptist churches in Miller County.

When the Bagnell branch of the Missouri Pacific railway was being built through Enon it was a very dry year. Water was hauled from the four springs near the church for the men to use. This impressed the road builders to such an extent that they decided to call the town "Enon" for the church and its springs.

The church is a large one as rural churches go, being 25x50 feet in dimensions, and is still a place where Baptists from many miles around gather on big occasions.

If anyone has information on this church, please contact Alan Sparks.

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