Records have been found which may prove that the Hopewell Baptist church at Mt Alto is the oldest church organization in the county. That became a possibility a few days ago when the minutes of a meeting held April 1, 1854 showed that the organization was formed on that day and that the church was named Hopewell. Gatchel was chosen as the Moderator of the meeting, and Henry Harpold as the clerk wi
th representatives from churches at Graham Station, Bethlehem, O., and Harmony, Virginia, churches present. The eleven persons who became members of the new church last day are listed as Sophia Powel, John Gwinn, J.L. Smith, Abraham Bebee, Hannah Bebee and Elizabeth Carpenter. The resolution establishing the new church read, โResolved That the Brethren and Sisters of Little Mill Creek. According to their request, be constituted into a regular Baptist church known by the name of Hopewell.โ
Eider E.L Greenlee offered the consecration prayer and Eider Gatchel gave the band of fellowship to the new church members. Eider Greenlee was called as the first pastor of the new church, and John Gwinn and J.L. Rine were elected as Deacon and Thomas Smith as the first Clerk. The present pastor of the church Rev Carence Morton and the Board of Trustees are Roy Lloyd, Raymond Bush and Dennie Shinn. The church has been enlarged and modernized recently by the addition of three Sunday school rooms, new seats and furniture, a new gas furnace, the interior redecorated and Pastor Morton says that it is showing a healthy growth in membership and is now faced with the problem of finding ways for further expansion.