The historical information for this was obtained from these sources: "The Story of Siloam - A History of the Church" by Judge Wilbur E. Dearman (June, 1963), and from Mrs. Nell Woolf and the minutes of Siloam Baptist Church. I have a copy of the original history and would be willing to share from it if you will email me with a simple request.
In 1832, shortly before Sumter County was organized, a Primitive Baptist Church was established at Siloam. This church was built of logs, with a rock chimney, and was located on a spot which is now part of the cemetery.The majority of early Baptist churches in Sumter County were Primitive Baptist, who believed only in Home Missions. By 1837, a large element in the churches were favoring Foreign, as well as Home Missions, which caused a disagreement within the church. This dissention entered the Siloam Baptist Church and in June of 1838 the name of the church was changed to Siloam Missionary Baptist Church.The first pastor of the newly organized church was Benjamin Hitt. The first two deacons were Aba Green and Jesse Hitt. There were only twelve members of the newly organized church. Those who pulled away organized a Primitive Baptist Church and called themselves the "Pulltights". With the passing of time, most of these families returned to Siloam. A few transferred to the Presbyterian Church.Benjamin Hitt served Siloam Baptist Church from 1838-1845. Rev. William Walker served the church for one year (1845-1846), and was followed by Rev. McDonald, who served four years (1846-1850). Rev. T.B. Lofton followed Rev. McDonald and served the church as pastor for seven years (1850-1857).In 1857, a new church building was erected, and Rev. C.C. Vaughn of Cuba was called to serve as the first pastor in the new building. Bro. Vaughn was to be the War Pastor of the church and struggled through the sad, pathetic times until he, too, enlisted in 1865. Upon his resignation, Bro. William Woodard, an elderly man, and the first moderator of the Bigbee Baptist Association, assumed the role as pastor until the close of the War and the return of Bro. Vaughn. For seventeen more years Bro. Vaughn nurtured his flock through the dark, trying days of Reconstruction.In 1882, when the weary, beloved pastor could no longer serve, the Rev. F.M. Pond was called as pastor. Bro. Pond served until 1885. He then was out for a three year period due to illness (1885-1888). During this period, Bro. Thomas Woodward served for two years (1885-1887), and Bro. Al Beavers served for one year (1887-1888). Bro. Pond resumed his duties in 1888 and served until his death in 1895.Bro. A.J. Hearn was called as pastor in 1895. He served the church only eighteen months, during which time the church suffered a split over a heated campaign for state governor. This division caused twenty-five members to leave the Siloam Church and organize the Mt. Lebanon Church. This church survived about twenty years, after which most of the members returned to Siloam.Bro. Bascomb Woodward was called as pastor of the Siloam Church in 1897 and served until the turn of the century. Upon his resignation, Bro. J.E. Vaughn of Mt. Sterling was called as pastor and served the church for more than thirty years. Preaching service was held on the third Saturday and Sunday mornings of each month. Sunday School was held each Sunday in the afternoon.Bro. Vaughn encouraged the erection of a new church building, which was completed in 1907. In the summer of 1911, a concrete Baptismal pool was built near a spring at the foot of the long hill sloping down from the church building. Under Bro. Vaughn's leadership the church continued to grow and wax strong in every way.In 1930, the beloved Bro. Vaughn was no longer able to make the long trips to Siloam. He had to turn the reigns over to a younger Bro. Leslie Ezell.In the first year of Bro. Ezell's ministry an addition to the church building, to be used as Sunday School rooms, was added. A church bus for transportation, "in these depression years", was also purchased, which greatly increased church attendance and interest. The church also went to "half-time", having worship services twice each month, on Sunday morning and Sunday night. The church was soon to go to full-time, having worship services each Sunday of the month. Bro. Ezell resigned in 1943 to accept a call to the Millry Baptist Church.Upon the resignation of Bro. Ezell, Rev. Alex McGrew was called as interim pastor. In September, 1943, the church called him as full-time pastor. He served the church until 1948, when he accepted a call to Jasper, Tennessee.In 1949, Rev. Houston Haynes was called as pastor. The Lord brought Siloam not only a great minister, but He gave an added blessing. Bro. Haynes was a talented builder. Under his leadership the church built the present pastorium. This gave Siloam Baptist Church the great opportunity of having the pastor on the field.Bro. Haynes resigned as pastor in May of 1952. Bro. Leslie Ezell was again called the following August to the pastorate. During this ministry at Siloam, Bro. Ezell led the church in a building program for the present church building. In 1959, having served the church a total of 20 years, Bro. Ezell resigned as pastor.In August of 1959, the church called Rev. Kenneth Crawford, a recent graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as pastor. During Bro. Crawford's ministry the plans were drawn and accepted for the present church building. Bro. Crawford resigned in 1961.The church called Rev. R.G. Blackwell, a recent graduate of the New Orleans Seminary. It was during his ministry that the construction of the two-story brick building with central heat and air was completed. In 1962, Bro. Blackwell accepted a call to the Selmont Baptist Church in Selma, Alabama.Rev. H.V. Hardin was called as pastor. During Bro. Hardin's ministry the debt on the new building was paid and plans were drawn and accepted for an additional building program.In June of 1963, the Siloam Baptist Church celebrated the 125th anniversary as a Missionary Baptist Church.Upon the resignation of Bro. Hardin in 1966, Rev. Buford Usry was called. During his ministry the church continued to grow and prosper. The new educational annex was completed consisting of a choir room, nursery, and eight additional Sunday School rooms. Bro. Usry resigned in 1968 to accept a call to the Westwood Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi.Rev. James Jordan began his ministry in September of 1968. During his ministry the debt was paid on the new annex and a note burning service was held.In January, 1971, Bro. Charles Owen of Butler was called as Music and Choir Director. This began a new era for Siloam. Since that time several dedicated young people have blessed the church with this talented ministry.Upon the resignation of Bro. Jordan in 1973, the church called Rev. Anthony Patterson. Following graduation from the New Orleans Theological Seminary, he assumed the pastorate June 1, 1973. Bro. Patterson had a great ministry, especially with the young people in Siloam Church. He is fondly remembered among them as "Brother P".In 1977, Bro. Patterson accepted a call to a church in Attala, Alabama. Siloam then called Rev. Charles Card. During Bro. Card's ministry a group of dedicated lay people, composed mostly of men, from Siloam Church, with the pastor, volunteered their time, talents, and means to serve the Home Mission Board helping to build churches in needed areas of the Southern Baptist Convention. This ministry continued every year for over 25 years!Rev. Billy Pope was called by Siloam Church as pastor following the resignation of Bro. Card in 1983. He assumed his duties as pastor on July 1, following graduation from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Bro. Pope was a very mission-minded pastor. In November of 1987, under the direction of the Foreign Mission Board, Bro. Pope went to Nigeria as one of a group of twelve volunteer ministers from the Alabama Baptist Convention for two weeks of Revival Missionary Services. Siloam Baptist Church accepted with their pastor this great missionary challenge to send him. During Bro. Pope's ministry a stained-glass-window fund for the sanctuary of the church was begun also. Bro. Pope resigned the pastorate February 1, 1988, to accept a call to LaGrange, Georgia.Siloam again called a young man as pastor. Rev. Stan Cheatham, a recent graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, assumed his duties as pastor on June 1, 1988. Since becoming pastor the beautiful stained-glass-windows in the sanctuary were installed. Also under Bro. Cheatham's leadership, the Senior Adult Fellowship (SAF) -- both at Siloam Church and also for the entire Bigbee Baptist Association -- was organized in October of 1988.Siloam Baptist Church celebrated its Sesquicentennial Anniversary in August of 1988, commemorating one hundred fifty years of continuous ministry.In August of 1991, Bro. Cheatham accepted a call to Mt. Horeb Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Siloam Church then called as interim pastor Bro. Mike Ragland of Belzoni, Mississippi, in September of 1991. Bro. Mike served the church in this capacity until January, 1992, when the church called him as full-time pastor. Under his leadership the sanctuary of the building was beautifully renovated in 1993. Bro. Ragland served until his resignation in August, 1999.In September, 1999, Dr. Bob Simmons was called to serve the church as interim pastor. In January of 2000, he was called to serve the church as "full-time" "part-time" pastor. He remained retired and living in Meridian, MS, but served faithfully. From the end of November 2000, through February 2001, Dr. Simmons, former missionary to the Philipines and Hong Kong, took a leave of absence from the church and served with his wife Mary as interim pastor and music minister, respectively, of the Rome Baptist Church in Rome, Italy. During this time, Siloam was led by its deacons with the help of the association's director Dr. Bruce Gentry and Bro. Tim Craddock, a Methodist minister, among others. Bro. Bob retired following 56 years of ministry, on October 31, 2005.Assistant Pastor Brad Campbell (author of these pages) began serving as interim pastor at that time. Bro. Brad's story is somewhat unusual, as he had been a part of Siloam during his college years, met & married his wife there, was ordained both as deacon and later as pastor there, and had been a member of the church some 15 years already. He was then called to be full-time bi-vocational pastor for the church as of April 1, 2006. On March 1, 2007, Bro. Brad became full-time, leaving his other job for the church. Under Bro. Brad's leadership, Siloam's first young adult ministry was begun in 2007. Known as P.A.L.S. (People Active in the Lord's Service), the group meets quarterly.Siloam Baptist Church remains one of the oldest and strongest rural churches in the Alabama State Convention. We celebrated homecoming on May 18, 2008, commemorating 170 years of unbroken service to our Lord (1838-2008)!! Homecoming was attended by a church packed full of Siloam members, descendents, and family members. Among those was the great, great granddaughter of Siloam's first pastor, Rev. Benjamin Hitt!
To reach the Siloam Baptist Church and the Siloam Cemetery, take AL Hwy 17 south of York, crossing under Hwy 80, and take a right onto County Road 9 toward Ward. You are now in Siloam. The Siloam Road is about a mile ahead (the first paved road to the right), and will lead you directly to the church & cemetery.
We invite you to join us: Sunday School - 9:45, Morning Worship - 11:00, Discipleship Training Classes - 5:00, Evening Worship - 6:00. Wednesday night prayer meeting begins at 6:00. Each Wed. after the 1st Sun. of the month, we have Missions Programs. Senior Adults meet the Wed. after the 2nd Sunday of the month at 11:00 am for potluck lunch & a program.
Lots of other opportunities await you. Our physical address is 34 Siloam Road on the Cuba route, but our mailing address is P.O. Box 158, York, AL 36925.
