| History of the Hickory Ridge Church |
Photo was
taken May 30,
1900
taken May 30,
1900
| The church was originally a New Light church. Free of Denomination or Doctrine. Based on The Holy Bible. Our first Pastor was Alexander McClain. Est. 1835. |
This photo
was taken on
Dedication
Day, 1903.
The original
church had
burnt down,
and was
rebuilt with
this one, the
Sunday
before
Memorial Day.
was taken on
Dedication
Day, 1903.
The original
church had
burnt down,
and was
rebuilt with
this one, the
Sunday
before
Memorial Day.
This photo
was taken
sometime in
the early
1900's.
This is still the
same building
you see today,
without the
current
addition, that
was added in
the recent
years.
was taken
sometime in
the early
1900's.
This is still the
same building
you see today,
without the
current
addition, that
was added in
the recent
years.
Photo taken in
2005, rear
view.
2005, rear
view.
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| Up until 1998, "Hickory Ridge Church" was known as "Hickory Ridge Fellowship Chapel". |
| Hickory Ridge Fellowship Church A tribute to it's 70th Anniversary, April 28, 1905 by W.H. Evans Fellowship has met to honor The great day when she was born, When Christ's Spirit fell upon her And He claimed her as His own; Seventy years she's stood the battle Against Satan and his hosts, Seventy years she's held this castle With her soldiers at their posts. Very few of all who founded Fellowship are here today, But on Zion's walls are mounted Sons and Daughters for the fray; Volunteers for Christ our Saviour Rally to their Captain's call, Fellowship has never wavered Seventy years on Zion's wall. See the gospel banner flying "Peace on earth, good will to men." Satan and his hosts defying Just as bravely now as then; Fellowship is our foundation Love and charity for all, Heir's of Christ's great mediation All who hear the Savior's call. Those who've crossed o'er Jordan River Fellowship in worlds above, And are praising God the Giver Of all pure and perfect love; "Dust to dust," all that is mortal Silently beside us lie, Seventy years this yawning portal Teaching us we too must die. Labor on ye Christian people Shout Christ's praises ever more, Ring glad tidings from this steeple Ring it for the golden shore; Hallelujah, glory glory-- Fellowship's great natal day, Seventy years we love the story We've been marching on the way. The composer of this hymn, Doctor W.H. Evans died in 1914. He was the grandfather of Richard and Leora Campbell and Mrs. Nellie Campbell-Martin. Dr. Evans was well known in Huntington Township where the church is located. He was also a correspondent for the weekly Ripley Bee. ---Submitted By: Mrs. Daisy Downing, Ripley, Ohio |
The following was taken from a newspaper clipping (The News Democrat, I believe)
May 4, 1905
PEOPLE GATHER
At an Old and Well Known House of Worship
SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Large Portrait of Elder McClain, Its Founder, Was Unveiled During Impressive
Ceremonies.
The 70th anniversary of Fellowship Church, Hickory Ridge, was celebrated last Sunday
in the presence of a crowd estimated at from 800 to 1000 persons. While this was
celebrated as the 70th anniversary the congregation is said to have been established
73 years ago, by Elder McClain who kept the flock together until his death, when the
mantle fell on Elder Mathew Gardner. Among other things in the ceremony was the
uncovering of a portrait of Elder McClain, the first pastor. There is but one person left
of those whose names appear on the original roll, Mrs. Shelton, who resides in the
neighborhood. It was hoped that she would be able to make a few remarks but this
she was unable to do. Another feature of the occasion was a humn written by Dr. W.H.
Evans and sung by the entire congregation, as follows:
May 4, 1905
PEOPLE GATHER
At an Old and Well Known House of Worship
SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Large Portrait of Elder McClain, Its Founder, Was Unveiled During Impressive
Ceremonies.
The 70th anniversary of Fellowship Church, Hickory Ridge, was celebrated last Sunday
in the presence of a crowd estimated at from 800 to 1000 persons. While this was
celebrated as the 70th anniversary the congregation is said to have been established
73 years ago, by Elder McClain who kept the flock together until his death, when the
mantle fell on Elder Mathew Gardner. Among other things in the ceremony was the
uncovering of a portrait of Elder McClain, the first pastor. There is but one person left
of those whose names appear on the original roll, Mrs. Shelton, who resides in the
neighborhood. It was hoped that she would be able to make a few remarks but this
she was unable to do. Another feature of the occasion was a humn written by Dr. W.H.
Evans and sung by the entire congregation, as follows:
| More links to history of the area & church: |
Our first preacher Alexander McClain
was also Bentonville's Union Church's
first preacher.
was also Bentonville's Union Church's
first preacher.
This was Alexander McClain's nephew.
This is a website explaining what the "New Light" movement was.
Publications by who is believed to be our 2nd preacher, Matthew Gardner.
http://books.google.com/books?id=VEdxd8R06YoC&dq=Their+Patriotic+Duty:+The+Civil+War+Letters+of+the+Evans+Family+of+Brown+County,+Ohio&pr
intsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=4Mu1XKXnPv&sig=MKlWp5OjpPgcxbapS2RIfRjeOr0&hl=en&ei=flvWSvXKMdKGlAfx4vGcCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=r
esult&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=w.h.%20evans%20&f=false
intsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=4Mu1XKXnPv&sig=MKlWp5OjpPgcxbapS2RIfRjeOr0&hl=en&ei=flvWSvXKMdKGlAfx4vGcCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=r
esult&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=w.h.%20evans%20&f=false
The following link is a book containing
the Evans family from Hickory Ridge,
most importantly W.H. Evans who
wrote the hymn above on this page,
called Their Patriotic Duty: The Civil
War Letters of the Evans Family of
Brown County, Ohio
the Evans family from Hickory Ridge,
most importantly W.H. Evans who
wrote the hymn above on this page,
called Their Patriotic Duty: The Civil
War Letters of the Evans Family of
Brown County, Ohio
| William Hiett Evans |