In the year of 1899, Stoney Point opened its doors for service. Failing to establish membership at the Methodist Church in the community, led two churches to merge and they became as one. And that created quite a large congregation of worshippers. In the thirties, records show the following pastors served this church and this community which most of them stayed for many years.
Reverend Windham, who resided in the community of Soddy Daisy, was one of the first pastors at Stoney Point as well as Reverend Baron and Reverend Cochran, who each served at different times traveling by train from Chattanooga to Soddy Daisy each Sunday. Reverend Baker and Family served (although we do not have any dates available) for many years and he was very dedicated to serving the Lord by doing the work the Lord had called him to do in this community. Reverend Williams and Family served, and he too was a dedicated servant that contributed much to the growth of the church and congregation here. Many came to know the Lord and were baptized under this ministry. It was under this ministry that a fire destroyed the church building in 1951. Church was then held in the members’ homes for a period of time. A parcel of land was given to build a new church on January 1, 1959. The pastor, along with the trustees, launched into purchasing building materials to erect a new church. It took a few years to get a basement dug, and the congregation began to worship there. A few years later, through donations of lumber and with the help from some of the area churches, a sanctuary was built.
Records show that during the early years, there was a mother’s board at the church. They would visit the sick and shut-in, aid in cleaning homes and deliver home-cooked meals to families that were in need, as well as putting the communion table together for service. Also while they were performing their duties here, they delivered the Word of God to the people they were visiting. It has been recorded that it was active in 1934. The board consisted of many elder women in the church, such as Sister Ida Taylor, President; Sister Sara Fynes, Vice-President; Sister Maude Crawford, Secretary; Sister Frances Springfield, Assistant Secretary; Sister Rebecca Taylor, Treasurer; Sister Lula Williams, Bible Teacher; and Sisters Lizzie Windham, Alice Abner, Lula Hyatte and Susie Davenport who were also members of the board.
For many years, Sister Lucille Cowan served faithfully as the church clerk. Sister Cordeila Montgomery was the church Coordinator. The earlier church mothers were Sister Dorine Hyatte, Muriel Hyatte, Thelma Springfield, and most recently Mary Arvin Cowan. Stoney Point’s earlier recorded Deacons were: Brother Anderson Taylor, Luther Davenport, Wiley Hyatte, Plez Williams, William Crawford, Henry Coulter, Willie Montgomery, and Manuel Davenport.
The remainder of previous pastors at Stoney Point Baptist Church is as follows: Reverend Harmon (1956); Reverend Gay (1933-1995); Elder Charles Moore (1995 – 1997); and the current Pastor Edward L. Thrasher (1999 – present). Since the installation of Pastor Edward L. Thrasher, we have grown to a congregation of approximately one hundred (100) members. Under Pastor Thrasher’s leadership, the secretaries have been Sister Anita Branch, Sister Wilma Wills, and presently Sister Eulassie Beaty. The deacons that have been ordained under Pastor Thrasher’s leadership are Brother Morris Beaty and Brother Tommy Wills. We also have been blessed with Evangelist Carolyn White and Minister James Jones. The church was completely remolded. As we began to grow, new ministries were added to the church service. We have sponsored health fairs, given to the needy, and made monthly visits to nursing homes and to the prisoners of Brushy Mountain in Wartburg, Tennessee.
Since the early years of Stoney Point Baptist Church to the present, this church has continued its journey. Not because of what we have done or who we are, but by God’s pure love, grace and mercy on His flock. And of July 6, the Lord blessed us with our current church building.
