Travels in Baptist History 9- what has been lost by Jim Curran

Jim Curran Admin 04/09/21

Travels in Baptist History 9- what has been lost

We need to always save our history when we can! Traveling around the country I have been fortunate to see many Baptist history sites yet I am more haunted by those I did not see. What do I mean by this? There are many places where little remains. Other times I have come across something physical where little history is documented. Still, in other cases, I come across little tidbits of information that leave be hungry for more- but there is no more. Perhaps I could throw these encounters into a few categories. If anything is shown by all of these it is the need to document it when we see it.

1. Nothing left- There are a few places like that- literally wiped off the map. The reasons for this can be many. Many times it is by man’s carelessness. The cemetery at Maria Creek Baptist’s (pastored by Isaac McCoy) original location is plowed under farm field- Only one marker exists. Some churches are completely gone.
2. Only an outline- Sometimes the only thing left is a cemetery- yet there is a blank space in a corner of it. That was not an oversight- that was where the building had stood. All that is left is a blank spot and the mortal remains of those who had once worshiped there waiting for the shout.
3. A search in vain- How many men of God are buried in an unmarked grave? Isaac McCoy likely lies under a street. John Davis who helped found the first Baptist Church started in Oklahoma is somewhere under a lake. I have sought out several men in cemeteries only to not find them- but they are there in an unmarked grave. The comfort is that the Savior knows where they are.
4. We can’t go back and change what has been lost but we need to document what is there now. One place that I have been illustrates that more than anything. On a hill south of Terre Haute Indiana stood a church on a hill- Prairie Creek First Baptist Church founded by Isaac McCoy in a log cabin that stood just south of the building on the hill. The white building had stood there for over 130 years. Then one day fire happened. The church built a new building but something was lost- however it resides in pictures that were taken. I know it is a building, not the church- that is the people- but a bit of history was lost. (That is the photo below)
5. Always be aware of our history-This is the worst case I have heard of. John Taylor author of “Ten Baptist Churches” along with others lies under the “family life center” of Clear Creek Baptist Church in Kentucky. That’s right they built it right over the cemetery!! Several stones were piled up behind the building until someone called them out on it- They made it look pretty but that is not where he is buried. Not surprisingly the church recently removed Baptist from their name as well. This brings our discussion full circle- the destruction of Maria Creek’s cemetery was the impetus for better protections for cemeteries in Indiana-

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