About

The Church of Jesus Christ is not a building but a people called out, set apart and dedicated to His service. A history of Chariton Ridge Baptist Church is therefor not a history of a building, but of a group of believers, who over a period of more than 150 years, have continued to pass on the vision of the church.

The founders of Chariton Ridge Baptist Church met in homes for several years before the first meeting in 1864. From the minutes of Middle Fork Association of Union Baptist held at Mt. Tabor Church in September 1860 Little Ridge is listed. The messengers listed are R.O. Swink, G.T. Bell, T.G. Childers, and J.S. Butler. Mr. Butler helped to organize Chariton Ridge later.

A meeting was held at the Boulton home on the first Saturday in December 1863, organized in a church capacity and on motion appointed a clerk and committee. The committee organized a church to wait on the members of Chariton Grove who wanted to withdraw from their church to organize a church in the vicinity of Rock Creek to be known as Chariton Ridge in the Middle Fork Association. This period in American history was a tumultuous one as the Civil War continued.

On the fifth Saturday in January of 1864, 16 persons covenanted together to form Chariton Ridge Baptist Church. They chose William Caldwell as their pastor. It was the fifth pioneer church in the Macon County Association. "Uncle Johnny" Roan was selected pastor the second year. Rev. G.C. Sparrow was pastor in 1871. He (along with Rev. Joseph Oliver) had organized the First Baptist Church of Macon in 1865.

Eventually a building was needed and the church purchased half interest in the old Methodist church near Cooks Chapel, often spoke of as "Quail-trap Meeting House". The structure was about 25 by 40 feet. The Methodist and the Baptist took turns worshiping on alternate months. Pastor and congregation traveled the country roads by foot or on horseback. By 1875 the congregation numbered 85. In 1888 and 1903 Chariton Ridge hosted the Macon Association.

Over the years the current church building undergone many improvements. It has been heated with wood, oil, and in 1957 gas furnaces were installed. Also in 1957 the addition of Sunday School rooms were built. In 1965 the vestibule was completed. An addition was built in 1972. Rural water came in 1982 which was much appreciated. The fellowship area was constructed in 2001-2002. In 2009 the Southern Baptist Churches in this area became Thousand Hills Baptist Association.