Church History
In the fall of 1975, a group of Christians began to discuss the possibility of organizing a new church whose congregation would foster the development and support of a music ministry for young and old. Thirty-four people attended a meeting on Sunday, October 26, 1975, at the home of Barbara and Jim Buettner in Oneonta, Alabama. Both Sunday School and worship services were held at the home on this date.
Two days later, on October 28, 1975, interested individuals met at the home of Patricia and the Rev. James M. (Jimmy) Wadsworth in Oneonta. Among the topics discussed were a church site, financing, and a possible building contractor. Numerous other items were also covered, including a function of the church to meet the needs of its people in worship, Sunday School, Training Union, Brotherhood, Women's Missionary Union (WMU), youth and adult choirs, a bus ministry, Vacation Bible School, singings, and annual events such as homecoming and a Thanksgiving dinner.
On November 15, 1975, Brady Moss and Weldon Redman attended the business meeting at Taits Gap Baptist Church and presented a letter signed by 50 members, requesting that letters be granted for the purpose of organizing a church of the same faith and order.
On Sunday, January 4, 1976, a meeting was held again at the Wadsworth home at 2:00 p.m. with the ordained of several churches invited to serve as Presbytery. (Note: A "presbytery" is a group of ordained pastors from the community to serve as a sort of "court" when a group of Christians wish to organize a new church.) Rev. Wallace Higginbotham was elected as moderator by the Presbytery.
After a period of examination by the Presbytery, Rev. Higginbotham declared at 4:00 p.m. that the group present desired to organize "a true Baptist Church." This was the beginning of Philadelphia Baptist Church. The church was named after the church described by the Apostle John in Revelation 3 that received his favorable commendation. The motto selected for the church was "Living by Faith."
The church met temporarily in an "out building" of the Wadsworth home, using various rooms in the house for Sunday School classes. The large building was affectionately called "the chicken coop" since it was once used by previous owners for egg processing.
Church member James Harp donated property located on Champion Road in Oneonta as a site for the construction of the church, with Pat and Jimmy Wadsworth contributing an additional lot. Contractor Delon Webb and his crew built the church structure and allowed church members to work alongside them in order to cut costs. Women of the church painted, while men busied themselves nailing paneling. Charles Cleveland and his crew laid the brick. A steeple was later added, thanks in part to a generous donation by the Oldham Foundation.
The first service held in the new Philadelphia Baptist Church was on Sunday, July 25, 1976. Rev. Otto B. Ragsdale delivered the sermon. The founding pastor was Rev. James M. (Jimmy) Wadsworth. The "Old-Fashioned Supper" to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday has been held every year at the church since 1975.
Philadelphia Baptist Church was admitted to the Blount County Friendship Association in October 1977.
In 1990, a beautiful, spacious, and well-equipped fellowship hall was constructed as a wing to the existing structure. It has been the site of many fellowship dinners, receptions, and meetings. The church has also since paved and enlarged its parking lots, purchased a 15-passenger van, and added a carport for its storage.
(Note: History was originally compiled by Weldon Redman on the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Philadelphia Baptist Church in 1995. The history was updated by Patti M. Williams in 1997 and 2009.)
Founding Members of Philadelphia Baptist Church
| Clayton Atwell |
Debbi Moss Matthews |
| Kathryn Atwell |
Charles L. Moss |
| James Buettner |
Patti Moss Williams |
| Barbara Buettner* |
Debbi Phillips Murphree |
| Sharon Buettner Fallin |
Donna Phillips Tolbert |
| David Buettner |
Willard Phillips* |
| Herbert Brothers* |
Maxine Phillips* |
| Novella Jordan Brothers* |
Don Phillips |
| Noah Breaseale* |
Sue Carol Phillips* |
| Faye Dumas |
Djuna Phillips Owens |
| Nedra Dumas Deerman |
Rev. Otto B. Ragsdale* |
| Jimmy Dumas |
Teresa Thomas Ratliff |
| James Harp* |
Weldon Redman* |
| Emma Harp* |
June Redman* |
| Wilburn Hill* |
Rebecca Redman |
| Ruth Hill |
Rhonda Redman |
| Greg Hill |
Rachel Redman |
| Rhonda Lambert Hunt |
Joyce Reed* |
| Mama Jordan (Mrs. P.J.)* |
Elwyn Thomas |
| Doris Lambert* |
Linda Battles Thomas |
| Steve Lambert |
Rev. Doug New |
| Marvin Logan |
Marsha New |
| Flay Logan |
Rev. James M. Wadsworth |
| Pam Logan Hammer |
Patricia Wadsworth |
| Alton Lowe* |
Gregg Wadsworth |
| Virginia Moses Lowe |
Emory Lee "Boss" Wadsworth* |
| Joan Lowe Hendrix |
Randall Wadsworth |
| R. Edgar Moses* |
Kathy Dumas Whitley |
| Bertha Jordan Moses* |
|
| Brady C. Moss |
|
| Shirley Evans Moss |
*Deceased as of July 8, 2011 |
