Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church to Celebrate 200th Anniversary

Macedonia Primitive Baptist church was constituted in the home of John Terrell on June 19, 1824. John was one of the first (if not the first) settlers of Weakley County and was at that time living on Mud Creek near Dresden, TN.

When the church was formed, the congregation was known as the Church of Christ at Macedonia and the people were known as Regular Baptists. They were also called the Regular Baptist Church of Christ at Macedonia.
The Charter members of the church included John and Elizabeth Terrell, Perry and Unity Vincent, and Edward and Rebecca Jackson.

Early on, the church was moved from the home of Bro. Terrell to a site near Dresden and in many of the early minutes and association meetings, it was simply referred to as the Dresden church. It wasn’t until about 1834, that it began to be commonly called Macedonia.

Around 1874, the church began to meet at Ralston, or Ralston Station as it was then known and in August of 1922, the Ralston church consolidated
with her sister church in Martin, TN. At that time, the congregation became known as the Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church at Martin.

From 1922 to 1963, the congregation met in the building that was on the
corner of McCombs and White Street. Then, in 1963, a new building was erected on West Peach Street, where they still meet today.

According to court records, Macedonia was the first church organized in Weakley County. It was originally constituted as Macedonia Baptist Church. However, as has been the sad case in man’s history, there have been
many strong differences of opinion regarding religious matters.

Beginning around 1828, there were some sharp disagreements over issues like mission boards and other new practices among the Baptist in the United States. In 1832, the disagreement became so sharp that it resulted in a separation of the Baptist people. Those that retained the original Church covenant and Articles of Faith called themselves “Primitive” or Original Baptists and those that took the opposing view called
themselves “Missionary” Baptists.

Macedonia still has the original Church Covenant and Articles of Faith from 1824, preserved in her church records. They are also recorded in the State Archives in Nashville, TN.

The Macedonia church still meets every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM, and worships and practices in the same manner as it did when it was first
formed in 1824.

Throughout her 200-year history, Macedonia church has been served by a host of able New Testament ministers. Without claiming exact chronological order, those ministers who have served Macedonia
as pastor include: Elders J. B. Slate, Reuben Ross, T. S. Dalton, J. D. Stephens, N. W. Little, S. F. Cayce, A. B. Ross, A. H. Insco, K. M. Myatt, W. J. Jackson, W. E. Brush, George E. Brann, Harvey Smith, James Thetford, Hassell Wallis, Houston Patrick, Eddie Hicks and currently David Scarbrough.

On the last weekend in June 2024, starting at 6:30 PM on Friday night, the 28th, Macedonia will host our 200th anniversary meeting. Elder James Isaacs, from Magazine, Arkansas, will be preaching for us. Saturday
and Sunday morning service will be at 10:30 AM and we will be serving lunch both days after the service.All our sister churches and anyone else interested are invited to attend.

This article was originally written by Elder Houston Patrick on June 10, 1974, and has been revised by Elder David Scarbrough on May 1, 2024.