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Little Shiloh PB Church breaks ground for new building
Church leaders and city officials broke ground for Little Shiloh PB Church’s new building at 204 Brown’s Ferry Road. The group includes Deacon Christopher Seay, from left, Adam Johnson, Sandy Betts, Councilman Mike Potter, Pastor Reginald Johnson, Martha Betts Conley, Mayor Troy Trulock, Mother Cora Davis and Deacon James Rodgers. RECORD PHOTOS/Gregg L. Parker
This rendering depicts the new building for Little Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church. RECORD PHOTOS/Gregg L. Parker
MADISON – A congregation of believers whose ancestors first worshipped together more than a century ago is building a new church for themselves and future generations.
Members of Little Shiloh Primitive Baptist (PB) Church and local officials gathered on Oct. 29 for a groundbreaking ceremony at 204 Brown’s Ferry Road in Madison, site of their new church.
Their current church building’s address is 229 Maple St. near downtown Madison.
Rev. Reginald Johnson, the current pastor, opened the ceremony. Minister Joshua Crutcher followed with the invocation and scripture reading. Sister Irma Gardner welcomed the audience, which sat and stood on the grassy property situated in ‘midtown Madison’ between Wall Triana and Hughes Road.
Sister Kara Holden recognized guests, including Mayor Troy Trulock; District 4 City Councilman Mike Potter; general contractor Jerry Johnson with Huntsville Design & Construction; Martha Betts Conley and Sandy Betts, grandchildren of church founder Sandy Betts; Mother Cora Davis, Little Shiloh’s oldest member; Deacon James Rodgers, Chairman of Deacon Board; and Deacon Christopher Seay, Vice Chairman of Deacon Board.
Elder Jonathan Pickett led the litany of responsive reading. After officials shoveled the first soil for construction, Rev. Johnson led a prayer of blessing. Minister Tamala Marshall gave the closing prayer.
In 1907, several churches withdrew from the Old Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Association. Elder Sandy Betts, founding pastor of Little Shiloh P.B. Church, was among these members. (littleshilohmadison.com) With only a few members, the congregation held worship services once or twice per month.
In 1922, the congregation purchased an acre tract in Madison. The first structure, a one-room wood-frame building, had backless benches, oil lamps and the “big belly heater” to warm the area.
Pastor Betts continued his work until 1928 when his son, Elder John Betts of Birmingham, succeeded him. Elder John Betts (1928-1976) served for 48 years.
Little Shiloh now conducts Sunday school classes at 9 a.m. on Sundays, followed by the worship service at 10 a.m. Prayer service is held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, followed by Bible study at 6 p.m.
For more information, call 256-461-4275, email mail@littleshilohmadison.com or visit littleshilohmadison.com.
