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The
Nolan Freewill Baptist Church was organized in 1941 and was first known as the
“Welcomeland Freewill Baptist Church of Jesus Christ. The church was officially
organized by the Rev. Melvin Sanford, who also served as the first pastor. The
Charter members of the Welcomeland Church were Grace and Everette Stevenson, Mr.
and Mrs. Ebb Whitt,
Lassie and Will Bryant, Tom Jackson, Dave Jackson, Grace Duncan, Mr. and
Mrs. Bartly McCoy and Alice Roberts. The first trustees consisted of Mose Muncy,
Edward VanHoose and Arlie Joe Ball. Services were first conducted in an old
schoolhouse until the congregation erected a church building on the Kentucky
side of the Tug River, directly opposite Nolan, sometime during the late 40’s.
The congregation then purchased a Methodist Church building which was located at
the site of the old church building (which now serves as the auxiliary
building/kitchen). The construction of this church began in June 1953 and was
opened for services in November 1953. Several years later numerous Sunday
School classrooms and a steeple were added to the church. The building and
steeple were completed in 1957. The property was deeded from the Methodist
Church to the
Freewill Baptist Church. Two items from the old Methodist Church, the original,
elaborately carved, portable pulpit stand and the church bell were saved and
placed
in the newly constructed church building. The old pulpit was later used in the
Pilgrim Home United Baptist Church at Maher, WV. The old church bell is still
a part of our church heritage. Its tolls can still be heard throughout the
community
each Sunday morning before Sunday School services begin. The “old church” which
now serves as our auxiliary building/kitchen, was used from. 1953 until 1986,
the year in which the present building was completed. Due to much growth in the
church, it became necessary to construct a new building. A parcel of land was
purchased from the Everett Thompson family. Construction on this building began
around 1984. The steeple was added in 1993. Approximately 7 years later, the
church was able to buy the land that the old Nolan Grade School sat on. That
land was asphalted and is now used for a parking area. The church membership
has increased over the years from the original twelve charter members to one
hundred and thirty nine members today. In addition to the Rev. Melvin Sanford,
several other ministers have served the church as pastor. They include the Rev.
John W. Bryant,
Rev. Willie Kirk, Rev. Arlie Joe Ball, Rev. Glenn Ray Moore, Rev. Taylor
Cantrell,
Rev. Ray Taylor, Rev. Roy “Bo” Bryant and the Rev. John C. Wellman.
The Rev. Ray Taylor served as pastor of the Nolan Freewill Baptist Church from
1957 to 1964. He then assumed the pastorate of the West Williamson Freewill
Baptist Church for approximately three years. He then returned to the Nolan
Church in 1967 and is currently serving as pastor of the church. Several members
of the church congregation have entered into the ministry. The comment was once
made, that Brother Ray Taylor had a hatchery for ministers at Nolan. The Nolan
Freewill Baptist Church sponsors various programs for its members. Along with
Sunday School each week, there is The Masters Men,
The Ladies Aux., weekly Youth Group meetings for the children of the area and
monthly Nursing Home services. The annual Sunday School Picnic is held in June
along with many other special events throughout the year. The Nolan Freewill
Baptist church is a member of the Unity Association of Freewill Baptists. They
are actively involved in the work of the Association and support of the other
churches that are members there, also.
God has blessed the church to be able to buy a large portion of land surrounding
the church building. They recently purchased 5 lots of land across the road from
the Aux. building and were able to pay it off in about half the time the loan
was issued for. The elders and others in the church are in prayer as to what the
Lord has in store for the use of the property.
There is much potential there and the Nolan Church wants to do the Lord’s will
in this project.
All in all, God has truly shed His abundant blessings on the little white church
building that once housed the Welcomeland FWB Church. It has grown from the
little lot on which that building sits to where the Nolan FWB Church now rests.
There is plenty of work for the church to do and our prayer is for God to lead
and guide us in His Holy will.
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