The first church of the Christian (or Campellite) denomination organized in Lawrence County was in October, 1830, at the house of Robert Woody, near where the present Leatherwood Church stands, five miles east of Bedford. The first members were: William Newland, Susan C. Newland, Robert Woody, Norman Woody, Peter Smith and wife Margaret, Martin Smith, Benjamin Hensley and Catherine (Katy) Peed.. At their first meeting, Stever Younger and William Newland were set apart as Elders. Martin Smith was chosen Evangelist, and Peter Smith and Robert Woody were elected Deacons. At that meeting also Stever Younger deeded the church one acre of ground where the present church stands, and the congregation built on it at once a log church, in size 25x30 feet., furnished with the slab furniture of the day. This building was succeeded, in 1840, by a brick church, 40x60 feet erected at a probable cost of $2,500. Plans are now [in 1884] in process for the erection of a still larger and costlier building in its stead, more modern in it appearance and appurtenances. Their first Preachers were: William Newland, Stever Younger and Joseph Hostetler.
Soon after came John and Jacob Wright and James M. Mathes, Elder Trimble, and others. Their last preachers have been: J.W. Stanley and J.W. Newland, the last of whom is the present incumbent. In 1850 the membership reached nearly 400, due very largely to the revivals held by John O. Kane and P.H. Jameson, of Indianapolis. The membership had somewhat decreased of late, till a year ago nearly one hundred accessions were made from the Bedford Church. Their present membership is about 300 - second in size in the county - as will be seen in the statistical
table.
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