New Providence Church, near Ursa, Adams County, Illinois

Notes from the Manuscript Records of New Providence Church

New Providence Church was established first as an arm of Mill Creek Church in May 1833 with seven members. Several joined while it was still an arm, and some were also dismissed.
Organized as a separate church in September 1833, at the home of Nicholas Wren, on Bear Creek, with five members. Most if not all of those who had been part of the “arm” were either charter members or later joined the church by letter.
The Presbytery which constituted the church was composed of Elders William Roberts, Henry C. Davis, and Shelton Allphin, and Deacons Jacob Franks and Laris Pulman.

June 1834: "church agrees to meet the Thursday before the third Sunday in July for the purpose of selecting a place for a meeting house and also to make some arrangement for the same."
August 1834: "agrees to meet on Thursday and Friday the 28th and 29th instant for the purpose of building of a meeting house."
April 1835: "church upon a motion and second agrees to hold their meeting at the meeting house." June 1835: "church agrees to meet the Thursday and Friday before our next meeting and put a floor in the meeting house."
January 1839: "A motion and second that our next church meeting in course be held at the school house near Brother Cammels (sic)."

The locations of the home of Nicholas Wren, on Bear Creek, and of the first meeting house, mentioned above, have not yet been determined. Information regarding the original four acres, and the construction of the Old Stone Church, is given below.

February 1839: "Motion and second the church pay the expense of a deed for four acres of land to the church at our July meeting."
August 1839: "paid for the expense of the deed for land to the church: Brother Benson 50 cents, Brother Isham 50 cents, Brother Workman 25 cents, Sister Beard 12 1/2 cents, Brother Raulings 43 1/4 cents."
June 1845: "Motion and second that the church take into consideration the building of a meeting house, and that Brother Rawlings have a subscription for that purpose if they go on with the house."
July 1845: "Joseph Isham, Robert Forsythe and Baptist Hardy was appointed as a committee to ascertain the cost of a meeting house and the sise (sic) and report to the church on our next church meeting day."
August 1845: "Reference of the committee appointed to report the cost of a meeting house at our meeting in July to report in August at our church meeting. They reported and the church received the report and discharged the committee and agree to build by the plan proposed. Motion and second that Brother Robert Forsythe and Brother Edward Tindall and Brother George Campbell are appointed by the church as a committee to attend to a subscription to raise money to build a meeting house for the special benefit of the New Providence Church."
July 1846: "Motion and second that Brother Isham be appointed to assist as one of the committee to assist in building a meeting house."
May 1847: "By motion and second the church agree to alter the sise (sic) of the house they agreed to build to 30 by 40 feet."
August 1848: "Adjourned to meet at the new meeting house at our next meeting."
December 1848: "In consequence of the inclemency of the weather and the unprepared state of our meeting house, agreed to not meet tomorrow [Sunday] but to meet on the 5th Sunday for worship, when we have reason to believe our house may be a little more comfortable."
March 1852: "Motion and second that Brethren M. Rawlings, E. Tindle, and J. Ishom as a committee to James Nicoles (sic) and ascertain the terms the meeting house and grave yard lot can be had at, and report to the church on the next church meeting."
April 1852: "Called for committee. Reported to the church the terms that we could have the meeting house and grave yard lot for one $100 dollars. Motion and second the committee be discharged. Motion and second that we accede to the proposition made by Mr. Nicoles (sic). Motion and second that J. Isham, E. Tindle, and M. Rawlings is appointed trustees for New Providence Church."
May 1852: "We the Regular Baptist church of Jesus Christ called New Providence Church who met in the stone meeting house on the N. E. of Sec. 7, in T1N R8W, Adams Co., Ill., do this day appoint Edward Tindall, Joseph Isham, and Michael Rawlings and their successors in office as trustees for this church who are hereby authorized to make contracts or sue or be sued for us, as any other trustees in business in law or equity. Appoint our clerk to have this act recorded in our county recorder's office as other legal papers are."
"Money paid for the Regular Baptist Meeting house lot in December 1852: E. Tindle $10.00, J. Isham, $5.00, N. Wren, $5.00, H. Workman, $4.00, R. Forsythe, $5.00, D. Cammel, $5.00, B. Hardy, $5.00, M. Rawlings, $5.00, J. G. Williams, $5.00.
April 1853: "Committee reported to the church on their meeting for the purpose of clearing of graveyard."
Extract from the deed for four acres: Copy of deed from Matthias Bruen (acting through Agent James C. Nichols), to Robert Forsyth, Michael Rawlings, Henry Workman, Joseph Summers, and John Washburn, trustees of the New Providence Church of Regular Baptists. Legal description: Part of the NE 1/4 of Sec 7, T1N R8W 4th p.m. Dated, Feb. 5, 1839. 4 acres. 

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