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jBig Flat rock Christian ChurchBig Flatrock Christian Church Involved In Numerous ActivitiesIn 1845, the early settlers of the community around the present Big Flatrock Christian Church began having church services in their homes. These settlers kept working togetheruntil the spring of 1852 whenthey appealed for help in organizing a church Elder Gabriel McDuffee was the minister; the first elders were Elias T. Hilligoss and William T. Hardy.The church building was started in 1852 and completed in the summer of 1856. It took so long because the timber had to be worked by hand. In the meantime, the congregation grew and the charter membership was about 35 The first church was used until 1906 when slight remodeling was done and new seats were added. In 1921the building was again remodeled, the present auditorium being the original building.From this church came one of the greatest men of hi£ time —Knowles Shaw, the 'SingingEvangelist.’ Shaw grew up in the Big Flatrock neighborhood and was a charter member of the church, being baptized in September, 1852, along with his brother, his sister, and Hester Ann Thompson Shaw was ordained in the Milroy Christian Church and preached his first sermon in 1858 at Big Flatrock He went on to world fame as a professional evangelist and hymn writer. His most famous hymn was Bringing in the Sheaves. He was credited for winning 20,000 souls for Christ prior to hisdeath in 1878.The current minister is Dr Haldor Heimer, who was a former missionary to Zaire. Among the active groups within the church are the Dorcas Circle, the C.W.F., the C Y F ,and the Spares and Pairs. Currently under way is a BibleStudy Seminar being held eachSunday afternoon in the varioushomes of the members. Plansare also being made to celebratethe 125th anniversary of thechurch on October 9 during theannual Knowles ShawHomecoming Day services.Big Flatrock is historically located in Orange Township near the Forsythe Covered Bridge, the Roth Round Barn, and the Big Flatrock River which is still the site for baptismal services for the church.
Newspaper Details
Rushville Evening Daily Republican
Rushville, Indiana, US
Fri, Sep 09, 1977
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IN, USA 19 Aug 2019
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