Providence
United
Primitive
Baptist Church
existed before the slaves were freed. When the church was first
built, it was a frame building with a dirt floor. It was known
as the Colored Primitive
Baptist Church
and later called the
Two
Seat Church.
On the 3rd day of December in 1883, the church was
bought from Altha Thomas. Carnell Carter was the pastor.
With only eight members, the trustees were: Jackson Watkins,
Willie Brown, Dawson Crump, and Guss Foster. Early 1800 to
1900 oil lamps were along the walls until one night
Martin Turner, who owned Turner’s Fruit and Vegetable Cannery,
was about to lose everything, came to the pastor, at the time,
Pastor McCullough, for help. He offered to have the church wired
if the pastor and members would help save his fruits and
vegetables. On Wednesday, May 5, 1904 the big bell toned for prayer
meeting. Although not familiar with the date, meetings were held
here as early as 1826 for Big Harpeth
United Primitive Baptist Association. At this
time, our church lot was in the country. Elder Thomas Williamson
and Elder Peter Nelson were early ministers.
Elder Thomas Williamson was born in North Carolina on February 15, 1795 and was
brought to Tennessee
as a slave. He joined the
White
Primitive
Baptist
Church. Elder Williamson was
called to the ministry in 1832 and licensed by the White
Presbytery. Traveling from plantation to plantation, from Giles,
Maury, Williamson; and Davidson counties, he spread the gospel.
Under his leadership, these churches were established in 1866:
White Springs, Columbia, Tennessee
- Elder Thomas Williamson -Pastor
St. James, Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee -Elder Gilbert
Thomas - Pastor
Old Zion,
Pulaski,
Tennessee - Elder Peter Nelson
-Pastor
Providence,
Franklin,
Tennessee - Elder Jackson McGee -
Pastor
McNairy Hill, Nashville, Tennessee
- Elder Alex Grant - Pastor
Elder Williamson served 61 years in the ministry, 27 of those
years were as Moderator of the Big Harpeth United Primitive
Baptist Association. He died at the age of 98 in June 1883.
Around 1865, a meeting was planned to be held at Providence because it was
the midpoint between
Nashville, Pulaski and
Columbia. From these meetings the Big
Harpeth United Primitive Baptist Association was organized on
the banks of the
Big
Harpeth River
in Franklin, Tennessee. The first
Association was held at Providence United
Primitive
Baptist
Church. Moderators of Big
Harpeth Association and other Associations preached their first
sermons at Providence. The late
Moderator N.A. Mumphrey and Elder Allen Winstead (Lynn Creek)
are the two that we know of.
Pastors of Providence that are now deceased:
Elder Thomas Williamson- original founder
Elder Carnell Carter
Elder Henry McCullough
Elder William Watkins
Elder Nathaniel Hamilton
Under the leadership of Pastor Mosley for the last 31 years,
Providence
has been blessed in so many different ways. We have had an
increase in membership. One member that we would like to mention
is Bro. Emil Justian. He is the first white member to be
licensed to preach at Providence by Elder Mosley. Minister Justain,
lead by God, started his own ministry. He was
ordained at the Big Harpeth Association in September of 2004.
Today Elder Justain is the proud pastor of Triple Cross
U.P. B. Church.
Also, under the leadership of Elder Mosley the sanctuary and the
kitchen have been remodeled. There are so many blessings too
numerous to name.
Thank You Lord For All You've Done For Us.
Other Deceased ministers
of Providence:
Elder Remes
Elder Thomas
Elder Moses Bradley
Elder Johnny Bradley
Elder Sam Graham
Elder E. Campbell