Mt. Hermon Baptist Timeline
On the 2nd day of November 1856, Cripple Creek Baptist Church was constituted.
This is a brief timeline of events since the1856.
1877 The original church structure was destroyed by a fire.
1879 A new building was constructed at the current site (Mt. Herman Rd. & Bradyville Pike) and constituted under the name Mt. Hermon Baptist Church.
1939 A small frame church was built, featuring an auditorium and five Sunday School rooms.
1952 The church added more Sunday School rooms, installed gas heat, bought a small organ, upgraded to two new gas heaters, and later dug a well on the property.
1956 The first Sunday in November the church observed its Centennial with an all-day service at the church.
1961 A seven-room pastorium was constructed.
1962 A baptistry was added and some remodeling took place, including redecorating the auditorium. The church also bought a bus.
1967 A new brick educational unit—with space for five children’s departments, a kitchen, and recreation facilities—was built next to the auditorium.
1970 A new building project began to replace the old one. This allowed for more parking, provided additional Sunday School rooms, and included an auditorium for over 225 attendees. This was completed in 1971.
1983 An addition was built that included more educational rooms and a multi-purpose space.
1997 Mt. Hermon Baptist Church added a Storage Building/Garage.
1999 Mt. Hermon Baptist Church built a new sanctuary.
History of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church
Founded in 1856 as Cripple Creek Baptist Church, Mt. Hermon Baptist Church has served the Murfreesboro community for generations, faithfully gathering for worship, discipleship, and gospel ministry.
Founding of the Church
On November 2, 1856, A. J. McNabb and Jared Warren constituted Cripple Creek Baptist Church with the following founding members:
| Jane Beasley | Mary Beasley | Sally Cotton |
| Eliza Cox | Samuel Cox | John McFadden |
| Samuel Mitchell | John Prater | John Stroop |
| Emily Warren | Isaac Yearwood | Jacob Yearwood |
| John Yearwood | Cinthia Zumbro | William Zumbro |
The church unanimously adopted the Articles of Faith and the Church Covenant as they were generally held among Baptists of that day.
A Growing Church
The original church building was destroyed by fire in 1877. For a time, the congregation held services in various locations. In 1879, a new building was constructed at the current site at Mt. Herman Road and Bradyville Pike, and the congregation became known as Mt. Hermon Baptist Church.
In 1939, during the tenure of Rev. Elvin L. Burnett of Nashville, a small frame church was built with an auditorium and five Sunday School rooms. This building was dedicated on October 6, 1940.
Around 1952, additional Sunday School rooms were added. The church also installed gas heat, purchased a small organ, upgraded to two new gas heaters, and later dug a well on the property.
On the first Sunday in November 1956, Mt. Hermon observed its Centennial with an all-day service at the church.
In February 1961, a seven-room pastorium was constructed for the pastor.
In 1962, a baptistry was added, and the auditorium was remodeled and redecorated. The church also purchased a bus for educational use and transportation.
In 1967, a new brick educational unit was built next to the auditorium, providing space for five children’s departments, a kitchen, and recreation facilities. The $10,250 building matched the brickwork of the new auditorium and was dedicated on April 16, 1967.
In September 1970, Rev. James Davis announced plans for a new $40,000 building. The new structure would replace the old building, provide additional parking and Sunday School rooms, and include an auditorium seating more than 225 people. Financing came through a $35,000 church bond issue led by a committee chaired by James Rowland, with bonds offered beginning October 4, 1970.
In April 1971, the church opened its new brick sanctuary.
In September 1983, Mt. Hermon members broke ground on an addition with educational rooms and a multi-purpose building.
On October 9, 1988, Mt. Hermon Baptist Church dedicated the Activities Building.
In 1997, the church added a storage building and garage at a cost of $2,000.
In June 1999, Mt. Hermon built a new sanctuary at a cost of $942,151.
Pastoral Leadership
Over the years, several men have served as pastor of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, formerly known as Cripple Creek Baptist Church:
| A. J. McNabb | Jared Warren | Hutchinson |
| Vance | Carr | J. H. Grimes |
| John T. Oakley | Gregory | Ogles |
| W. C. McPherson | W. J. Watson | W. G. Mahaffey |
| Jaggers | Ratcliffe | O. T. Drake |
| S. P. Devault | John D. Barbee | Hoyte Huddleston |
| Elvin L. Burnett | J. O. Oglesby | Frank Messick |
| Charles S. Abernathy | Lewis York | Eldridge Dorris |
| Nolan Tobias | James A. Davis | Thomas Baines |
| Richard Graham | Kerry Smith | Robbie Peay |
| Jerry Howard | Russ Stephens (Interim Pastor) | Abram Edwards |
Ordained Ministry
Mt. Hermon has also ordained men into the gospel ministry. The first was Woodrow Medlock. Frank Messick was ordained on April 4, 1943. Joseph W. White was ordained on September 23, 1962. Dan Joaquin and Thomas Watts were ordained in 2011. In 2022, Charles Warrick and Trevor Hargis were ordained.