HISTORY
In 1914 Unionville Station was to most travelers nothing more than an insignificant stop along the Illinois Central Railroad. When Rev. W. C. Chafin first passed through here he saw what railroad passengers did not see–a place where God’s word might take root and bear much fruit. Unionville Station was a place that needed a Sunday School. So along these railroad tracks, in the old Cox School, Rev. Chafin planted his third of many Sunday Schools under the auspices of the American Sunday School Union.
Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Fielder and Mr. and Mrs. Clem Barrow were the first two families Rev. Chafin contacted in this community. The Sunday School was organized with four classes and 39 people attended. Cornelius Fielder was the first superintendent; Rev. David Barrow, assistant superintendent; and Mrs. Clem (Maggie) Barrow, secretary-treasurer. At some point the meeting place was changed to the Fleener School on Bethel Lane.
At Fleener School the Sunday School grew. Regular church services began, and by 1915 the Sunday School at Unionville Station had basically morphed into a church-like congregation.
On February 18, 1915, Sam Wakefield wrote to Rev. Chafin that “there is a move well underway to erect a place of worship at Unionville Station. We have selected a site for the building and started our soliciting and thanks be we are meeting with success.” He went on to invite Rev. Chafin to a meeting February 22nd at the Fleener School House saying “You are familiar with this field, realize our needs, and you are in a position to advise us. Will you assist us in making Unionville community a better place for God and man. “ [Copy of letter compliments of Ann Chafin.]
The September 18, 1915 Bloomington Daily Telephone contained a short news item which reads:
“An effort is being made to erect a new church building at the Unionville station, and H. C. Fielder is donating $180 for the purpose. It is hoped to erect a $500 building and much of the work will be donated. It will not be for any special donomination
A Sunday school of 65 members has already been organized with Cornelius Fielder as superintendent, R. L. Ratliff, secretary, and H. C. Fielder, Treasurer; David Barrow in charge of the music.”
It must have taken several years to secure enough cash, labor, and materials to construct the building. On March 22, 1919 a deed was filed in Monroe County from Willoughby A. and Oma Wellons to Willis Bock, Charles Galyan and Milton Skirvin, Trustees of the Community Church of Monroe County IN. The church paid $100 to Wellons for the quarter acre. Tradition has it that: Mr. Henry Thompson gave the timber to be used for the frame work; Clem Barrow and Cornelius Fielder hauled the logs to the mill that was owned by Willoughby Wellons; Mr. Wellons sawed the lumber for the new building; Clem Barrow, Cornelius Fielder, Frank Myers, and Rev. Chafin put up the framework (with the help of the community); and Sam Wakefield spent considerable time and money in the construction.
A news item in the December 13, 1920 Bloomington Daily Telephone reads as follows:
“The Unionville Community Chapel at Unionville station will be dedicated next Sunday, Dec. 19th. Dr. Bryan, President of Indiana University, will deliver the morning address at 10:30 and at the noon hour dinner will be served in the church, so all come with well filled baskets. Afternoon Dr. Taylor from the First Methodist church in Bloomington, will deliver an address and will have charge of the dedication service. All invited to come and spend the day with us.
W. C. CHAPIN Sunday School Missionary”
The following Tuesday, December 21, 1920, this news item appeared in the Bloomington Evening World:
“Last Sunday the people of the Unionville Station neighborhood gathered together at the new church, which was completed a few days ago. Dr. Bryan, president of the Indiana University, delivered a very inspiring address, after which money was raised to pay the indebtedness on the church building. Dinner was served in the church, which was a spread of all the good things to eat that the good women of Unionville could serve, The dinner was enjoyed by all, especially by Milt Skirvin and Harry Alexander, who try as they did, could not eat all that was left and pie, cake and many other good things were put back in the baskets when the table was cleared. Dr. Charles H. Taylor, from the First Methodist church of Bloomington delivered a very helpful address and led in the dedication service.”
As there were a number of different denominations represented by the people in the Sunday School and Community Church, an agreement could not be reached as to the organization of the new church. To protect the Sunday School and the building, the quarter acre purchased from Mr. Wellons was deeded to the American Sunday School Union to hold in trust for the Sunday School. If a denomination was effected in the future, the Union was to deed the property to the trustees of that organization.
On December 9, 1922, the following appeared in the Bloomington Evening World:
“The evangelistic meetings being held by Rev. Ray Banks at Unionville station continue through next week. Great interest is being manifest. Last night the Sunday School organization which had been the only religious organization at the chapel at that place, resolved itself into a Baptist church. A Constitution was adopted and officers elected in due and regular form. The ministers present were as follows: Rev. Ray Banks, Bedford; Rev. W. C. Chafin; Rev. R. C. Speer; Rev. J. H. Garton and Rev. Thomas Bush, nearby pastors and church workers. Their chapel is a new and very comfortable house of worship, having been used for about two years for S. S. purposes. It will be transferred by the Amer. S. S. Union to the new church organization. Great credit is due to Rev. W. C. Chafin for his untiring efforts in the beginning of this work and bringing it up to the present point of service to the community at Unionville.”
Establishing a Baptist church was not the only event that happened during Rev. Ray Banks two-week meeting. The December 16 newspaper reported that “The congregation attending the revival services being held in the church at New Unionville by the Rev. Mr. Banks, sat up with a vim last evening, when seven hooded and white robed figures entered the door.” Yes, the Ku Klux Klan interrupted the revival!
A deed was recorded in Monroe County April 9, 1923, transferring the quarter acre from the American Sunday School Union Trustees, city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Unionville Station Baptist Church, Monroe County Indiana. In actuality, the congregation first called the church “The First Baptist Church of Unionville Station.” That name continued to be used in the Business Meeting minutes until April 9, 1947 when the name changed to “Unionville Station Baptist Church.” The first time the present name of “New Unionville Baptist Church” is mentioned is in the September 9, 1959 Business Meeting Minutes.
Sunday School records no longer exist and unfortunately, for us, the book of Business Meeting Minutes, covering the first 23 years of church history, has been lost. Events prior to 1946 must be gleaned from secondary sources. Rev. Chafin’s Record of Baptisms (compliments of Ann Chafin) indicates that he baptized 22 new members to the First Baptist Church at Unionville Station on December 22, 1929. Tradition has it that gas lamps were used to light the church until a Delco plant was purchased in June 1933. It wasn’t until June 1937 that electricity came to
the area and electric lights were installed.
In 1947 a church basement was constructed. Tib Richardson won the bid to raise and roll the
church house out of the way for the diggers. A digger was hired and a Mr. Baker was contracted to “finish the basement.” Tib rolled the church house back onto the foundation and it was up to the men of the church to finish the work. It wasn’t until the following year that work was completed so that Sunday School rooms could be constructed in the basement.
May 10, 1949 Bloomington Daily Herald – “Unionville Dedicates New Church Basement”
“The Unionville Station Baptist Church observed Mother’s Day Sunday with an all-day service. Dinner was served in the new basement at the noon hour. The Rev. Clarence Stubblefield preached at the morning service and 26 potted plants were given to the mothers present. The afternoon program consisted of special music furnished by the Calvert Family from Indianapolis. The Rev. Merle Craige [sic], a former pastor of the church, gave the sermon dedicating the new basement. Cloyd Sturgeon of Mt. Calvary Church gave the dedication prayer. The church licensed Brother Glen Nichols and Richard Hodges to preach with the Rev. Stubblefield giving the charge to the candidates. The Rev. W.C. Chafin gave the ‘setting apart’ prayer.”
Two Sunday School rooms were added to the back of the church and in 1957 the church purchased 15 feet of ground south of the church (0.18 acres) from Mrs. Elithe Flaherty in anticipation of building a new church house.
April 5, 1958 Bloomington Daily Herald Telephone:
“The Unionville Station Baptist Church will have its ground breaking service Sunday morning at the worship service on the new site adjoining the present building. The members with the greatest number of years will turn the first shovels of dirt. The regular sunrise service will be held at 5:30 a.m. Rev. C. Warren Hill is the pastor of the church.”
The congregation moved into the new building November 4, 1958, although work was not totally finished. The remaining work was completed by men of the church over the next several months. After being sold to Kenneth Fielder, the old church house was torn down.
April 8, 1961 Bloomington Herald Telephone: “Church to be Dedicated Sunday”
“Members of the New Unionville Baptist Church will dedicate their new church Sunday. Sunday school is a 10 a.m. and morning worship at 11, followed by dinner at noon. The dedication service begins at 1:30 p.m. The Relative and the Gospel Tones quartets and the choir will furnish music. Former pastors and charter members will be introduced and visiting pastors will be recognized. The church field secretary and director of Evangelism from the state board will speak and Rev. Warren Hill of Warren, Ind. Pastor of the church is Rev. Robert Johnson.”
In 1971 a baptistery was built by the men of the congregation under the leadership of Wayne Miller and Charley Stillions. The oil painting behind the baptistery was commissioned from Rose Carter and dedicated in memory of R. H. Marlin whose estate bequeathed money which covered the cost of the painting. In 1974, Eldon and Eunice Condra gifted a quarter acre to the church to expand the parking lot.
The church building has changed through the years, just as our community, nation, and world have changed. We now have hot and cold running water, restrooms, air conditioning, adequate lighting, comfortable pews and a sound system. Additional land was acquired, a shelter house and family center built, parking lots paved, and handicap accessibility created. A steeple and carillon speakers were installed on the roof, an overhang and drive-through were added to the front of the church, and the bell from the original church house was housed in a new bell tower.
However, we pray the Church has not changed. One hundred years ago this year Sam Wakefield said they wanted a church that would make this “community a better place for God and man.” It is our fervent prayer that we continue to do so.