Members of Sister Springs Baptist Church in Tyler are celebrating the placement of a historical marker on its property.
About a month before the church marked its 200th anniversary Sept. 17, 2023, members submitted an application to the Alabama Historical Commission for the marker, and it arrived Aug. 3.
It now sits in its permanent spot at the church.
What’s in a name?
Named for a nearby pair of crystal clear springs, the organization of Sister Springs Baptist Church was recorded in the church minutes on Jan. 16, 1823: “The following Brethren to wit: Thomas and William Harrod being called to work on constituting of a body of members in the neighborhood of Coles Mills. They accordingly formed them into a Presbytery and constituted the body and called them by the name of Sister Springs Baptist Church.”
On Dec. 13, 1834, Sister Springs Meeting House — as it was known at the time — purchased 15 acres of land from Reddick Sims for the sum of 10 cents. It has been at its current location ever since.
The church later changed its name to Sister Springs Baptist Church. Near the close of the 19th century, the Sunday School was reorganized with W.D.S. Morgan as superintendent. Morgan promised to keep the doors open even if only one member was present, many times this was the case. The Morgan family served faithfully through the years. The last family member W.W. (Billy) Morgan died in 2014.
On Oct. 30, 1883, Selma Baptist Association was formed, and Sister Springs became a charter member.
In 1968, a pastorium was built, and the church called its first full-time pastor. In 1977, a new building was completed. It included the sanctuary, Sunday School room, pastor’s study and baptistry.
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