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The Legend of Antioch

Tradition goes that three brothers of Norwegian descent, set out from South Carolina in the early nineteenth century to explore and find new country in which to claim a homestead in the vast wilderness of the "Great Southwest". The spelling of these brothers' name at that time was Buffking or Buffkin. Later we find that some letters were dropped and is now spelled Bufkin.

One brother stopped in the area, which now is known as Jasper County, another went back to West Virginia. The third brother settled in what is now Antioch Community in Copiah County.

Legends transmitted through the generations by word of mouth and the searching of census records and land grant books reveal that a Benjamin Bufkin, born in 1794, and his wife, Celia Ann Lewis Bufkin came from South Carolina. The 1850 census of Copiah County gives the age of Benjamin as being 56 years of age and born in South Carolina, and Celia's (Selah) age as 55 years and born in North Carolina. Benjamin was a blacksmith by trade.

In searching these records we also found evidence of many other families of various trades and descent coming to this area from the Carolinas and West Virginia Country about that time. Many of these families claimed a haven of refuge in a changing world and settled in what is now Copiah County.

Such names as Hester, Price, Day, Robertson, Robinson, and Douglass, Barlow, Noland, Womack, Hogan, Cranfield, Wright, Conn, Thompson, Rembert, King, Burnley, Allen, Mullen, and many more left landmarks, never to be forgotten, over this country.

It is possible that the reason for so many selecting this area in which to settle is because of the water sources. They seemed to follow main streams of water and find spring hollows to build close to. Several of these springs of the old settlers are still used as water supplies in the homes of the community. water is piped into the homes from reservoirs fed by the springs.

It is to the memory of one of the eight children born to the union of Benjamin and Celia Bufkin, we are indebted for the land on which our church now stands. This is a son, David, and his wife, Susan Bufkin.

Some members of the group of settlers, with great courage, began to dream and survey in their minds the possibility of a place to gather to worship. It was from these dreams and their belief in the leading of the Lord to unite them into a closer fellowship that Antioch Baptist Church was organized in July 1824. Records state that seven men were present at this organization. This was as many as was required but the names were not given.

The formative years are vague to the memory of the tales told to younger generations and we can only imagine their plans and meetings, but our imagination tells us to their foresight, untiring efforts, and energy and undying Faith to achieve their dream.

By mere conjecture as to why the church stands in its present locations is that by verbal agreement this meeting place must have been more of a central locale for the settlers interested in the possibility of a building site. This is brought to mind by evidence of the date of its organization in 1824 and the lack of any record of a legal transaction of the property at this time.

The land was donated as a place for worship in unison. This was planned and they went about making and adopting the Rules for their own Christian conduct and the Church Covenant for binding the members together in Christian Fellowship.

We are told that the first meeting place was under a brush arbor with seats made of what was available. Before the winter set in, a crude cabin was built of logs with a crude stand at the front. The seats were made of split logs with peg legs. At that time, it had a dirt floor, one door at the side and shuttered windows. A clay mud chimney was built to use for the comfort of the ones who came. Sometime between 1827 and 1840 a larger building was erected with a slave gallery. This was also built of logs. It had puncheon floors and walls, shuttered windows and a big dirt chimney. The historical Union minutes show that the Negro membership as almost half. The biggest membership recorded was in 1865, the number being 221 with 156 Negro. The 1866 membership is noted as 50 and no Negroes.

There was little progress during the years darkened by the Civil War. Many of the fathers and sons took up arms in the defense of the South and had to leave their homes and families in the hands of the courageous women-folk to carry the heavy load of the duties in the face of privation, lack of protection, and hard labor while the men were suffering the hardships of battle. Some of them never came back to rejoin their loved ones.

In a few years the young people grew up, some drifting aimlessly, but those with purpose offered useful labor and with a sense of future accomplishment, began to learn to shoulder adult responsibility and realize the hard fact that the only way to smooth a thorny path was by work and that work was necessary and also an inescapable part of a human being's existence and could also be rewarding and satisfying. They learned to accept the challenge of the difficult task of their heritage of those lost in battle. Some of these young people began to move on to other areas where they found attraction. Some remained and established homes in Antioch Community. Thus it began to spread.

Enfeeblement, grief, hardship, and illness began to take a toll as was evidenced by the growth of the cemetery during those years, but the "never say die" spirit of the sturdy people began to show in their determination to slowly but surely progress by building a new and accumulate again that which had been lost in the devastation caused by this great set back of war.

It was not until the year 1874 that any legal transaction of the land, where the church still stands, was made. At this time, a deed was made and filed for record in deed book BB page 1874 in the Chancery Clerk's office of Copiah County reading thus:

"This deed is made on the 30th day of May 1874" between David Bufkin and Susan P. Bufkin, parties of the first part and B.B. Day, Benjamin F. Bufkin and Young Robertson, trustee of Antioch Baptist Church and their successors thereof, parties of the second part to wit:

2 acres N&S in NW corner S1/2 E1/2 NW1/4 and 2 acres lying N&S in NW corner S1/2 W1/2 NE1/4 all in Section 35 T-10-6E, containing 4 acres to have and to hold the premise herein conveyed for sole and separate use and benefit of the said Antioch Baptist Church and the members thereof for the purpose of erecting thereon a house of worship, cemetery, and any all other necessary improvements beneficial or useful for said church."

See copies of actual document             Portraits of David and Susan Bufkin

This was a gift that cannot be forgotten or duplicated by all the riches of the earth. The building erected after this in the year 1890 was of a rectangular design which was appropriate to the times. It had high walls, big glass windows, a door at the back and two doors at the front. It was approximately 40 feet long and 30 feet wide. There was no longer a slave gallery. The pews were handmade of long leaf pine and were very comfortable with backs. This was good, as we are told that some of the preachers were long winded. In 1922, this building was remodeled and changes were made. The front doors were moved to the center of the outside wall and wide steps were built and a window was put on each side of the doors. In 1946 this building was torn down and replaced with a new structure. Much of the old heart pine lumber was used in the building of the new church. This was a great consolation for those who felt so sentimental about the old building and the ones who had worshiped there in the old days.

On completion of the building in May of 1947, we were ready for the dedication of the church, and on May 11, 1947, a great day was experienced. The dedicatory sermon was brought by the pastor, Rev. E.E. Hedgepeth, and a brief history was given by Mr. Tom Bufkin. Also, a Mother's day program was presented by the children. Many flowers were brought in memory of the deceased members. Following the lunch hour, talks were made by Dr. John M. McGinnis, then of Reidville, North Carolina, but was reared in the neighboring community, and Dr. L.M. Smith, then President of Millsaps College, Rev. Rex Loftin, and Rev. S.P. Crawford.

In the olden days, in the summer after the crops were "laid by" every family would go to the church on a designated day for the purpose of giving the church, the grounds, and the cemetery a real cleaning. They carried their lunch, hoes, rakes, shuck scrub brooms, and yard brooms made of dogwood branches and the new building with the heart pine floors, the homemade pews, the glass windows, the cemetery would get a real cleaning inside and out. The young ones would bring water from the traditional Antioch Spring under the hill and the older ones would put the finishing shine on everything for the annual protracted meetings. People would come from far and near to enjoy a great spiritual refreshing. The services were held true to Webster's definition of the word "protracted" - from day to day - throughout the week with dinner on the ground, literally, as the women would spread clothes on the ground and fill it with the best of their culinary accomplishments which had been planned and saved for weeks ahead for this great time. Those who came were filled with plenty of good food and a soul stirring, God fearing Gospel delivered by great dedicated men.

It has been truly said that the ideals and the spirit of a church are determined by the character of itsmembership and the spirit of its activities through the years.

The early church records were burned many years ago in the file that destroyed the home of the clerk, Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Bishop, Sr., but from some memories of the contents of these records come stories of interest, and bring smiles to the faces of those who remember and tell them to us- as the disciplinary action taken by the church. As was typical in those days, happenings that only the church dealt with the culprit. One story goes that a member got behind with his crops and the weather had not been suitable during the week for him to get any work done in the fields to catch up, so on a Sunday he did some plowing. He was brought before the church people, or council, and asked about this. After being questioned and he told his reason for this, he was chastised and put on a probation period with his promise not to be guilty of this again. Time after time misdemeanors of various sorts were dealt with and better behavior promised and some were dismissed. Some were reinstated after a probation period was over and some never accepted back on the roll.

We are sure that many memories of interesting and lovely people and thrilling episodes are so briefed that good stories have been left untold, but our greatest heritage is spiritual and if we believe all battles were won in yesterday's victories- we lose tomorrow.

Our church belonged to the Union Baptist Association from its organization until 1926 when they asked to be united with the Copiah Baptist Association.

The Union Association was held at two times with the Antioch Church. The first time was September 23, 1910. The messengers from our church for this session were: Marshall M. Hennington, W.D. Bufkin, and W.C. Bufkin. Rev. G.W. Farmer was pastor. Again on October 8 & 9, 1920, the Association met with Antioch. The messengers at this session were: U.D. Bufkin, W.C. Bufkin, and Hobson C. Bishop. The membership was 69 and the pastor was Rev. J. H. Purser.

In 1926, Antioch requested a letter of dismissal to unite with the Copiah Association and was received into the Association when presented for membership. Antioch has been well represented by messengers each session since admission.

On October 23, 1952, the Copiah Association met for the fall session with our Church. Rev. D.C. Greer was pastor. The messengers were T.U. Bufkin, Hobson C. Bishop, Paul Davis, Ernest Simmons, Marshall Davis, and O.H. (Jack) Davis.

Again in later years, the records were lost in a fire but the present recordings show a vast change in membership and progress. Since 1961, Antioch has been a full time church with an active Sunday School and Training Union. The resident membership is small but faithful to the cause.

Antioch Church is 175 years old and we can but bow our heads as a salute to the great work for the Kingdom's growth in the years of this Historic organization and thank God for such a heritage. Our hearts' prayer is that we might have the same vibrant and strong faith that our forefathers had and as we look back on this legend we will be inspired to a greater love and lightly to the Lord and His works.

The frontiers have not all been explored. We are challenged daily to new efforts the future opens to us. We can carry on from here and make the church grow and prosper in a harmonious way if we are willing to work and pray - or we can sit idly by and watch it pass into oblivion.

The destiny of our church will largely be shaped by the decisions we people make.

Written by:     Mrs. Miriam Dodds Hall       March 12, 1912 -  January 15, 1990

©Information herein may be used for personal information, but not published in any format without written permission of all persons involved in this genealogy.
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