Randolph County, Indiana
West River Township
Churches
Buena Vista Church
Tucker HistoryWest River Township
Churches
Buena Vista Church
Page 144
CHRISTIAN CHURCH---" NEW LIGHTS."
Unionsport. -The Christians have had preaching in this neighborhood for many years, though mostly in private dwellings and schoolhouses. About 1868, when the woolen factory was new, a meeting was held by them therein with good results, and there has been a society ever since. Some of the members have been Absalom Oren, J. C. Bates, William Aikens, Samuel Gillam, Mr. Merriwether, James Pursley, David Moore, Andrew Moore, Mr. Fister, John Moyer. Preachers, Isaac V. D. R. Johnson, Absalom Oren, Mr. Cropper, et. The society occupies at present the meeting-house between Buena Vista and Unionsport.
Page 147 & 148
FRIENDS' MEETINGS.
Buena Vista (between Buena Vista and Unionsport)-
The church was built about 1870, by a union effort of all classes, and was then given into the charge of Friends. There was no Society in connection with the meeting-house, but Friends from abroad made appointments for a time.
Their meetings have, however, been given up, and the house is occupied once a month by the Christians (New Lights).
There was once a Quaker Church standing about in the middle of the burying-ground. It was built by Thomas Gillum, perhaps thirty years ago, say 1850, or thereabouts.
Page 157. METHODIST CHURCHES
Unionsport.- Methodist services have been held in the region for many years. Elza Lank. Sr., held a series of meetings at Unionsport years ago, and a strong revival was the result. Others also have preached in the neighborhood. The meeting-house at Unionsport was built about 1868 or thereabout.
Some of the chief members of the society are, or have been, John Lumpkin, John Botkin, Mr. Cropper, Mr. Elliot, Stephen Haines, etc., etc.
Page 158. PRESBYTERIANS.
Buena Vista.--A meeting-house was built some years after the Pleasant Ridge Church was erected, but an attempt was made to form a Congregational Church from the members of the Presbyterian Church. As a result of the effort, all failed, and the meeting house at Buena Vista has been for many years occupied as a barn by Robert Starbuck, on whose land it is situated.
Past & Present of Randolph County, Indiana 1914 Page 724.
Sunday Schools - Denomination - Superintendent - Address - Enrollment
West River Township
Buena Vista, Christian, Arthur W. Moore, Modoc 28, 60;
Saturday, August 17, 1968
Sesquicentennial Edition
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Buena Vista Congressional Christian Church
The present church was built in 1870 - 98 years ago - and was given into the charge of the Friends of the Poplar Run meeting. Ministers of the Friends denomination came by appointment to conduct services for the community.
In 1885 the Rev. I. V D. R. Johnson came to organize a Christian church and 100 persons were entered as charter members. There are 53 members on the rolls at present.
There have been 22 pastors with the Rev. Mr. Johnson as the first and the Rev. Earl Metsker present pastor.
The church building is located adjacent to the Buena Vista cemetery near the village of Unionport on the boundary of White River and Union townships.
Newspaper article contributed By: Billy J. Baker
August 11, 2005
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Lightning sparks fire that destroys historic church.
By NICK WERNER
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The country church was built in 1885 and has a 25-member congregation, elder Joe Jarrett said.
For 120 years, the church sat on a hill in southwestern Randolph County, eventually surrounded by a rolling 10-acre cemetery and overlooking bean fields.
Cemetery caretaker Janet Swoveland cringed as a firefighter used a hooked pole to break a red and green stained glass window on the south side of the building, nearly three hours into the blaze.
"It's terrible," she said as smoke began to roll from the new opening. "It just puts a feeling in your gut that won't go away for a while."
Firefighters and neighbors believe the blaze began around 4:30 p.m., just about the time heavy thunderstorms moved through the area.
By 7 p.m., the building's tin roof had fallen in and exterior walls, whitewashed about five years ago, were beginning to bend.
Firefighters said there was little that could have saved the church from destruction because of the building's age and the amount of wood involved.
Members had salvaged only a handful of items from the flames and stacked them among marble gravestones. They included the pulpit, a collage of youth activity photos, an American flag and a wooden chair.
Rev. Jerry Brumfield declined to comment about the future of the building until he spoke with the church insurance company and congregation.
"One thing we do know is we'll keep worshipping the Lord," he said. "There's no question about that. The building can be destroyed, but the true church is in the faith of the people."
The church will find an alternate location for this Sunday's services, he said.
About 35 firefighters from Farmland, Modoc, White River, Losantville and West Union fire departments responded.
Contributed by Gina Richardson
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