The History of the Bass Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The history of a church chronicles the memories of the past, preserves the events of the present, and gives encouragement for the future. This is true of Bass Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Bass Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is composed of two former congregations, Flatwood Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Liberty Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The histories of both the Flatwood C.M.E. Church and the Liberty C.M.E. Church dates back to the time of slavery.

The Flatwood Church was semi-integrated. The blacks were permitted to attend church with their masters, having a white minister as their leader. As time passed, the whites no longer wanted the blacks to share their church. The blacks then worship in whatever old building they could find until Mr. B.S. Evans, a member of the white Flatwood Church donated an acre of land for the purpose of building a church.

In 1892, under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Brown, the first Flatwood C.M.E. Church for the black people was established. In 1910, a meeting with Mr. Evans, the chairman of the trustees and the members of the church was held. It was a meeting that the members decided to purchase this acre of land. On April 13, 1910, our ancestors bought this land for $40.00.

In 1931, Flatwood's own, Rev. R.T. Williams, served as pastor. in 1932, the church burned under the pastorship of Rev. M.C. Thomas. In 1933, the church was rebuilt under the leadership of Rev. C.M. Hughes. Members of the Board of Trustees were Bro. S.J. Johnson, Chairman; Bro. J.D. McGruder, Bro. Luke Charles, Bro. Nick Jones, and Bro. L.A. Alexander. Members of the Board of Stewards were Bro. W.E. Williams, Chairman; Bro. S.J. Johnson, Bro. G. Williams, Bro. Joseph Johnson, and Bro. Luke Charles.

As time passed, the Flatwood C.M.E. Church prospered under the leadership of Rev. O.C. Watts, Rev. W.L. Tucker, Rev. W.B. Franks, Rev. W.O. Davis, Rev. C.M. Hughes, Rev. O'Neal Smith, Rev. J.A. Williams, Rev. P.J. Kirksey, Rev. L. McCleod, Rev. L.G. McWilson and Rev. L.M. Jefferson. Trustees and Stewards who served included Bro. Edward Williams, Bro. Robert L. Williams, Bro. Roosevelt Williams, Bro. Woodrow Harris, Sr. and Bro. Charlie Johnson.

Rev. Glen Jones became Flatwood's pastor in 1984. Under his leadership, the church building was raised, a foyer with classroom space was added to the front of the church, the church steps were rebuilt, the kitchen area was added, and central heat and air was installed.

The Liberty C.M.E. Church was established in the 1800's and at first the church was semi-integrated. The negroes were permitted to worship on the first and third Sundays, while the whites worshiped on the second and fourth Sundays in the same building. On November 12, 1877, an acre of land was given to the Liberty congregation as a place of worship for the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church of America by Mrs. Harriet Chapman.

In the 1890's, the Liberty Colored Methodist Church was further established and moved forward under the leadership of ministers, which included the Reverend K.T. Summerville. In 1912, the church was still growing under the pastorship of Rev. G.B. Ward, Presiding Elder E. Weir, and Bishop G.W. Steward. In the 1917, Liberty was blessed to have Rev. W.L. Amous as pastor. Some of the officers during that time were Bro. Tom Brownlow, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Bro. Ben Wilson, Chairman of the Board of Stewards, and Sis. Odett Merriweather, President of the Missionary Society. From 1918 to 1931, the church was under the leadership of Rev. M.R. Smith, Rev. R.W. Bolden, and others. Rev. W.L. Amous was Presiding Elder. In 1931, Liberty was blessed to have its own, Rev. R.T. Williams, as pastor,

From 1932 to 1939, Liberty was served by Rev. C.M. Hughes and others. During this period, some of the officers were Bro. Ed Marks, Chairman of the Board of Stewards, Bro. Will Brownlow, Secretary, and Bro. Elzie Cooper, Treasurer. Some of the class leaders were Bro. Alfred Cooper, Bro. Ky Kittrell, Bro. Tom Brownlow, Bro. Richard Hobsom, Bro. Marvin McGruder, and Bro. Walter Brownlow. Sunday School Superintendent was Bro. Isiah McGruder. The Epworth League President was Sis. Dora McGruder. Stewardess President was Sis. Fannie Johnson. Sis. Tennie Bell Alexander was Missionary President. Sis. Rosa Nell McGruder provided leadership of Rev. E.D. Dent for six years. Rev. L.G. McWilson followed.

In 1948, the members of Liberty embarked upon a course to build a new church. In May of that year, the church held its first rally and raised $135.70. With faith in God and determination in our hearts, the dream of a new church became a reality. In March 1949, the new Liberty church was dedicated by Rev. O.C. Watts, who was pastor at that time. The church continued prospering under the leadership of Rev. W.L. Tucker, Rev. W.B. Franks, Rev. W.O. Davis, Rev. O'Neal Smith, and Rev. C.M. Hughes.

In 1965, under the dynamic leadership of Rev. W.O. Davis, Liberty started raising funds to build a new structure. Dedicatory services were held that same year with the Rt. Rev. E.P. Murchinson, Bishop, presiding. Bishop Murchinson was assisted by Presiding Elder L.O. Robinson and Pastor J.A. Williams. The trustees at the time were Bro. Richard Hobson, Jr., Chairman, Bro. Clinton Brasfield, Bro. Henry Brasfield, Jr., Bro. Elzie L. Cooper, Bro. Willie Brownlow, Jr., Bro. Robert Brasfield, and Bro. Elijah Jackson. On July 12, 1970, Liberty's first Homecoming Day was held to help raise funds for its building. Over two thousand dollars was raised.

In 1971, Rev. Peter J. Kirksey became pastor of Liberty. During the 1970's, the church felt the loss of several of its most faithful members, but the church moved forward through faith. In 1978, Rev. Lester McCleod became the church's pastor and in 1979, the kitchen area was added to the church. Next, Rev. Lawrence Jefferson was sent to serve as pastor. During this time, Bro. Elzie Cooper donated the bricks to complete the outside of the kitchen annex.

In 1984, Rev. Glen E. Jones became the pastor of the Liberty C.M.E. Church. Under Rev. Jones' leadership, Liberty was completely renovated when flood waters damaged the building in 1990.

For years, the members of Flatwood and Liberty worshipped together, shared the same pastor, fellowshipped with one another, and supported each other. It was through Rev. Jones' vision and spiritual leadership of his congregations that they saw fit to merge in May 1998 and start anew with a wonderful ministry in the Akron and Sawyerville Community. Ground breaking ceremonies for a new church edifice was held on May 22, 1999. Church officials including Bishop Paul A. Stewart and the late Presiding Elder James H. Lowe, as well as members and friends gathered together to ask God's blessings upon the new church property located on the corner of Alabama Highway 60 and County Road 32 south of Akron. Stewards and Trustees at the time of the merger included Bro. Edward Williams, Bro. Robert Brasfield, Bro. Woodrow Harris, Sr., Bro. Clinton Brasfield, Bro. Larnie Wilson, Bro.Fred Allen, Jr., Bro. Jimmy Johnson, Bro. Juan McGruder, Bro. Larry Woods, Bro. Roosevelt Johnson, Bro. Jermaine Woods, Bro. Kelvin Jeames, Bro. Roderick Johnson, and Bro. Wayne Lewis. Class leaders included Bro. Fred Allen, Jr., Bro. Clinton Brasfield, Bro. Clifton Fields, Sr., Bro. James Curtis Fields, Bro. Arthur Jeames, Bro. Jimmy Johnson, Bro. Roderick Johnson, Bro. Roosevelt Johnson, Bro. Wayne Lewis, Bro. Juan McGruder, Bro. Jermaine Woods, and Bro. Larry Woods. Pastor Jones and members of Bass Tabernacle C.M.E. Church worshiped for the first time in their new church edifice on Sunday, July 7, 2002. The pastor and members embarked upon an historical march from the Liberty and Flatwood buildings to the new church edifice.

Bass Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is named for the late Rt. Rev. Richard Oliver Bass, Sr., the 47th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Bass was first elected Bishop in 1986 in Birmingham, Alabama and was assigned to the Fifth Episcopal District. Bishop Bass, now deceased, was known for his kind, compassionate, and spiritual leadership.

Today, Bass Tabernacle gives thanks to Almighty God for the marvelous works that He has done and stands ready to seek Him, learn of Him, and make known His ways to the world.