Churches
Bethlehem Baptist Church
- Elkwood Section Road, Hazel Green
Picture circa late 1970s
The original church was built in the summer of 1918 and has interesting origins. You can read about it's history by following the link provided: https://www.bbchg.org/history
In 1985, the original building became a private residence of the Patterson family. It remained so until 2016 when tornadic winds caused a large tree limb to fall through the roof of the home. The damage was irreparable.
Carter's Grove Baptist Church
- Corner of Carter Grove Road and Charity Lane, Hazel Green
Brother George Rogers was the first pastor of this church, which as established in 1913. It began, not as a typical church building, but as a brush arbor which was built on the farm land of Mr. Bruce Carter. However, the first arbor location was actually at the intersection of Carter's Grove Road and Ready Section Road.
Eventually, a log building was erected after wood was donated from Mr. and Mrs. Tom Franklin. It was ready by August of 1918. The first families to join were the Carter, Franklin, Higginbottom, Holt, Jones, Keel, Morrow, Posey, Riddle, Rogers, and Sharp families.
Before it was bricked several years later, it was a "little white church" with a large wood-burning stove near the front of the building that heated the church until the introduction of electricity to the community. In the 1940s, the church gained the luxury of electric light and heat.
The church was added onto in 1953 with a second building, and in 1957 a third sanctuary was began. Classrooms were added to the basement.
The church community truly came together during the Great Depresssion when in 1929, leaders from the congregation came together to start a field to grow cotton and peas, which they would sell to aid the church.
- Stanford, Vicki. Pioneer Profiles. Madison Cross Roads Extension Homemakers. 1989. 55-56.
Charity Baptist Church
- Charity Lane, Hazel Green
On September 11, 1876, Charity Baptist Church began, but it wasn't until October of 1876 that the first building, a modest log building, was erected so that services could be held on that spot. The spot was donated by Theophilus and Eliza Tanner, and the first minister was J.W. Hilliard.
Unfortunately, the first building was lost to a fire and had to be rebuilt between 1912 and 1914. The church continued to grow over time, and in 1940 Sunday school rooms were added, a pastorium was purchased in 1962, and the building was bricked in 1975.
In the cemetery surrounding the church rests the bones of some of the founding members of the community.
- Carlisle, Mildred Ernest. Early History of North Central Madison County.
New Sharon Church of God
- Charity Lane, Hazel Green
Now known as Faith Baptist Church, New Sharon Church of God was established sometime during the mid 1800s. Like many other churches in the area, the church began as a log building. A new building was erected in 1926, though on December 25, 1970, this building burnt down and had to be rebuilt. New Sharon Cemetery surrounds the property.
Shady Grove Church
- Corner of Wall Triana Highway and Shady Grove Road, Toney
This church is located at the top of what was once called Shady Grove Hill. It began as a log building in 1844, and its first minister was Reverend Henry P. Turner (who was a relative to the Turners of Dan - the settlement which became a part of Toney). It was a one room building with two doors in the front, and it stood until 1944. At that time, it was replaced by a new church building. The church continued to grow when Sunday School rooms were added in 1963, and Fellowship Hall addition was included in 1974.
During the Civil War, many of the congregation chose to meet in various homes rather than the church building, as people feared it would be unsafe to gather there during this time.
Although it is known as Shady Grove Church today, it has also been known as the Shady Grove Methodist Church, Shady Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, and Shady Grove United Methodist.
Shady Grove Church is surrounded by the Shady Grove Cemetery which spans both sides of Wall Triana Highway at the corner of Shady Grove Road. The oldest grave stone predates 1898.
Some of the first families to join the congregation were the Bayless, Clark, Hatchett, Jones, Pearson, and Turner families.
- Stanford, Vicki. Pioneer Profiles. Madison Cross Roads Extension Homemakers. 1989. 53-54.
Carlisle, Mildred Earnest. Early History of North Central Madison County. 27-33