Crosspoint Baptist Fellowship
In the spring of 1930, George D. Bishop, H. M. Fears, T. W. Lundy and Henry Cowart, felt a need for the people of Burton-Swartz Quarters. These four families left the First Baptist Church in Perry and began holding prayer meetings in the courthouse. Then a series of cottage prayer meetings were conducted in the homes. After a short time the homes were outgrown. It was through that Henry Cowart made the arrangements for the use of a building that was not being used by Burton-Swartz Cypress Co. this building was used as a dog house for Roy Wilder’s dogs, and the meeting place soon became known as the “ole dog house”. Partitions were removed, seats built, and the people moved in. The group was advised by Rev. E. S. Collins not to organize a church at this time, even though there were several Baptist people that were holding membership in various communities who were not attending church services anywhere. This group met for several more months and organized a Sunday school and began teaching the Bible.
Rev. T. O. Reese from the First Baptist Church in Perry conducted a series of evangelistic meetings. The preaching was so good, and the congregation grew, until it was necessary to completely knock out a wall for more space. At the close of these meetings, a church was organized with twenty charter members. They were Mr. and Mrs. George D. Bishop and daughter Vera (Mrs. George Blocker), Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cowart, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Fears, Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Lundy and daughter Jeanette (Mrs. Jesse McLeod), Mr. and Mrs. A. C. McLeod and daughter Nell (Mrs. Albert Cothran), and Irene (Mrs. Cleveland Moore), and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Roberts, Mr. and Mrs.Lenie Roberts (Mrs. Roberts is the present Lora Green), and Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Winberley. Rev. Mace Howell was called as the first pastor and remained until his death, which was only a few months. The church was named by Mrs. T. W. Lundy, Burton Memorial Baptist Church. Burton-Swartz Cypress Company gave the property and an old house to be used for lumber to begin the first church building.
The men of the church only worked one, two or three days a week on their jobs, due to the depression; and they were able to work 36 to 48 hours a week on the church. The first church building, frame, was dedicated in August 1930. This building was erected under the leadership of Rev. A. H. Townsend, also WMU was organized. Brother Henry Cowart and Brother Lonie Roberts were two of the pillars of this little church. Brother A. C. McLeod and Brother Lonie Roberts were the first deacons.
The frame building burned in 1950. The only possession salvaged was a piano. The church met under a tent while a new block building was being constructed under the leadership of Rev. W. C. DeShazo. The church built its first pastorium during his ministry. The block building was sold in 1964. The widening of US 19 had taken most of the parking and the church membership decided to relocate. The congregation moved into the present building on Courtney Road in November 1960, under the leadership of Rev. James W. Howell.
In 1960 the name of the church was changed from Burton Memorial Baptist Church to Burton Baptist Church, under the cleadership of Rev. J. W. Howell, the grandson of the first pastor Rev. Mace Howell. It was this same year that the church purchased and began using the Baptist Hymnal. The first piece of office equipment, an adding machine, was bought for $20 in 1961. Sometime during the ministry of Rev. Dykes, the church was broadcasting the Sunday night services over the radio. The church had five active choirs at this time (55 people). The highest attendance ever in the history of Burton was 607 in 1966 for a night under the leadership of Rev. Earl Willis. The first lawnmower owned by the church was bought in 1971 for $25. In January 1973, the church, under the leadership of Rev. Jerry Zell, survived a vote of Southern Baptist vs. Independent Baptist. Rev. Zell left, and formed a new Independent Baptist Church, Faith Baptist.
Rev. Issac, interim, served as a strong source of support until Rev. Wiggins came as our pastor, who helped to unite the church under God’s leadership. During his ministry the church built an alter rail. Carpeted the sanctuary, installed central heat and air in the education building, and installed a sound system. The church building was paid off during this time. Rev. Wiggins left the church to serve full-time in evangelism. Rev. F. T. Rogers is the present pastor. During his service an intercom system has been installed in the nursery, a wheel chair ramp built and made the purchase of the church’s first banquet tables.
Down through the years Burton has called fifteen pastors, one serving two different times. Rev. A. H. Townsend (father of Mrs. Inez Simmons); and six interim pastors, one serving two different times Rev. W. E. Ostean. In order they are: Mace Howell; E. S. Collins; Interim A. H. Townsend; T. Alan Goodman; A. H. Townsend; Charles Persons; W. C. DeShazo; C. F. Hooker; James W. Howell; Joseph R. Dykes; Jack Handberry, Interim; Carl Parker; Paul Hendry, Interim; Earl Willis; Jerry Lee Zell; W. R. Ostean, Interim; and F. T. Rogers.
During the ministry of the church, there have been five men given a certificate to preach the gospel and one man ordained into the ministry. They were: Hiram Hart, certified and ordained, Darrell Roberts, Jimmy Hornsby, Jim Stagg and Bud Strickland.
The longest term of elected (free) service was the office of the treasury, which was held for 35 years by Shorty Porter.
This history was written by Eleanor T. Bowman, daughter of deceased Deacon E. J. Tedder and Sella Tedder. It was complied after talking with two of the three surviving charter members and many people with early membership in the church.
Around 1997 Burton Baptist Church changed their name to Crosspoint Baptist Fellowship.