Blue Springs Missionary Baptist Church has a long history dating back to 1837 when the church was established in Blue Springs Hollow in Speedwell, Tennessee. Later, because the Powell River ran between the Sharps Chapel Community and Speedwell, the river would rise from excessive rain and often made it impassable for members to attend Sunday worship services.
In 1886 the Blue Springs Congregation started to meet in an old building in Sharps Chapel on what is now the property where Howard Creech has his cattle farm. A.F. Anderson donated the property where the church is now located, at 3145 Sharps Chapel Rd., located just before the entrance to Chuck Swan Wildlife Management Area.

Fast forward to today. Several of the members in the congregation decided to keep that history top-of-mind with a display of photos - old and new. Lynn Dykes, the wife of Deacon Warren Dykes, had the idea to get prints made from a collection of old photos in their possession and honor the church’s history with a montage on the bare walls in the fellowship hall. It didn’t take long for other members, who like to take photos themselves, to recognize a good idea when they hear one. New members Jody McClearn, Billy McClearn, and Mary Johnson joined Lynn and framed and hung over 40 photos, one dating back to 1914 that shows 35 individuals attending a Singing School at Blue Springs Church. Additionally, there is a second wall with photos of recent and past baptisms of members set in gold frames.

The grand reveal to the congregation was held Sunday February 9 during their Valentine’s Day Fellowship Luncheon that included a homemade spaghetti dinner. Surprised members gathered around the photos and reminisced, identifying individuals with family names such as Paul, Dykes, Williams, Cox, Tharp, Toliver, Creech, Ray, Elison Lovern, and Steiner.

We would like to extend an invitation to the community to visit Blue Springs Baptist Church any Sunday at 11:00 for worship and stay for a private tour of the photos. We are also putting out a request for more historic photos from your family albums that include activities at our church such as Baptisms, Sunday School, and fund-raising events.