Bridges Creek Baptist Church, located on V Highway at Elijah, northwest of Bakersfield, has stood as a testament to faith and community for over a century and a half. The church, which was originally organized in a log schoolhouse in 1874, continues to welcome a small but devoted congregation every Sunday, led by co-pastors Mike Evans and Retha Evans.

The Roots of a Faithful Community

The church was founded by members of the pioneering Wiles family, with Robert Wiles serving as the first minister and his brother, T. P. Wiles, as the first church clerk. The Times’ 1928 obituary of T. P. Wiles noted that he died at his home at the head of Bridges Creek and was buried in the church cemetery just hours later, highlighting his deep connection to the congregation.

The congregation’s early years were marked by simplicity. Services were held in the log schoolhouse until 1892, when the group built a frame building. However, this structure was destroyed by fire during a Sunday service in 1914. The congregation then met in the Plum Hollow school while a new building was constructed on 4 acres of land donated by Marvin and Lydia Pense in 1916.

The new church was built using locally sourced lumber, cut from the Allen Butram farm and processed by local sawmill workers. Kerosene lamps provided lighting until 1949, when the church transitioned to electric lights. Over the decades, the building was continually improved with new features like a piano in 1969, a concrete porch in 1965, and red shag carpeting in 1972.

A Living History

The church’s history is preserved in careful records kept by church clerks over the years. Stella Butram, who served as church clerk from 1924 until 1960, documented the congregation’s activities and noted the lack of record-keeping in the early years. Her work was later compiled into a centennial history published in 1974, which noted that the church had been organized on September 7, 1874, in the Bridges Creek log schoolhouse.

Lyndell Strong, a 97-year-old Bakersfield native and longtime member of the congregation, recalls attending services with her family in a horse-drawn wagon before her father purchased an old car for church trips. She also remembers the church’s early days without a piano, relying on an old pump organ and the singing of special duets with her sister.

Lyndell expressed relief that the church remains in good condition and continues to hold regular services. She shared that several generations of her family are buried in Baptist Hill Cemetery, which adjoins the church. The church is also sometimes referred to as Baptist Hill Church, although its official name is Bridges Creek Baptist.

Modern-Day Devotion

Despite its small size, Bridges Creek Baptist Church maintains a strong sense of community and faith. Anna Winfrey Watlington, a lifelong Bakersfield resident and longtime member, described the congregation as a close-knit family with a ‘sweet spirit.’ She returned to the church in 2014 after moving away and has remained active ever since.

Anna and her husband, Tim, raised all four of their children in the church, and all four have been baptized and are actively involved in church activities. She expressed confidence that the church will continue to thrive, even after the departure of the previous pastor. ‘When a pastor leaves, it’s like God’s got someone ready to come in,’ she said.

The Watlington family, including their four grown children, often gathers at the church when they are home. Although the church does not have its own baptistry, all four children were baptized at Bridges Creek Baptist Church after being ‘saved’ there.

The church continues to be a place of worship and community for those who attend, offering a sense of tradition and continuity that is rare in modern times. Its history, preserved in both its architecture and the stories of its members, ensures that Bridges Creek Baptist Church remains a cherished institution in Ozark County.