INDIANAPOLIS — The Samuel Bryan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently completed an archiving project of digitizing the church records belonging to One Christian Church, located on Banta Road that was once named Southport Baptist Church, originally founded in Southport.
The project required 50 hours of scanning of over 700 pages of church minutes dating as far back as 1836, numerous photos through decades, plus many other printed materials. Patricia Moy, regent and Molly Sanders, vice-regent, spent 2020 scanning the early history of One Christian Church for the church and Pastor Jeff Stranton.
“The church’s name has changed several times. Beginning with Forks of the Little Buck Creek Church, shortened to Little Buck Creek Baptist Church, then Southport Baptist Church, and now One Christian Church,” shared Stranton. Jeremiah Featherston founded the church in 1832 after separating from Lick Creek Baptist Church which began in 1826 in Beech Grove.
“Our patron patriot, Samuel Bryan, who fought in the American Revolution, and his family were charter members of both churches. When I was scanning one of the early entries, I discovered the mention of Samuel’s death,” Moy stated. Samuel Bryan, an American Revolution War soldier, died March 4, 1837, the Beech Grove chapter’s namesake and Patriot patron.
“And we were stunned to learn that Samuel’s son Luke shared in the naming of the church,” continued Moy.
Moy scanned most of the minute books and reviewed the manuscript beginning with church minutes dated from 1836. The oldest books were placed in acid-free archive quality storage boxes, and all photos were placed in protective sleeves.
Newspapers were unfolded and photographed, and the oldest was a 1907 issue of the Marion County Mail.
“When we first received the church records, they were disorganized. Some were wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Pictures were tossed haphazardly in different boxes,” Sanders added.
Sanders scanned most of the pictures, and the miscellaneous related memories of the church collected through the years. “I first had to organize all those pictures into categories and by year. Before placing each photo in a protected sleeve, each was wiped to remove dust and fingerprints.”
“We still have a lot to do with the images to prepare them for the DAR’s library in DC,” added Moy, referring to the Daughters of the American Revolution Library located in Washington DC, which holds genealogical records in their Genealogical Research System (GRC). “There isn’t specific genealogy noted in the church minutes, but it clearly indicates where and when certain families and individuals were at the time,” stated Sanders, who is also the chapter’s Genealogical Records chairperson.
One Christian Church financed the project by purchasing all needed supplies.
The Samuel Bryan Chapter is reaching out to the older churches of Beech Grove and the surrounding communities that if their church has a history of being established in the 1800s, they would like to hear from faith leaders to discuss a scanning and archiving project that could preserve the church’s history with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Library.
For more information about becoming a member, please contact the Samuel Bryan Chapter at samuelbryanchapterdar@gmail.com.
