Historic Churches of Miller County, Mo.

Historical Churches of Miller County

By Kelly Warman-Stallings

Published to "Window to the Past" website on 8 April 2024

The following article covers the old historical churches that once were scattered throughout Miller County but are no longer in existence today. When Miller County was established in 1837 there was only two religious denominations existing in the newly formed county... the Methodist, organized in 1834 and the Baptist, organized in 1835. More religious congregations popped up after countyhood: Campbellite (1841); Disciples of Christ & Church of Christ (1850); Congregational (1866); Catholic (1870); Advent Christian (c/1872); Presbyterian (1888); Christian New Light (c/1899); Assembly of God (1923); Nazarene (1926); Jehovah's Witnesses (1935); Lutheran (1940).

Peggy Smith Hake, a Miller County historian, wrote... "The first church organized in what is now Miller County was called the United Baptist Church of Christ at Gilgal. The folks were often referred to as 'hard-shell Baptists" and sometimes called 'primitive Baptists'. Gilgal was the first church of record in Miller County but actually there was an earlier church organized in 1834 by the Methodists. It was located in the Big Richwoods of eastern Miller County and was called Smyrna, an old log structure."

HISTORICAL CHURCHES:

Alder Springs Church of Christ

Alder Springs Church of Christ in 2024

This historic church was located southeast of Iberia and organized around 1864. The early history remains elusive, as no written records have survived. Folklore states Alder Springs Church was an early Campbellite denomination, that split into two factions: Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ churches. The exact reason for the split is not entirely clear, but it may have involved differences in musical practices within the church. Disciples of Christ chose to have music in their Christian church, while the Church of Christ opposed it. Alder Springs (Church of Christ) split from Pleasant Hill (Disciples of Christ) during the Civil War era.

Peggy Smith Hake wrote, "According to legend, some members left the Pleasant Hill Christian Church due to disagreements, leading to the formation of their own church at Alder Springs." Rev. Distlekamp from Maries County was said to have preached there in the early 1900s. It is unknown when Alder Springs Church of Christ was disorganized, but the abandoned church has stood empty for many years.

Barnett Baptist Church

This old church was once located in Glaize Township along Little Bear Creek and named for George Barnett, an early landowner who donated the land for Barnett Baptist Church. It was organized in late 19th century and located not far from the Blackmer community (northwest of Ulman). According to Sylvia Ramsey Cox, Simon Peter Cox was an early preacher who traveled about Miller County to various Baptist churches for over 50 years between the late 1800s into the early 1900s. Barnett Baptist Church was one of those churches where Rev. Cox conducted his Sunday services. For many years, Cox held different positions in the Miller County Baptist Association. Rev. Cox was also renowned for his revival meetings that usually ended with a basket dinner. The church, which was in the vicinity of Barnett School, was abandoned and torn down many decades ago.

Bethany Presbyterian Church

This old Presbyterian church once sat very near the Miller County-Pulaski County line. The church was located in Miller County; the cemetery (Bethany Cemetery) was cleared north of the church by its parishioners. Around 1910, church services began and were conducted by Rev. George F. Bell. Pastor Bell maintained religious services between the vicinity of Johnston School in southern Miller County and Kelso School in northern Pulaski County. Alice Moss wrote in 1984, "A year later the same Rev. Bell conducted services under a "brush arbor"... The "brush arbor" was located on what was known as the Loague hill and sort of combined the Johnston School community and the Kelso School community for these church services." The church was built c/1911-12 and conducted Sunday sermons, as well as Sunday School classes for the children, until it was destroyed by fire in March of 1930. Other ministers who preached at Bethany Presbyterian Church included: Rev. Gutherie, Rev. Smutz and Rev. Walker. Today, only the cemetery is a reminder that a beautiful country church once stood nearby.

Christian New Light Churches

Fairview Christian Church in 2024

Organized in the late 1890s, the Christian New Light Church first held services at the G.A.R. Hall in Iberia. Around 1899, the members of the Christian New Light Church proposed constructing a church building and soon after acquired a tract of land on the north side of Iberia. Early pastors included: Charles M. Sooter, Ned Sooter and John Aust. Rev. Charles Sooter was renowned for baptizing over 76 converts in one day: 72 immersed and 4 sprinkled, acquiring the mantra from many people as being the "most effective preacher of his day". Rev. Sooter was also noted for baptizing converts in the Barren, Big Tavern, Brushy, Cattail, Coon, Dog, Humphrey's and Sugar creeks, as well as performing the religious ritual at the Osage River. Rev. Charles Sooter was responsible for organizing

the following Christian New Light churches in the county: Atwell, Campground, Liberty, Little Tavern, Fairview, Gott, High Knob, Humphrey's Creek, Iberia, Mt. Zion, Mount Gilead and Union. The Christian New Light Church was an offshoot of the [old] Campbellite Christian Churches. Today, all these churches are long gone and no longer in existence, except for one: Fairview Christian Church near Iberia that continues to offer weekly services 125 years later.

Concord Baptist Church

Concord Baptist Church was once located in Glaize Township mid-way between Brumley and Ulman. This Baptist Church was organized around 1884. For many years the parishioners conducted their religious practices in private homes, as well as held outside worship services when weather permitted. In 1899, the trustees of the "General Baptist Church at Concord" deeded a 1/2-acre parcel of land to the Christian Church for their own church home, but that transaction became null and void. By 1904, the Concord Baptist Church building was constructed. Whether there was an earlier church structure is unknown, but by the 1920s, the Christian New Light Church was housed in the building and Concord Baptist Church ceased to exist. The church building has been gone for many decades now. The church was once located near the Gott Cemetery.

Congregational Church of Eldon

This notable church was organized by former members of the Congregational Church at Pleasant Mount in April of 1883. The former members included the families of Austin, Joslyn, Ordway, Phillips, and Weeks. Reverend Lobo was the first pastor. The church was built c/1884-85 and was located at Fourth Street and Grand Avenue. It has been recorded Eldon Congregational Church was the first church building to be erected in Eldon's city limits. Another early preacher was Rev. John Vetter who spread the word of God from 1885-1904. During Vetter's pastorate the church building was destroyed by cyclonic winds in 1896 and was rebuilt in 1897 at First Street and Aurora Street, which was located across the street from the Christian Church. Other early ministers who followed Rev. Vetter included: Jacob Meeker, M. C. Garvin, W. D. Amock, R. W. Merrifield, I. A. Smith and Noyes Bartholomew. The church disbanded sometime around 1933-34 and completely abandoned by 1935. The building was sold and made into apartments. The original members of this old church moved their membership to other congregations, such as the Baptist, Christian and Methodist.

Elm Springs Baptist Church

This historic church was once located three miles southeast of Bagnell in northwestern Glaize Township and originated around 1850. According to Peggy Smith Hake, "... there is no history of Elm Springs Baptist Church except it was in existence in 1913 per "Schultz's History of Miller County". It was mentioned, along with other Baptist Churches that existed in 1913 in Miller County....there was no history given, only a brief notice. I suspect there may have been an earlier church, so it may have been revived about 1913 and probably was still in existence as late as 1931." However, Mrs. Hake dug a little deeper and discovered that when Elmer Kidwell purchased the land in 1908, the old log church was still standing. (per Herbert Kidwell, son of Elmer). Peggy Smith Hake wrote, "Later, the old log building was moved and used for a barn and storage shed. Mr. [Herbert] Kidwell said that when it was being used as a church, the log building was very primitive with only dirt floors.......the old church was used for a barn for quite some time but eventually it 'rotted down' and is no longer in existence."

Gageville Christian Church

In 1883, the Gageville Christian Church was organized by Rev. Luke E. Melton. Rev. Melton married Lucinda Wall in Miller County in 1872 and for many years they lived in the Gageville area, southwest of Etterville, Missouri. Earlier, in 1880, a frame building, which was used for religious services and community functions, was erected and used by the local folks prior to Melton's arrival in the area. By the late 1880s, the church had 42 members and the church elders were Andrew J. Buster and James Simpson.

Gageville Christian Church in 2024

The nearest cemetery (Gageville Cemetery) was located a couple miles east of the church. This Christian church practiced religious services well into the early 20th century. It is unknown when the church disbanded, but the old church building still stands high upon a hill overlooking Gageville Road. Today, the building has been gutted and is in a sad disrepair.

Gilgal Baptist Church

Gilgal Church was the second church organized in Miller County and was called the United Baptist Church of Christ at Gilgal. This was also the first church on record for the county. It was located near the Little Gravois Creek in Franklin Township near the old settlement of Bagnell. Organized in 1835, two years before Miller became a county of Missouri, the log church was once situated along where the mouth of the Little Gravois Creek and the Osage River met. Early ministers between 1836-63 included: Andrew Kingery, Snelling Johnson, George O. Morris, John Brockman and William B. Karr. The earliest members of the church included the families of Bartlett, Brockman, DeGraffenreid, Johnson, Kingery, Loveall, Morris, Salsbury, Sartor/Sorter, Vaughn, Vernon. By 1860, the congregation had grown, and more families could be found in record of attendance: Albertson, Buchanan, Burnett, Burris, Carroll, Coy, Davis, Feeney, Freeman, McComb, Record, Sutleff, Wilcox, and Wyrick. The last record of attendance at Old Gilgal Church on the Gravois occurred in October of 1863.

Gott Christian Church

Located in Glaize Township, four miles north of Brumley, this early church originated in 1873 and named for Jesse Gott, who donated fifteen acres for the church and graveyard. The history of this church is a bit vague, but more than likely its denomination was of an early Campbellite religion. It is unknown if a church building was ever erected during the early years of organization; it was common back then to conduct worship services in private homes. As mentioned above, by the 1920s the Gott New Light Christian Church was occupying the old Concord Baptist Church building, which was built by the Baptists and located in the vicinity of Gott Cemetery. Whatever became of the original Gott Christian Church is unknown, as the church congregation dissolved a long time ago. Today only the cemetery (Gott Cemetery) remains, which continues to harbor the church's secrets.

Harmony Church

This memorable church has a unique history. It housed both the Baptist and Methodist denominations. Originally both congregations had their own church buildings and were known as the Flatwoods churches in the early 1870s. Flatwoods Baptist Church was organized in 1872 and the Flatwoods Methodist Church organized a short time later in Equality Township between Tuscumbia and Eldon. It has been documented the building was used by both denominations, who were said to have "gotten along always in harmony, hence the name" (SHSMO. Ramsay Place Names Files). Both churches were allotted two Sundays per month to conduct their services. No information was found to explain what happened to the original churches after Harmony Church was built. Regardless, the church burned down some time in the early 1900s and thereafter both congregations were eventually disorganized. Today, only the original Flatwoods Baptist Church remains, although the building is in a bit of a run-downed state.

Hickory Point Christian Church

Once located a quarter mile north of Hickory Point Baptist Church, these two churches sometimes get confused with each other. The story told that when the Campbellite movement (Disciples of Christ/Church of Christ) came to the community, some of the members of the Baptist Church left and built their own church building, thus starting the Hickory Point Christian Church. A short reference to Hickory Point Christian Church could be found in Goodspeed's History of Miller County (1889): "Hickory Point Church began its career in August, 1878, under the direction of Revs. N. Davis, E.W. Burks and A. Bear. Their membership of twenty-three has since increased to eighty-eight under the successive pastorates of Revs. N. Davis, J.H.D. Thomson, J.C. Martin, D.T. Connor, J.H. Aust and E. Wright. They still use their log building, erected in 1879, eleven miles south of Tuscumbia." Also, a short paragraph in a history of Miller County Baptist churches published by the Miller County Baptist Association states that in the late 1800's the "Alexander Campbellite Movement came into the area and as a consequence a good number of people left the Hickory Point Baptist church and started the Hickory Point Christian Church." Later preachers of the church included: Frank Moneymaker, Orlando Wood, John Davenport and J. D. H. Thomson. In 1965 a severe wind heavily damaged the church and soon after the church elders agreed to disband the church due to failing attendance. The church building has been gone for quite a few decades now.

Madden Methodist Church

The historic Madden church, which existed for several years of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was once located in Richwoods Township, southwest of Iberia. It was situated near the Madden School, located on the north side of the Big Tavern Creek, which overlooked the valley below. The name of the church, as well as the community, was named for the Madden family. Unfortunately, there are no written records for this early church. The organization of the church, the pastors who conducted services and the names of the congregational families continue to remain obscure. However, it's possible that some of the Madden Methodist Church congregation was buried at Madden Cemetery.

New Hope Baptist Church

(Old) New Hope Baptist Church in 2024 (New) New Hope Freewill Baptist Church in 2024

This old, abandoned church is located one mile south of Kaiser, at Lake of the Ozarks, and once housed both the Baptist and Freewill Baptist religions during its history. The Baptist church [old building] was organized about 1885 and the Freewill Baptist Church [new building] originated in 1932. Both church buildings are still standing, which are divided by the cemetery (New Hope Cemetery) that lies between them. Very little information can be found for either of these historic churches, but the large cemetery has 633 burials recorded, which is a testament of the Baptist church's endurance. Other than the church sanctuary being recently abandoned, and the cemetery's longevity, no other data is available. But, New Hope Church will now go down in the annals of the "Historical Churches of Miller County".

Religion differences: The Baptist religion believes in full atonement - "once saved, always saved", while the Freewill Baptist believes in partial atonement - "a person can fall from grace if they stray"; salvation is not guaranteed and can be lost. (Source: Bing AI)

Oak View Church of Christ

Oak View Church of Christ in 2024

In the early 1900s, Oak View Church of Christ got its beginnings when some of the parishioners of Pleasant Hill Christian Church decided to build their own church due to disagreements about allowing music during services. An early minister of this historic church was Rev. Distlekamp [of Maries County]. Peggy Smith Hake wrote, " I think the old church only existed for about 15 years or less.....when I was a child, I remember going to Oak View with my grandmother on afternoons when ladies of the community would gather to make quilts and wrap bandages made from old bed sheets. I think this may have been at the beginning of

World War II and the bandages were sent to the military to be used on the battlefields. I would venture a guess that the early 1940s was the end of the existence of Oak View Church of Christ." This old shell of a church edifice stands as a reminder of one of Miller County's numerous historical churches.

Pleasant Mount Christian Church

Pleasant Mount Christian Church in 2024

On October 12, 1884, Pleasant Mount Christian Church grew from [old] Salem Church (in present-day Eldon) and a new structure was built three miles east of Salem (in present-day Mt. Pleasant).

When the new church branched off from Salem and was built at Mount Pleasant, some of the area families who attended during this era included: Adcock, Crisp, Dunham, Etter, Franklin, Gartin, and Walker. In 1884, there were 64 members.

By 1889, the membership had reached 135 and their frame church was valued over $1,000 (Source: Compiled by a committee from St. Paul's School of Theology, 1982). The chronological and historical order of the church was as follows: From 1841-1852--it was called Mt. Vernon Church; From 1852-1884--it was known as Salem Church; From 1884-mid-1900s--it was referred to as Pleasant Mount Church. By the mid-1900s, it was referred to as Mt. Pleasant Christian Church. The church disbanded and was abandoned many years ago. Today, the church building is being used by the Masons and known the A.F. & A.M. Hickory Hill Lodge, No. 211.

Pleasant Mount Methodist Church

In 1841, Rev. John Monroe organized a Methodist Church at Pleasant Mount. William P. Dixon, Claiborn Still, Joseph Sullivan, William Ragsdall, A. M. Smith, John Sons, and John T. Davis was the first board of trustees. During the early years of this historical church, religious services were conducted in the homes of the Methodist brethren, notably, the families of Dresser, Dixon and Smith. "In 1858 the Methodists built a church house and parsonage of logs in Pleasant Mount, the buildings costing more than $700.00." (Compiled information from St. Paul's School of Theology. 1982.) Another early preacher was Rev. John D. Reed, who died at Pleasant Mount in 1864 and buried in the [then] newly formed cemetery. In all probability the preaching the gospel in Pleasant Mount gave rise to the spread of the Methodist Church to Olean, east of Eldon, and to High Point, north of Eldon. Records show that Eldon, High Point and Olean were on the same circuit for several years. Today, the Pleasant Mount Methodist Church is no longer in existence and the church building has been gone for many decades.

Salem Christian Church

[Salem] Eldon Christian Church in 2024

In 1841, the Disciples of Christ (first known as Campbellite Christian) organized one of the first churches in present day Eldon. This church was first known as Mt. Vernon Tabernacle, the name taken from the Baptists who had already organized a church in Saline Township in 1840. These denominations shared the church for over 10 years until differences arose between the congregations. In the Autumn of 1851, the Disciples of Christ moved away and established the Salem Christian Church about one-half mile west of the old Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. Its early preachers included:

William Jones and Nelson Davis. Traveling preachers, who came in later years, included: J. S. Bonham, John Bezoni, Mr. Findlay and J.H.D. Thomason. The Salem Cemetery was situated directly behind the Salem Church (the current church was built in 1914 and sat near the original church of 1851). Some of Miller County's oldest burials can be found in this graveyard. In 1882, the old Salem Christian Church was disbanded and dissolved into three divisions: Eldon, Olean and Pleasant Mount. The building sold for $312 and divided into three parts: J.J. Haynes, trustee for Eldon--$104; J.T. Gilliland, trustee for Olean--$104.; W.T. Franklin, trustee for Pleasant Mount--$104. The original Salem Christian Church structure has been gone for 120+ years and the 1914, Eldon Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) building, has now been taken over by nature.

Spring Garden Christian Church

Spring Garden Christian Church was organized in 1840 and pastored by Rev. Phillip Mulkey, one of the first Campbellite preachers to come into Central Missouri. This Christian church was built in 1845 and became the "mother church of the Campbellites" in Miller County. Boyd Miller donated two acres of land to the small community for 999 years and it was there the frame church was built. By 1870, a second church was built on the site; unsure of what happened to the first church building. Regardless, both churches were once situated in the northwest corner of the present cemetery (Spring Garden Cemetery). Some of the earliest burials in the county can be found in this large pioneer cemetery. According to Judge Clyde L. Jenkins, a Miller County historian, an early minister of the church was Rev. G. L. Thompson. It is unknown what became of the frame church, the preachers or the congregation as there is not a lot of information about this pioneer Christian church. Today, Spring Garden Cemetery is a reminder that the "mother church of the Campbellites" once stood proud in its midst amid its obscure history.

Spring Valley Baptist Church

In March of 1886, Spring Valley Baptist Church was organized under the following charter members: Rev. Earl Allen, A. T. Henley, J. A. Henley, J. B. Henley, J. B. Hoskins, W.W. Hoskins and Henry Van Hooser. Around the early 1890s a church house was built near Alder Springs outside of Iberia, on land donated by S. W. and Minerva Cox. It is documented Spring Valley Church held a great revival in March of 1927 that lasted three weeks. According to church records, there were 74 people baptized during that time. One of the very first Vacation Bible Schools launched in Miller County was held at Spring Valley Church in 1939 and in 1940 this historic Baptist church had the first Easter Sunrise Service in the county. By 1960 the church property was sold, and the charter members bought the old Spring Valley School house and moved into the two-room school with a full basement in 1961. By 1988, the church had enlarged its building to include seven classrooms, two restrooms, and personal quarters for the pastor. Some of the early ministers included: Earl Allen, A. J. Henley, J. S. Connors and D. M. Williams. It is unknown when this old church disorganized, but the church house has been gone for a quite a while.

Tuscumbia Presbyterian Church

Tuscumbia Presbyterian Church foundation in 2024

The Presbyterian Church of Tuscumbia was organized by Rev. Robert Morrison and 14 lay members in the 1880s and the church house was built in 1888; dedicated on 10 Nov. 1889. According to Prof. Gerard Schulz, an early historian of Miller County, the cost of the building was $1317.24, excluding the lot, which was donated by David Marshall, I. I. Johnson, and the Grand Master of the of the A. F. and A. M Lodge of Missouri. The church attendance prospered from the late 1800s well into the 20th century, but drastically began dwindling by the 1970s. Joe Pryor, former Miller County Historical Society President, wrote, "... attendance in the 1970's caused the Presbytery to close the church and sadly it now is in a state of disrepair." Today, all that remains of the Tuscumbia Presbyterian Church is its foundation that still faces the mighty Osage River.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

The following covers the historical churches in Miller County that has scarce information available... only their church names remain. The majority of the following were recorded as being in existence during the mid-1900s. (Source: SHSMO files. State Historical Society of Missouri. Ramsay Place Names File. 1928-1945).

Atwell Christian New Light Church

Location: Near Iberia. (Peggy Smith Hake)

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: Church was organized by Rev. Charles Sooter in the early 1900s. (Peggy Smith Hake)

Aurora Springs Presbyterian Church

Location: Near present-day Eldon. (KWS Files)

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: Rev. Robert Morrison started a Presbyterian church at Aurora Springs in 1884. (Clyde L. Jenkins)

Campground Christian New Light Church

Location: Unknown.

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: Church was organized by Rev. Charles Sooter in the early 1900s. (Peggy Smith Hake)

Central Baptist Church
Located: In Saline Township. Originated in 1900.

Glenwood Baptist Church
Located: In Saline Township near Eldon. Originated in 1901.

WTTP Addendum: Also known as Dooley Chapel. (KWS Files)

Gott New Light Christian Church

Located: In Glaize Township.

WTTP Addendum: Originated in the early 1920s. (Peggy Smith Hake).

High Knob Christian New Light Church

Location: Unknown.

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: Church was organized by Rev. Charles Sooter in the early 1900s. (Peggy Smith Hake)

Hite's Chapel Methodist

Location: Near Olean. (Clyde L. Jenkins)

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: Hite's Chapel was another early Methodist Church, situated on the Hite Plantation in Saline Township near Olean. "The Methodist Church established circuits for ministers, with Reverends Abraham Castleman, John Monroe, John D. Reed, and David Henderson early Circuit Riders." (Judge Jenkins' History of Miller County, pg. 261.)

Hopewell Church of Christ Church

Located: In Osage Township near Tuscumbia. Originated about 1885.

WTTP Addendum: All that remains today is the church's foundation and the nearby Hopewell cemetery. (KWS Files)

Humphrey's Christian Church

Located: In Osage Township along Humphrey's Creek near Capps. Originated in 1855.

WTTP Addendum: Also known as Humphrey's Creek Christian Church. (MCHS Archives)

Jim Henry Methodist Church
Located: In Jim Henry Township. Organized about 1840.

WTTP Addendum: Rev. Edward Sullens, a circuit preacher, had the Jim Henry Methodist Church built in the late 1800s. James and Mary Rush donated part of the Rush Hill land for the church and cemetery. The old church building was torn down around 1962. (Rush Family News Blog). Also known as Rush Chapel, near Mary's Home. (MCHS Archives)

Liberty Christian New Light Church

Location: Near Iberia. (Peggy Smith Hake)

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: Church was organized by Rev. Charles Sooter in the early 1900s. (Peggy Smith Hake)

Liberty Church of Christ Church
Located: Four miles south of Tuscumbia. Originated in 1867.

WTTP Addendum: This old church currently houses the congregation of the Cowboy Christian Church in 2024. (KWS Files)

Little Tavern Christian New Light Church

Location: Unknown.

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: Church was organized by Rev. Charles Sooter in the early 1900s. (Peggy Smith Hake)

Milldale United Brethren Church
Located: In Saline Township; 2.5 miles south of Pleasant Mount. Originated in 1887.

WTTP Addendum: The church building has been gone for many years. This offshoot of the Methodist church was once located on the northeast corner where Bax Road and Milldale Road intersect near Mt. Pleasant. (KWS Files)

Mt. View Church of Christ
Located: In Richwoods Township. Established about 1910.

WTTP Addendum: It's possible this was actually the Oak View Church of Christ, as it was not listed in the Ramsey Place Names Files, but Oak View was in service during the time period of 1925-1945 and no other records for a "Mt. View Church of Christ" in Miller County can be found. (KWS Files)

Mount Vernon Baptist Church
Located: Present-day Eldon. Established in the early 1840s.

WTTP Addendum: Third church built in Miller County. The church building has been gone for decades. (MCHS Archives).

Mount Zion Colored Baptist Church
Located: At Olean in Saline Township. Established in 1873.

WTTP Addendum: Disbanded around the 1930s-1940s. The church building, once located near the city park, was torn down in the early 1980s. (KWS Files)

Oak Hill Christian Church
Located: In Richwoods Township; 3 miles southwest of Iberia.

Pisgah Christian Church
Location: In Osage Township near Tavern Creek (Peggy Smith Hake).

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
Located: In southern Franklin Township.

Pleasant Hill United Baptist Church
Located: In Saline Township near Mary's Home. Originated in 1885.

Smyrna Methodist Church

Location: Southeastern Miller County near Iberia. Originated in 1834. (Peggy Smith Hake)

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: First church erected in Miller County and first one south of the Osage River. Made of logs. Ceased to exist in the county after the Civil War (Peggy Smith Hake).

Taverndale Church
Located: In Richwoods Township. It was abandoned many years ago. Once located on Big Tavern Creek.

WTTP Addendum: Unable to locate type of denomination.

Tuscumbia Methodist Church

Location: At Tuscumbia in Equality Township. (MCHS Archives)

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: The Methodist Church building at Tuscumbia, housing a saloon during the Civil War, was later destroyed by fire. (Information compiled by a committee from St. Paul's School of Theology, 1982). The charred remains of this old church were cleared away many years ago. (KWS Files)

Union Christian New Light Church

Location: Unknown

Note: SHSMO files had no information about this church.

WTTP Addendum: Church was organized by Rev. Charles Sooter in the early 1900s. (Peggy Smith Hake)

ACTIVE CHURCHES IN 2024

The non-denominational churches in this list will have "Church" at the end of its name.

Location

Eldon --------

Iberia --------

Brumley ------

Kaiser --------

Iberia---------

Iberia --------

Ulman .-------

Eldon --------

Etterville -----

Iberia --------

Eldon --------

Osage Beach----

Eldon --------

Iberia --------

Osage Beach---

Tuscumbia----

Eldon --------

Iberia --------

St. Elizabeth-----

Tuscumbia----

Iberia --------

Eldon --------

Iberia --------

Eugene -------

Iberia --------

Church

Aurora Springs Baptist

Beit Midrash Synagogue

Bethany Lutheran

Blue Springs Baptist

Brays Advent Christian

Brumley Baptist

Brumley Christian

Calvary Chapel Church

Christ's Church New Life Center

Church of the Nazarene

Cowboy Country Christian

Crossroads Baptist

East Side Assembly of God

Eldon Church of Christ

Eldon First Christian

Eldon United Methodist

Etterville Christian

Fairview Christian

Faith Baptist

Faithbridge United Methodist

First Assembly of God

First Baptist of Eldon

First Baptist of Iberia

First Baptist of St. Elizabeth

First Baptist of Tuscumbia

First Christian

First Church of the Nazarene

Full Gospel Tabernacle (Congregational)

Grace Lutheran

Hickory Point Baptist

Location

Brumley -------

Iberia ----------

Eldon ----------

Kaiser ---------

Tuscumbia -----

Bagnell ---------

Iberia ----------

Brumley -------

Eldon ----------

Olean ----------

Eldon ----------

Olean ----------

Lakeside -------

Marys Home ---

Iberia ----------

Kaiser ----------

Osage Beach ----

Rocky Mount ---

Spring Garden --

St. Anthony -----

St. Elizabeth ----

Eldon ----------

Iberia ----------

Ulman ---------

Kaiser ----------

Church

Honey Springs Baptist

Iberia Church of Christ

Iberia United Methodist

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jubilee at the Lake Church

Lighthouse Baptist

Mt. Carmel Baptist

Mt. Gilead Christian

Mt. Union Christian

Mid-Missouri Congregational

Mount Herman Baptist

New Horizon Church

Nineth Street Christian

Oak Street Church of Christ

Old Path Baptist

Old Time Gospel Church

Olean Baptist

Olean Christian

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic

Our Lady of the Snows Catholic

Pleasant Hill Christian

Resolve Free Will Baptist

Riverview Baptist

Rocky Mount Baptist

Spring Garden Baptist

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic

St. Lawrence Catholic

Sacred Heart Catholic

Tri-County Cowboy Church

Ulman Baptist

Ulman Christian

Victory Church

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