Cool Spring Baptist
Church began as a dream in the hearts of Captain D.A. and Mary Winn
Timberlake when they started a Bible study in their home in 1867 at
"Cedar Lawn". Captain Timberlake and his wife, both earnest
Christians, had as their foremost thought to build a church after the
first few meetings in their home, as the group grew larger and larger. An
abandoned log school house across Atlee Station Road and near the railroad
was then used, about one mile north of the present church. They met here
from 1867 to 1874, three years as branch of Walnut Grove and four years as
an independent church. It was constituted on April 27, 1870, and admitted
into the Dover Association on July 19, 1870, with a membership of 42.
On December 8, 1872,
one acre of land at the present church location was purchased for $15.50,
a frame church was built, and the congregation moved into it in 1874.
Additional land was purchased in 1890, 1908, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1995, and
1998 bringing the total land to 14.5 acres.
The church took its
name from a beautiful cool spring located near the log school house, and
there was a nearby mill pond that was used for several years to baptize
its members.
Additions to the first
church included a vestibule, a steeple, the hanging of the church bell in
1892, an inside baptismal pool in 1894, and three new classrooms in 1902.
A parsonage was built in 1908.
Among the more
interesting events in Cool Spring's history occurred on Sunday, May 14
1905 when lightening struck the church steeple during worship services. As
reported on the front page of the Richmond Time-Dispatch, the preacher's
message had been "Christ Will Guide You Through the Storm's of
Life" and the congregation was singing "Jesus Savior Pilot
Me." Miraculously, there were no serious injuries.
In 1951 the new
Educational Building was dedicated, in 1954 the new parsonage was
completed, and in 1957 the old parsonage removed. Work began on the
sanctuary and on June 13, 1959, it was dedicated. In 1971 it was decided
to used the "Bond Plan" to build a new Children's Building and
within three weeks the contract for its construction was awarded. It was
dedicated April 23,1972.
In 1992 the church
approved a recommendation of the Long Range Planning Committee that the
New Construction Committee recommend a time-table for construction of a
new building. On November 18, 1993 the contract for a 16,300 square foot
Fellowship Hall and Sunday School Building was let, and on April 3, 1995,
this building was dedicated. On the same day the church's 125th
anniversary was observed. The parsonage that was in the way of the new
building was sold and moved to private property about 6/10 miles north.
In 1999, the
construction of a new Rec Center and additional educational space was
recommended, with groundbreaking for this building occurring in the Summer
of 2000.
In 130 years the
membership of Cool Spring Baptist Church has grown from 42 to over 1600
members. In spite of this growth, the mission of the church has not
changed: to help this world come to know Jesus Christ as Savior, and to
become His wholly committed followers.
