The Shiloh General Baptist Church
submitted by

The Shiloh General Baptist Church, located east of Bradford in Gibson County, Tennessee, was established in 1883.  It was built within one mile of the location where the Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church once stood.  This gave the church its name.  Shiloh Primitive Baptist was formed in 1835.

Some early pastors of Shiloh General Baptist Church were J.L. Thomas, C.R. Pinson, R.B. Crews, J.B. Bushart, T.C. Sadler, J.C. Moore, Mrs. Minnie Coak, Milton B. Morris, Henry Lamb, Jim Martin, and Will Crews.

In 1938, the original church building was demolished and replaced by a newer, larger building.  Since this time, several rooms have been annexed on to the building.

The cemetery, located on the south side of the church, was originally thought to be a Civil War Cemetery, that is, established in the Civil War as a burial ground for fallen troops.  However, during the transcription of the cemetery, a death date of 1855 was found on a child's grave near the front.  This disproved the theory that it was begun as a Civil War Cemetery.  The cedar trees which once stood proud in the cemetery marking graves have been reduced to stumps, but there has been a concrete drive installed around the cemetery to allow easier access.  This drive encircles the old part of the cemetery.  A new wing has been opened on the south side of the older section and already has several graves in it.  It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Northeastern Gibson County.

The current pastor of Shiloh is L.C. Hollingsworth.  Shiloh is a full time church, worshipping God every Sunday.  This little church has seen countless people to God's kingdom and will continue to provide strength through God and Jesus Christ.  

This information was provided by "Gibson County Past and Present" as well as other various sources.  I submit this information in honor of my great-great-grandmother, Vina Knott Williams, who said that if Shiloh "went down," she would put her name on a tree out there to let everyone know how much she loved that church.
                                                                                                                      Adam McCartney September 1999