LaGrange Freewill Baptist Church was started in the early 1920s. The first pastor, and organizer, was Rev. Thomas J. Kelley. The first church was located in the LaGrange schoolhouse. In 1930, a new church building was started in the community close to the
LaGrange cemetery.
Charles Lane donated the property, but more was purchased later. The ground was cleared, excavated, and the church was built by the church’s Brothers and Sisters, along with their families’ help. The church was dedicated in 1940. Among the first charter members were:
- Thomas Abrams
- Mary Abrams
- Adeline Burns
- George W. Burns
- George Davidson
Former Pastors of the church are:
- Thomas J. Kelley
- John Kemper
- Jacob Fox
- Peter Barnhart
- Alfred Artis
- Bill Pinkerman
- William Weisenburger
- Jesse Sizemore
- Walter Abrams
- Ray Kelley
- Mance Ball
- Jack Baldwin
- Bobby Chaffin
- Danny Kline
- Jarvis Wilds
The church is located on Porter Gap Road, Ironton. The little white frame church is no more. It has a new brick covering, basement, Sunday School, and restrooms. But it still holds memories of the past for many, and we hope are not lost with the generation of new members.
Used by permission from the Lawrence County Genealogical Society’s “1990 History of Lawrence County.”
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