Discover the Oldest Church in All of Mississippi

Mississippi is an old state with plenty of history, and a few very old churches. Because so many churches have their roots in the state, there is a bit of controversy on which one is the oldest. We’re going to uncover the details of the oldest church in Mississippi, and how it earned such an important title.

The Oldest Church in Mississippi

Many churches in Mississippi have long histories within the state. Hatley Church claims to be the oldest church in ‘North Mississippi’, having first organized in 1819 and moved to its current location in 1833. 

However, the church that lays claim as the oldest in the entire state is Woodville Baptist Church. According to a Historical Marker located on church grounds, the church was organized on the first Saturday of October in 1798. It wasn’t called Woodville Baptist at the time, but instead known as the Baptist Church of Buffalo. 

After the church became independent from the Salem Baptist Church, it chose a new name: Bethel Baptist Church. However, the church was inactive for a few years in the early 1800s. This has led to some people arguing over if it is truly the oldest church in the state. However, the building where the church is now was built in 1809, making it the oldest church building in the state. 

The congregation continued to meet regularly until the civil war, when services became fewer and farther between. However, after the war was over services were back on schedule. After moving into the town of Woodville in the early 1800s, Bethel Baptist changed its name in 1870 to Woodville Baptist Church.

Location and Information About Woodville

Woodville Baptist Church is located in Woodville, Mississippi, in the southwestern corner of the state. It’s in the downtown area, situated just off of Main Street. 

Woodville is one of the oldest towns in the state and a pretty small one, as well, with a population of just 928. It’s best known for being home to Clark Creek Nature Area. The area is over 2,000 acres of beautiful Mississippi land, with waterfalls, rock formations, and plenty of trails for everyone. It’s full of wildlife, so you can expect to see squirrels, raccoons, opossums, snakes, and more while you’re out hiking!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © George Bannister, CC By 2.0 – License / Original