The history of Cropwell Baptist Church, which was compiled and written in 1989 by William Baxter McDanal, began in this way...

"And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them." Exodus 25:8

1889 - At the 56th Annual Session of the Coosa River Baptist Association Septemer 11-13, 1889, held at Spring Creek Baptist Church, Vincent, Alabama, the following accredited messengers came from Cropwell Church with petitionary letters, seeking membership into the Association: Lealis Law, N. Willingham, and J. K. Jones, and they were duly received. The pastor at Cropwell was Washington Wilkes, and the church clerk was Lealis Law. There were 30 charter members. At the Associational meeting Reverend Lealis Law delivered the opening sermon, and also served as moderator for the entire meeting.

Although I can not substantiate my theory, I have a deep feeling that Lealis Law, an ordained minister living in Cropwell almost ten years at this time (1889), and his personal friend Washington Wilkes (who was at this time a Domestic Missionary in the Coosa River Association) had been holding services for quite some time and probably organized the church here at Cropwell some years before they entered the Coos River Baptist Association (which was not uncommon in the earlier churches). I do have three sources of information that state, the church as founded in 1888; and according to the use of words in making the entry in the minutes I could believe that the church had been founded and possibly a building already built: I quote, "Messengers came from Cropwell Church." Also, the church had a "Charter Membership of 30," which also tells me that the church had been in existence for some time.

More history of Crowell Baptist Church coming soon!