A Brief History of Pepperell
The Pepperell Manufacturing Company began to operate in Opelika in March of 1926. During this time, people began meeting in homes and vacant buildings for Sunday school, followed by a sermon by either Rev. Dobbs or Rev. Joe Collum. In these early stages of the effort, Dr. W. P. Wilkes, Pastor of First Baptist Church Opelika, visited the Pepperell community occasionally and advocated for a church to be planted in the Pepperell community. After a few months, approximately twenty people officially organized Pepperell Baptist Church and began to hold meetings. A few of the names of those founding members have been preserved in church records: Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Tomlin, Mr. and Mrs. Harry NIchols, Rev. and Mrs. Joe Collum, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Edge, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Taunton, Mr. Richard Taunton, Miss Alice Strickland, and Mr. Jim Hanes. Rev. Joe Collum served as the initial Pastor and continued to work with the church until 1941.
By the fall season of 1926, the Pepperell Manufacturing Company decided to build a church facility in the center of the village. Initially, this facility was shared by the Baptist and the Methodist congregation until 1945, when the Pepperell Baptist congregation began to meet in the Pepperell School Building while a building fund was initiated. On October 16, 1949, the Pepperell Baptist Congregation conducted its first worship service in the current building.
By the fall season of 1926, the Pepperell Manufacturing Company decided to build a church facility in the center of the village. Initially, this facility was shared by the Baptist and the Methodist congregation until 1945, when the Pepperell Baptist congregation began to meet in the Pepperell School Building while a building fund was initiated. On October 16, 1949, the Pepperell Baptist Congregation conducted its first worship service in the current building.