2025

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Rutland Baptist Church: Celebrating 165 Years

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By Tranae Chatman, MBA | Curator of Social History | Tennessee State Museum

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Although some oral histories date back as early as 1860, Rutland first appears in the Wilson County Deed Book on September 18th, 1874. On this date, Armstead McDaniel donated one acre of land to the “Deacons of the Rutland Colored Baptist Church”. The church would be in the 24th District of Wilson County in a small community named after Blake Rutland, one of the early white settlers of the region. In county records, it is unclear if Armstead and his family were enslaved in Wilson County before emancipation or if they relocated here afterwards. However, Freedmen’s Bureau and census records document Armstead as a farmer, husband, and father.

There were eight “Deacons of the Rutland Colored Baptist Church” who served on the first board until their death: Joe Crudup, Daniel Baird, Jack Crudup, Jack Baird, John Davis, Flem Curd, Peace Jones, and Joe Bryant. The earliest preacher documented was Reverend Bob Bonds and fifteen pastors have served since. In 1890, land was acquired to establish the Rutland Cemetery for the burial of members and their families. In 1920, a one-teacher schoolhouse was built to educate and equip the community’s youth.

For generations, Rutland has served as a religious and social cornerstone for the families that call the area home. Although many families have called Rutland home, some of the oldest families of the Rutland church are the Majors, Clemmons, Crudup, Gaines, Carver, and Baird families. Elders of the community recall dinners, cakewalks, picnics, and ball games with their family and friends. After 150 years, Rutland continues to present its multi-generational legacy of impacting the community around it through the Word of God.