History

Our Beginning

The story of Hills Church has its roots in the story of early Indiana. Waves of Easterners were moving down the Ohio River in search of new beginnings in the frontier. Getting off flat boats in Madison and Clarksville, they made their way northwest through forest land which had been hunting grounds of the native inhabitants.

Twenty-eight years earlier William Henry Harrison had won the famous battle of Tippecanoe, which broke the Indian Confederacy and cleared the way for new settlers. The state of Indiana was still in its infancy, just twenty-three years old, when the forebears of Hills Church began moving into Clinton County from points south and east. Among those searching for better land were John and Delilah Hill and their son Isaac, who left Jennings County, Indiana in 1838, and George Wimborough, who left Rush County, Indiana in 1839. Being members of Baptist churches at their former homes, they soon saw the need for a church in this newly settled land.

Seeking the recognition and blessings of other Baptist churches in the area, they called upon members from the Hopewell, Lauramie, and Bethel churches to meet with them at the home of John Hill for the purpose of organizing a Regular Baptist Church on the Middlefork of Sugar Creek. The proceedings of that first organizational meeting are best seen from the original minutes which were recorded in The Church Book :

By the request of some Regular Baptist members on the Middlefork of  Sugar Creek Clinton County Indiana, the following brethren met at the  house of Elder John Hill on Friday the 24th day of October 1839. From  Hopewell Church, Elder Peter Webb, from Lauramie Church, Brethren  John  Rife and Benjamin Whitteberry, and from Bethel Church, Nathaniel  Titus  and David Ross.

The council being thus met, organized by appointing Elder Peter Webb  moderator and David Ross clerk, and the following members presented  letters for to be constituted into a Regular Baptist Church, Brethren John  Hill and Delilah Hill his wife from the Baptist Church of Christ at Coffee  Creek, Jennings County Indiana, dated October 1st 1838,  and George  Wimborough from the Regular Baptist Church called  Bigflatrock Rush  County Indiana, dated, May 25th 1839, and Isaac P. Hill from the  Baptist Church of Christ at Coffee Creek Jennings County Indiana (no  date). After a consultation on the subject the moderator (Elder-P. Webb)  giving them the right hand of fellowship, pronounced them a Regular  Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, done by order of the council and signed in  behalf of the same,

Peter Webb, Moderator David Ross, Clerk

With this action the Regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ called Middlefork of Sugar Creek was born.

Early Years

The first few years were marked with encouraging achievement and disappointing setbacks. Less than a month after its founding, a fifth member was added, Melissa Wimborough, who was the first to be baptized in Sugar Creek. The next year was marked with significant growth due in part to a recruitment effort in Michigantown. In just a few short months a majority of those members left to form a new church in Michigantown.

In 1840 the first officers were elected. John Hill served as moderator, George Wimbourgh as writing clerk, and Isaac P. Hill as singing clerk. A year later the first trustees and treasurer were elected. In 1842 James Hill became the first deacon and John Hill was officially called as pastor.

Several members were added to the church from the recently dissolved Zions Hill Church in Clinton County. These additions provided a firm foundation on which to build. While the following years were by no means easy, the initial struggle was over. Hills Church was firmly established.

The Regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ called Middlefork of Sugar Creek changed its name to Hills Baptist Church in honor of the Hill family on July 17th, 1909.

When first formed, the church met primarily in the homes of John Hill and George Wimborough. In 1841, the church accepted a donation of land from James Hill designated for a “meeting house” and burying ground. Although the meeting house was not completed for some time, due to the lack of funds, the first worship service was held within the meeting house in September 1842.

The second meeting house was constructed between 1856 and the beginning of the Civil War.

The third meeting house, unlike the first two meeting houses, was a frame building on a stone foundation and not a log cabin. Completed in 1900, the third meeting house has continued to serve the church for over 110 years. Through the years several improvements, additions and repairs have been completed. The last major addition was completed in November 1975. This added new classrooms, restrooms, kitchen, church office, and a fellowship area named “Garver Hall” in honor of the family who made it possible.

Hills Baptist Church is located at 4296 S Co Rd 1380 E, Kirklin, Indiana 46050. It is an American Baptist Church (American Baptist Churches, USA), a part of the Judson Association of Indiana/Kentucky.