Sion Blythe
Encyclopedia
Sion Blythe was a Baptist
pastor who assisted in creation of several churches in North Carolina
and Alabama
, USA in the early days of the Baptist movement.
Blythe was born in western North Carolina in January 1781.
He was baptized when aged 21 and ordained as a pastor when aged 23, preaching in Buncombe County, North Carolina
and elsewhere.
He was among the founders of Locust Old Field Church in western North
Carolina.
He married Sarah T. McMinn in 1803.
In 1807 he was one of the founders of the French Broad Association of six churches in or near the county of Buncombe.
Blythe moved to Alabama in 1816 and settled on Canoe Creek in St. Clair County
.
He was called the "reluctant preacher" because when he first arrived as a farmer settler in Alabama he tried to hide the fact that he was a minister, since he had some doubts about his ability.
The secret could not be kept.
He helped organize Mount Zion Church (now First Baptist Church of Springville) and several other churches in today's St. Clair, Blount, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties, including the Mount Moriah Church.
First Baptist Church Trussville
was founded on 14 July 1821 by nine men with Blythe as pastor.
In 1823 he was appointed moderator of the newly formed Mount Zion Association, and messenger to the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
Blythe was a successful revivalist, described as "tender, urgent, vehement".
However, he was said to be better at winning converts than teaching doctrine, and was "somewhat of an Arminian".
Blythe left Alabama in 1834 and settled in Texas
in April, 1835, at that time part of Mexico.
He was granted a tract of land about seven miles south of the present town of Dublin
.
On 23 August the same year he and one of his children died of a fever. He was survived by his wife and nine children.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
pastor who assisted in creation of several churches in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, USA in the early days of the Baptist movement.
Blythe was born in western North Carolina in January 1781.
He was baptized when aged 21 and ordained as a pastor when aged 23, preaching in Buncombe County, North Carolina
Buncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile...
and elsewhere.
He was among the founders of Locust Old Field Church in western North
Carolina.
He married Sarah T. McMinn in 1803.
In 1807 he was one of the founders of the French Broad Association of six churches in or near the county of Buncombe.
Blythe moved to Alabama in 1816 and settled on Canoe Creek in St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Alabama
St. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St...
.
He was called the "reluctant preacher" because when he first arrived as a farmer settler in Alabama he tried to hide the fact that he was a minister, since he had some doubts about his ability.
The secret could not be kept.
He helped organize Mount Zion Church (now First Baptist Church of Springville) and several other churches in today's St. Clair, Blount, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties, including the Mount Moriah Church.
First Baptist Church Trussville
Trussville, Alabama
Trussville is a city in Jefferson and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 19,933 at the 2010 census. Trussville was ranked as number 56 out of 100 in Money Magazines Best Places to Live 2005.-Geography:...
was founded on 14 July 1821 by nine men with Blythe as pastor.
In 1823 he was appointed moderator of the newly formed Mount Zion Association, and messenger to the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
Blythe was a successful revivalist, described as "tender, urgent, vehement".
However, he was said to be better at winning converts than teaching doctrine, and was "somewhat of an Arminian".
Blythe left Alabama in 1834 and settled in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in April, 1835, at that time part of Mexico.
He was granted a tract of land about seven miles south of the present town of Dublin
Dublin, Texas
Dublin is a city located in southwestern Erath County in Central Texas. The population was 3,754 at the time of the 2000 census.The town is the home of the world's oldest Dr Pepper bottling plant...
.
On 23 August the same year he and one of his children died of a fever. He was survived by his wife and nine children.