Map of Alabama Baptist Associations

1 Alabama Crenshaw 2 Autauga 3 Baldwin 4 Barbour 5 Bessemer 6 Bethel 7 Bethlehem 8 Bibb 9 Bigbee 10 Birmingham 11 Blount 12 Bullock-Centennial 13 Butler 14 Cahaba 15 Calhoun 16 Carey 17 Central 18 Cherokee 19 Chilton 20 Choctaw

21 Clarke 22 Clay 23 Cleburne 24 Coffee 25 Colbert-Lauderdale 26 Columbia 27 Conecuh 28 Coosa River 29 Covington 30 Dale 31 Dekalb 32 East Cullman 33 East Liberty 34 Elmore 35 Escambia 36 Etowah 37 Fayette 38 Franklin 39 Friendship 40 Geneva

41 Hale 42 Judson 43 Lamar 44 Limestone 45 Lookout Mountain 46 Madison 47 Marion 48 Marshall 49 Mobile 50 Montgomery 51 Morgan 52 Mud Creek 53 Muscle Shoals 54 North Jefferson 55 Pickens 56 Pine Barren 57 Pleasant Grove 58 Randolph 59 Russell 60 Salem-Troy

61 Sand Mountain 62 Sardis 63 Selma 64 Shelby 65 Sipsey 66 St. Clair 67 Sulphur Springs 68 Tallapoosa 69 Tennessee River 70 Tuscaloosa 71 Tuskegee-Lee 72 Walker 73 Washington 74 West Cullman 75 Winston

Information and resources pertaining to the associations of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

Further information can be found by visiting the Special Collection department at Samford University.

ALABAMA CRENSHAW - Organized in 1933.
The Alabama Association, the fourth oldest Baptist association in Alabama, was organized in December of 1819. In 1889, the New Providence Association was organized. It changed its name in 1903 to Crenshaw County Association. The two associations remained separate until 1931 when a movement was begun to consolidate the two associations.

Walker, Louis C. History of the 18th Session of the Alabama-Crenshaw Baptist Churches. Luverne, Alabama, 1952.

Baptist V/F

AUTAUGA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1950.

Baptist V/F

BALDWIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1914.
Originally Mobile Baptist Association 1886 - 1915

Baptist V/F

BARBOUR BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1936.
Constituted as Eufala BA in 1854

Westin, Truitt G. Barbour Baptist Association: Past and Present. Barbour Co., The Association, 2004.

Baptist V/F

BESSEMER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1899.

Baptist V/F

BETHEL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1820.
Constituted in 1820, from Bethlehem BA

Baptist V/F

BETHLEHEM BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1816.
The Bethlehem Baptist Association was formed in Washington and Clark counties in 1816 and was originally known as the Beckbe BA. It later became known as Bethlehem BA in 1827. The Beckbe Association, also called Beche Baptist Association, was the first Baptist Association to be formed within the state lines of Alabama. Alexander Travis was a leading force behind the forming of the association and was a leading missionary and pastor for the area.

Morton, Ann W., History of Dale County Baptist Association 1865 – 1993, 1993.

BIBB BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1902.
In October of 1901, the Mulberry Missionary Association discussed the need for a new county Baptist association. In November of the following year, Bibb County Baptist Association was organized at Centerville Baptist Church. Nineteen churches voted to join the new association.

BIGBEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1853.
Constituted as Central BA, in 1845. Name changed to Little Bigbee BA in 1852, and to Bigbee BA in 1853.

The Bigbee Baptist Association can be traced back to 1853 when the Bigby River and the Central Association discussed a need to create one association for the area. Churches formerly located in North Sumter county and Green county left the Little Bigby River Association to join the Bigbee Association. Churches located in South Sumter left the Central Association to join the Bigbee Association. Bigbee took its name from the “Little Bigby River” Association.

BIRMINGHAM BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1833.
In September of 1833, representatives from 10 churches located in Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair counties met to form the Canaan Baptist Association. The meeting took place at the Canaan Baptist Church in Jonesboro. The name of the association was taken from this meeting site. The Canaan Association was one of the first mission minded associations to be formed in Alabama. The name of the Association changed in 1890 when it became known at the Birmingham Baptist Association.

Allen, Lee N., Born for Missions: Birmingham Baptist Association 1833-1983, 1984.

BLOUNT BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1858.
Originally known as Warrior River BA. Name changed to Blount BA in 1906

BULLOCK-CENTENNIAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1876.
Constituted as Centennial BA in 1876, became Bullock-Centennial in 1917.

BUTLER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1903.
The churches which banned together in 1903 were members of several other associations prior to the forming of the Butler Baptist Association. These churches were affiliated with either the Conecuh, Bethlehem, Pine Barren, Alabama, or Zion Baptist Associations.

Joyner, J. M., A History of the Baptists of Butler County 1819-1957, 1957,

CAHABA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1818.
The Cahaba Baptist Association is the second oldest Baptist association in the state of Alabama.

CALHOUN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1892.

In 1892 churches from the Coosa River Association and the Tallasahatchee and Ten Island Association asked to be dismissed in order to form a new association closer to home. In May that same year 29 churches met at the Jacksonville First Baptist Church and began the Calhoun Baptist Association.

Higginbotham, Miriam. One Hundred Years of the Calhoun Baptist Association 1892 - 1992, 1992.

CAREY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1855.
By 1854 a number of churches had formed in the territory which would become Clay County. Due to the geography of the area, these churches found it difficult to send messengers to area associations. In 1854 at Rechab Church, a number of churches met to discuss the development of a new Baptist association. Prior to this meeting, many churches were members of the East Liberty Baptist Association or they were not affiliated with an association. Because these churches were committed to missions, it was decided that the association would be named after William Carey, a widely respected English Baptist minister who was dedicated to missions. The association had there first annual meeting the following year.

Dean, John William. History of Carey Baptist Association. 1976.

CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1845.

Brewer, George Evans.A History of the Central Association of Alabama: From It's Organization in 1845 - 1895. Opelika, Alabama, Post Pub. Co., 1895

Culver, Renee.Central Baptist Association, 1845 - 1995; "150 Years of Ministry," Rockford, Alabama; The Association. 1995.

CHEROKEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1833.
Originally Tallasahatchie. Changed to Ten Island in 1880. The name became Cherokee Co. Baptist Association in 1892.

Church History, Cherokee Missionary Baptist Association. Rockford, Al: The Association, 1976.

CHILTON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in .1953
Was also Known as Chilton-Unity BA from ?????

At the 74th annual meeting of the Mulberry Missionary Baptist Association in 1901, it was decided that Chilton County needed it's own Baptist Association.

Baptist V/F

CHOCTAW BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1918.
Originally was known as Antioch BA from 1883 - 1917

McLelland, Franklin and Dora Beard. History of churches: Choctaw Baptist Association. Butler, AL: The Association, 2000.

CLARKE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1883.
Originally South Bethel BA. 1883 - 1901

Baptist V/F

CLAY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1898.
Constituted by 11 churches formerly of the Boiling Springs BA. 1860 - 1899.

Baptist V/F

CLEBURNE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1899.
Organized from Harmony Grove BA which was constituted in 1892.

Baptist V/F

COFFEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1905.
Formerly Pea River BA which was constituted in 1877 and Haw Ridge BA 1889 - 1904.

Shoffner, Roy. "Go Ye Therfore..." Touching People for Christ: History of Coffee County Baptist Association, 1981 - 1998. New Brockton, AL: Coffee County Baptist Association, 1998.

Strozier, Albert L. Coffee County Baptist: History of the Coffee county Baptist Association of Alabama and of the Forty-Five Member Churches of the Body. Birmingham, AL: Coffee County Baptist Association, 1981.

COLBERT-LAUDERDALE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1932.
Originally Florence BA 1888 -1903, Lauderdale BA 1904 - 1931, and Colbert BA 1896 - 1931

Colbert Lauderdale Baptist Association: the First Fifty Years, 1932 - 1982. Alabama: Colbert Lauderdale Baptist Association, 1983?.

COLUMBIA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1885.

Baptist V/F

CONECUH BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1833.

Baptist V/F

COOSA RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1833.

Newman, Margaret Keelen. Coosa River Baptist Association, 1833 - 1983. 1986.

Sartain, J. A. History of the Coosa River Baptist Association. 1936.

COVINGTON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1856.
Constituted as Zion BA, name changed to Covington Baptist Association in 1903 then back to Zion in 1904. The name was again changed back to Covington Baptist Association in 1932.

Baptist V/F

DALE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1865.
Formed from Newton BA which organized in 1865. The name changed to Dale County BA in 1907.

Morton, Ann W. History of Dale County Baptist Association, 1865 - 1993. Ozark, AL: The Association, 1993.

DEKALB BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1842.
The DeKalb Baptist Association was originally known as the Liberty Baptist Association. The first meeting of the association was held at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in St. Clair county in 1842. In October of 1905 the name was changed to the Dekalb Baptist Association.

140th Anniversary Annual & Church History, DeKalb Baptist Association, Alabama. Rainsville, AL: The Association, 1982.

Ables, Ed. A History of the DeKalb Baptist Association: Early Struggles and Growth. 1984.

Curtis, J. Valdor. A History of the DeKalb Baptist Association, 1944.

EAST CULLMAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1946.
Separated from Cullman BA in 1947.

Nunnelly, Nadine A. Baptists of Cullman County, 1883 - 1983: Abstracts of the Minutes of the Cullman County Baptist Associations. Cullman, AL: N.A. Nunnelly, 1985.

EAST LIBERTY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1836.

Bledsoe, W. C. History of the Liberty (East) Baptist Association of Alabama. Atlanta, GA: Constitution job office, 1886,

McGinty, Basil B. History of East Liberty Baptist Association, Chambers County, Alabama: 125 Years: 1836 - 1961. Alexander City, AL: Outlook Publishing Co., 1963.

ELMORE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1914.
Formerly was called Montgomery BA from 1882 - 1913 and before that, Central BA from 1845 - 1913.

Baptist V/F

Brewer, George Evans . A History of the Central Association of Alabama: From It's Organization in 1845 - 1895. Opelika, Alabama, Post Pub. Co., 1895.

ESCAMBIA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1903.
Constituted in 1903 from Conecuh BA.

Baptist V/F

ETOWAH BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1884.

Davidson, Sue. A History of the Etowah Baptist Association, 1884 - 1991. Gadsden, AL: The Association, 1991?.


FAYETTE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1919..
Originated as New River BA in 1871. Name changed to Fayette County BA in 1919.

Newell, Herbert M. and Jeanie P. Newell. History of Fayette County Baptist Association. Birmingham, AL : Banner Press, 1968.

FRANKLIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1898.
Originally was called Shady Grove BA. It became Franklin BA in 1918. Several churches continued Shady Grove until 1941.

Baptist V/F

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1955.

Baptist V/F

GENEVA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1876.

Baptist B/F

HALE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1956.

Baptist V/F

JUDSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1850.

Baptist V/F

LAMAR BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1911.

Baptist V/F

LIMESTONE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1916.

Baptist V/F

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1874.
Originated as Cedar Bluff in 1874 the name changed to Lookout Mountain BA in 1928.

Baptist V/F

MADISON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1838

The Madison Baptist Association has changed names many times since it was organized in 1838. It began as the Liberty Baptist Association in 1838 and remaind under that name until 1884. From 1885 - 1887, it was known as the North Liberty Association, In 1888 it went back to being called the Liberty Association. It remained Liberty untill 1912 when it changed back to the North Liberty Association. In 1916 it became the Madison Liberty Association. In 1959, it became known as the Madison Baptist Association.

Baptist V/F ; MFA 3.132 Reel 1


MARION BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1924.

Baptist V/F


MARSHALL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1887.

Marshall Missionary Baptist Association, 1887 - 1987 : A Century of Witness and Ministry Alabama: the Association, 1987.

MOBILE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1855.
Originated at Providence BA in 1855. The name changed to Gulf Cost BA in 1877 and to Mobile Baptist Union in 1880. It became the Mobile Baptist Association in 1886.

Harwell, H. H. Missions in Motion : A History of the Mobile Baptist Association from 1855 to 1977. Mobile, AL: The Association, 1978.

MONTGOMERY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1882.

Baptist V/F

MORGAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1919

Ray, Mark Douglas. History of the Morgan County Baptist Association, 1919 - 1994. Hartsell, AL : The Association, 1995.

MUD CREEK BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1871.

Parsons, W. B. A History of the Mud Creek Baptist Association: Organized at Mud Creek Church in the Fall of 1871 : Written for the Association and for the Southern Baptist Convention Historical Society. Alabama : The Association, 1957.

Varnell, J. Nelson. Early Baptists of Jackson County, 1821 - 1921.

NORTH JEFFERSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1893.
Originated as Mineral Springs BA. The name changed to North Jefferson BA in 1971.

Counts, James Hobson. Laboring Together With God : A History of the North Jefferson Baptist Association (1893 - 1988).

PICKENS BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1835.
Originated as Union BA. The name changed to Pickens BA in 1924

Baptist V/F

PINE BARREN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1850.
Constituted from the Northern half of the Bethlehem BA.

History of the Churches of the Pine Barren Baptist Association, 1825 - 2001. Frisco City, AL : Pine Barren Baptist Association, 2001.

PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1902.
Originated as Blue Creek BA. The name changed to Pleasant Grove BA in 1912

Baptist V/F

RANDOLPH BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1900.
Constituted by churches from the Rock Mills BA 1871-1900 and the Arbacoochee BA 1875-1890.

Baptist V/F

RUSSELL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1885.
Originated as Harris BA. The name changed to Russell BA in 1913.

Baptist V/F

SALEM TROY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1839.
Constituted when Salem BA 1839-1904 and Troy BA 1884-1904 merged.

Historical Sketch of Salem Association : from 1845 - 1888. Montgomery, AL : Baptist Print. Co. , 1890.

SAND MOUNTAIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1917.

Wheeler, Emmett B. History of Sand Mountain Association : 1917 - 1973. The Association, 1973.

SARDIS BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1894.

Bedsole, Tatum. Program of the 50th Session of the Sardis Missionary Baptist Association Held with Hacoda Baptist Church October 12 and 13, 1944. History of Sardis Missionary Baptist Association. Kinston, AL : Bedsole, 1944.

SELMA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1883.

Helmbold, F. Wilbur. Selma, The Gospel at Work. Birmingham, AL : Banner Press, 1983.

SHELBY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1852.

Atchison, Ray M. Baptists of Shelby County: History of the Shelby Baptist Association of Alabama. Birmingham, AL : Banner Press, 1964.

Butler, Cathy. Serving Christ Together for 150 Years: The History of Churches of Shelby Baptist Association. Birmingham, AL : Cornerstone Media, 2002.

SIPSY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1890.

Sipsy Baptist Association, Centennial Committee. A History of the Sipsey Baptist Association: Tuscaloosa, Fayette, and Pickens Counties, Alabama, 1890 - 1889. 1990.

ST. CLAIR BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1860.
Constituted from Cahaba Valley BA. The Association became the St. Clair BA in 1909. ???? or 1898

Saint Clair Baptist Association. Women's Missionary Union. History of the St. Clair Associational WMU, 1923 - 1987. 1987.

SULPHUR SPRINGS BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1872.

Sulphur Springs Baptist Association. 130th Anniversary Celebration: 1872-2002. Dora, AL : Sulphur Springs Baptist Association, 2002.

TALLAPOOSA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1915.

Rodgers, J. H. History of Tallapoosa Baptist Association, 1915 - 1973. Alexander City, AL: Tallapoosa Baptist Association, 1973.

TENNESSEE RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1853.

Varnell, J. Nelson. Early Baptists of Jackson County, Alabama 1821 - 1921.

TUSCALOOSA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1834.

Foster, Henry B. History of Tuscaloosa county Baptist Association 1834 - 1934 : a Record of the Development of Baptist Interest in the Bounds of the Association, Containing Other Information of Concern to all Baptists, Sketches of the Churches and Biography. Tuscaloosa, AL : Weatherford Printing, 1934.

Hatchel, Carol T. History of the Tuscaloosa County Baptist Association : Two Decadws and More, 1953 - 1974. Tuscaloosa, AL : Weatherford Print Co., 1989.

TUSKEGEE-LEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1969.

Jeffers, John, H. A History of the Tuskegee Lee Baptist Association. Opelika, AL: The Association, 1994.

WALKER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1834.

Tuggle, Martha J. Walker Baptist Association, 1834 - 1984. Dora, AL: Davis Engraving Co., 1984.

WASHINGTON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1909.

Baptist V/F

WEST CULLMAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1946.

Baptist V/F

WINSTON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION - Organized in 1874.

Baptist V/F