Bible

This Bible was donated to the Society by Bartlett Baptist Church. The inscription in the Bible says “B. S. Taylor bought this book exclusively for the use of Prosperity Church with a hymn book with it April 5, 1866”. Mr. B. S. Taylor was Church Clerk from 1862 to 1868 and could have bought it in that capacity, or on his own.

Prosperity Baptist Church was organized in 1849 by 17 charter members following a revival meeting at Egypt Baptist Church. It’s first location was in the Green Bottom area of Oak Road and Memphis Arlington Road. In 1861 it moved to Stage Road next to the railroad tracks in Union Depot (now Bartlett). In 1865 the colored members petitioned for letters of dismissal to form their own church. That was the beginning of First Baptist Church, colored.

Prosperity was renamed Bartlett Baptist Church in 1896 and that name has continued (2022). 

The location of the church moved to Kirby- Whitten Road in 2004.