Gap Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Arthur, Claiborne County, Tennessee, can date its existence back to 1800, when, according to the Minutes of the Big Springs Baptist Church, Springdale, Tennessee, October 2, 1800, the Church agreed to continue corresponding with the "Church at Gap Creek."  From this information, it should be safe to assume Gap Creek probably dates back into the 1700's, but unfortunately we have been unable to find Minutes dated before 1896.  Research into the Southern Baptist Convention History Archives states that Gap Creek joined the Tennessee Association in 1803.  Gap Creek also belonged to the Powell Valley (Missionary) Association (1813-34), the Mulberry Gap Association (1835-40), Powell Valley (Primitive) Association (1841-67), and the Northern Association (1871-83) before joining the Cumberland Gap Association of Baptist Churches in 1884 as a Charter Member, where it still belongs today.  Gap Creek also belongs to the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

According to the best information available, Gap Creek has been a Missionary Baptist Church, except for brief periods as Primitive and Untied Baptist, and has remained Missionary Baptist since 1867.  Gap Creek Missionary Baptist Church has always been located on the Gap Creek in Arthur (prior to late 1880's, Arthur was known as Butcher Springs, and name change was by Alexander A. Arthur, local entrepreneur).  In 1982, the location of the Church was moved from its original site (same site, different buildings) to new property (five acres) roughly 100 years away, allowing for more freedom of expansion and development.  Presently, Gap Creek has a 500 seat Sanctuary with an attached Educational Building, a Parsonage, ample parking, and recreational facilities.

Membership today is 600 + and the Pastor is Rev. Ernest J. Mullins.

The past has been good to Gap Creek Missionary Baptist Church; the future looks promising. - Submitted by: Douglas Keith Cottrell, Jr., Church Clerk/Historian