Records for Howerton Missionary Baptist are sketchy prior to 1930 but the land for the first church was given by CATHERINE HOWERTON BARNARD (AUNT CATH) after 1876.  The first church was located approx. 1 mile up the hollow from the present location beside an overflowing spring.  Property was again given to the church on Dec. 31, 1951, by BOBBIE E. BARNARD.  The second church sat on the side of the road parallel to the highway with a beech tree standing along side of building.  Many men often preferred the shade of the tree than the heat of the church.  The present church was built in 1957 with many of the men of the community working on it.  Among those were:  HERMAN DAVIDSON   and JOHN BULL dug the foundation.  DOYLE SHOCKLEY, FRANK CHITTUM and son FRANK, laid the block and TROY WALLEN built the pulpit and bell tower.  Also helping were: DILLON SHOCKLEY, GLENN LAKINS, TILMON SHOCKLEY, ELMER RABY, RAY STANDIFER, DAYTON SHOCKLEY, CLARENCE LAKINS, VILETUS REECE and MILAM RATCLIFF.  Dedication services were held Sunday Oct. 13, 1957 with TILMON SHOCKLEY leading singing.  REV. THEA DAVIS led prayer, REV. LEVI SANDEFUR preached the dedication prayer.  The first pastor of the present church was REV.  CLAUDE SURBER and the present pastor is REV. J.C. BULL.  other pastors were:  REV. WILL BAKER - 1938; VIRCH HIPSHIER - 1933; JOE LOUGHNER - 1938 & 1944; JOHN OGAN - 1940; HERMAN DAVIDSON - 1946 & 1964; CLAUDE SURBER - 1949; HENRY SHELTON - 1965; J. C. BULL - 1981.  Also having served was JIMMY OGAN, HENRY COOK, KELLY HERRELL and TOM LAMB.  Church clerks since 1930 have been:  WILL LARKINS, HERMAN DAVIDSON, ALICE LAKINS, LOVADA SHOCKLEY, MARCELLA REECE, L.R. (Russ) Girard, TILMON SHOCKLEY, PAULINE STANDIFER & BENNIE MAE SHOCKLEY. - Submitted by: WANDA (WALLEN) HODGE.