The records for our local church have a gap between the years 1852 -1856. But it is no stretch of the imagination to suppose that although the records were incomplete, the fellowship continued and meetings persisted in the church. That there was a continuity with the past is attested to in the entry of February 10, 1856 on the church record book:

The Church of Christ at Perryville have come to the conclusion to take a list of names belonging to said church as the old book has been badly kept. We wish to know who does belong to the church at the present time. All those that wish can come forward and record their names.”

The following 18 people signed their names:
Margaret A. Falkerson E.J. Wallice

Willis Walden Margaret A. Roberts

A. Greenwood J.L. Bailey

Lucinda A. Coffman J.B. Bolling

Priscilla Coulter Jame Swiney

S. Green D.C. Gregory

Mary Green S.E. Gregory

Elisa Green A. Tilford

S.G. Roberts R.C. Gregory

W. O. McIntyre quotes a very interesting poem in his Advocate Messenger series:

By Chaplin's gentle, silvery stream,

Together often have we strayed

And watched the placid moon's bright gleam

That on the murmuring waters played.

When earth was decked with roves of Spring,

Our steps through field and forest hied

To hear the wild birds on the wing,

Pour forth their native stains in pride.

The recollections of those hours

Will in this heart forever dwell;

And blooms in sweetness there like flowers,

And bind my spirit in its spell.

These lines were written by Abram Fulkerson (sic. Falkerson), the Perryville Poet, in 1839 and were dedicated to a friend whom he named Henry McCarty, editor of the Industrial and Commercial Gazette. In the list of members above, Margaret Falkerson is no doubt a descendant of his, or quite possibly his wife.

After the war, on August 19, 1865, the church reorganized again. No doubt the fellowship had undergone hardships and a general attitude of zeal was pushing them to greater efforts for their church. The following entry is to be found in the record book:

According to appointment the congregation worshiping at Perryville met with fasting and prayers for the purpose of organizing their church by electing new officers. Brothers Dale and Broadhurst were appointed to conduct the election. It was determined that the election would be by ballot. Brothers Jones was elected to collect the vote. When Brothers Dodge, Hugh and Marksbery were chosen to preside as Elders---Brothers Russell, Bottom and Walden as deacons----Sister Bottom objected to Bro. Walden acting as deacon[. O]n motion the objection was handed over to [the] Elder[s] whose duty it was to settle the difficulty for the best interest of the congregation. On motion Bro. Jones was appointed clerk to assist the Elders in the discharge of their duties and keep a true record of all the proceedings that were necessary to be recorded[. O]n motion the meeting was closed and [plans made to] meet at an early hour in the evening for the purpose of setting their officers apart and asking God's blessing upon them. Which was deferred until Lord's day Morning when Brother Broadhurst asked God's richest blessing to rest with and upon them, and there little flock. At the close of this petition the members extended to them the hand of brotherly love.

G.W. Jones----Clerk

Brother Bottom was duly elected sexton of the church to serve 12 months at 25 dollars a year which was to be paid in four installment of $6.25 each.

G.W. Jones----Clerk

By this time the church had settled into a pattern for its program which pretty much prevails to this writing. The highlight of the year was an evangelistic meeting, where preaching took the central part and singing brought up a poor second. The program prospered the church with many additions and, under the leadership of a dedicated group of laymen, a new brick church was dedicated in 1916.

The new church was dedicated November 12, 1916 at which time Elder Wyatt Montgomery of Campbellsville began a two-week meeting. At the dedication of the new church, only three of the members who were at the 1865 reorganizational meeting were living----Sarah Bonta, Lucretia McGinnis and Harriet Sandifer. None of the 1856 signers of the register were surviving.