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Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church

North Mt. Zion Rd. (CR 65 off SR 10 East), Greenville, AL 36037

Butler County

Still active among a declining number of Primitive Baptist churches, Mt. Zion was established in this rural area in 1832, the very year that Primitive (“original” or Old School Baptists) formally established themselves as a denomination separate from New School Baptists. Between 1815 and 1848, the Wiregrass area was central to the doctrinal disputes that resulted in this Baptist schism. Primitive Baptists are Calvinist, believing, among other things, in salvation of God’s elect only (predestination). In this, they differ from free will Baptists. As original or Old School Baptists, they reject that which is not specifically established by Scripture: the New School ideas of the 1820s and 1830s such as missionary societies, Sunday schools, and theological seminaries. Simple services consisting of preaching, prayer, and a cappella singing are believed to follow the practices of the New Testament church. Baptism is by immersion only, and the Lord’s Supper is served with unleavened bread and wine. Primitive Baptists’ unadorned church buildings reflect the doctrinally-inspired plainness favored by this denomination. A large cemetery is located to the right of the church building.