Unveiling the History of Keltonburg’s Old Bildad Church

A short while back, we were entrusted with an incredible treasure—the surviving records of Old Bildad Church in Keltonburg, DeKalb County, Tennessee.

These original records begin in 1813 and span several minute books, providing a remarkable glimpse into the lives of the church’s members and the community they served. The records contain membership rolls, admissions and dismissals, disciplinary actions, church business, and, in some cases, valuable genealogical details such as dates of death and other significant life events. They also document the challenges, disputes, and triumphs experienced by the congregation over more than a century of history.

The imaging of these records is now nearly complete. While a few smaller items, including historical checks, banking records, and related financial documents, still need to be captured, the vast majority of the material most valuable to historians, genealogists, and researchers has been preserved and is available below.

Our volunteers are currently working to transcribe these records to make them more accessible and searchable. As transcriptions are completed, they will be added alongside the original images. We encourage researchers to check back regularly as additional records and transcriptions become available.

These records represent an invaluable resource for anyone researching the families, community, and history of Keltonburg and DeKalb County, preserving stories and connections that might otherwise have been lost to time.