Members of Providence Church gather in front of the original building in the 1930s. Bilbo Horne is sitting in the center of the front row wearing a hat. He led an effort to rebuild the church in 1937. His son Greg followed in his footsteps over 70 years later when he found the church abandoned. Providence Church restored once more
By JASON PATTERSON
Editor & Publisher

In 1937 Providence Baptist Church was in serious need of repair when Bilbo Horne led a project to bring new life to the rural house of worship.
Over 70 years later, his son Greg would complete that task once more.
“I think God just led me there,” Greg Horne said as  he thumbed through historical records of the church. “I’m not a wealthy person by any stretch, but God has always given me what I needed to do what I wanted to do. I believe this is something he wanted me to do.”
Once a thriving church, Providence was down to just three members when a tree was blown down on the building during Hurricane Katrina-related storms in 2005.
The little congregation never returned.
When Horne rediscovered the church it was abandoned, but he knew that the church had a rich history.
Providence’s Past
Providence Church dates back to 1884, when members were meeting in the Robinett Schoolhouse. L.G. Robinett deeded land for the church in 1885, and the church was constructed that same year.
Paul Milner, who still lives in the same community, joined the church in the 1930s when he was just 12 years old.
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