I can't establish the exact date the church was first called Indian
Bluff. It seems that Indians once camped in the area, and used the caves and over hanging bluff to live in while hunting. Numerous arrow heads and other Indian relics have been found in the area.
The first school house built in the community in 1896 was used for church services but I don't know if the church was named then or not. It was probably about 1909 when the
people decided to organize their own church. Most of the people must have had membership in the Laurel Grove Baptist Church, but it was so far to walk. The Laurel Grove Church was located at the foot of Graves Gap Mountain which was several miles away.
Silas Braden, Rev. W.M. Lively and Robert White were the organizers of the Indian Bluff Baptist Church and the Rev.
Lively was pastor. When the first school burned, and one was built, church services were conducted in it about 1914. The community continued to grow and in 1929 Cage Braden donated land to build a larger church. But when the people began to dig
for the foundation, they found rock near the surface. John and Nancy (Nance) Braden then donated the property where the church stands today. It was built there because a graveyard was already
there.
Many pastors have served the church and helped care for its needs. Most of all the work completed over 62 years has been done by church members and their families. The church paid off its last debt about 1960 and the policy now is pay as you
go. It contributes to two missions funds and has a standing love offering fund. The church has grown form a 24x32 foot building to a very large church with several class rooms and many other additions. The bell was bought from Minersville Baptist Church about 1935 for five dollars when the church moved to another location. The bell was hauled up the mountain in a cart drawn by a team of oxen, driven by Floyd Braden. Today it is mounted in a brick enclosure in the church yard. The present pastor is the Rev. Ernest Ward, of Caryville, who has been there nine years
-- the longest term a pastor has served at one time.