Luella Baptist was organized in 1893 under the leadership of Rev. Washington Oliver, affectionately known as “Uncle Wash.” In the early days, services were first held in a brush arbor near the present site. When cold weather arrived, the congregation gathered inside the Luella Cotton Gin Warehouse, where they continued to worship for several years.

In 1896, construction began on the first permanent church building, built on an acre of land donated by Andrew Brown and Thomas J. Brown, Sr. That fall, services were held in the new sanctuary in honor of Rev. Oliver. Around the same time, two revivals were conducted in the warehouse by Elam Culpepper and Frank J. Culpepper.

According to association records, Thomas Standard and O. H. Goodman represented the congregation at the Association meeting held at Tirzah (Sunny Side) Baptist Church in September 1896, marking Luella’s official affiliation with the Association. Over the years, the original building has been preserved and enhanced, remaining a lovely example of a nineteenth-century village church. In 1988, the congregation added a small fellowship hall with a kitchen, two restrooms, and a dining space. As membership grew, the church expanded again in 2001, adding eight Sunday School classrooms and enlarging the dining area to accommodate more ministry needs.

Today, Luella Baptist continues to serve as a vibrant spiritual home. At the time of the church’s centennial, Rev. Phillip Ivey was serving as pastor, carrying forward the legacy of faith that began more than 125 years ago with “Uncle Wash” and his small congregation in a brush arbor.