Posted By Christa Thornsbury on Mar 27, 2017 | 4 comments

In 2012, Free Will Baptist Bible College (FWBBC) was renamed Welch College in honor of Rev. John L Welch and his wife Mary Ann. A pastor of Cofer’s Chapel in Nashville, Tennessee, Bro. Welch played a key role in the formation of the National Association of Free Will Baptists as well as in the founding of FWBBC. His contributions to our denomination are indeed profound. Long before the college received a new name, though, the FWBBC campus library was named Welch Library. Library patrons and visitors are certain to have seen the portrait of  the Welches that hung above the fireplace in the West End library’s front living room.

Interestingly enough, Mrs. Mary Ann has become something of a mascot in the library in the years that I’ve been the library manager; her likeness has frequently appeared around the library for freshman orientation and other library events. When the Helwys Society Forum dedicated March to significant Free Will Baptist women, it seemed the perfect opportunity to learn more about Mrs. Mary Ann and the roles she filled in our denomination.[1]

I had the privilege of speaking to both Dr. Robert Picirilli and Dr. Mary Ruth Wisehart who knew, worked with, and ministered alongside Mrs. Mary Ann. They shared some of their memories of Mrs. Mary Ann as well as excerpts from Dr. Picirilli’s upcoming biography (which features a foreword by Dr. Wisehart) of the Welches. I am indebted to them for their insight into Mrs. Mary Ann’s legacy.

Biography

Mary Ann Weaver was born on June 8, 1890 in Nashville, TN. When she was a toddler, her mother began taking her to Cofer’s Chapel. Mary Ann was saved when she was fifteen; she then joined the church and was baptized. She graduated from Hume Fogg High School in Nashville and took a few classes at Scarritt College.[2]

She met John Welch when he stopped at Cofer’s for a Sunday night service in 1908 on his way to lead a revival in Clarksville. Though nothing certain is known about their courtship, the two were married at Cofer’s on September 1, 1912, immediately following the Sunday morning service. Ironically, it was after her marriage that she began to be called “Miss Mary,” a moniker that would stay with her for the rest of her life.[3] The Welches eventually had four children, though only two survived until adulthood.[4]

Dr. Picirilli and Dr. Wisehart both describe Miss Mary as a quiet, unassuming, and humble person who was happy to serve her fellow believers out of the spotlight. She did not talk about herself and preferred to go unnoticed, so much so that Dr. Wisehart remembers that she walked with a slight stoop to her step. She had such a gentle spirit that she could even sweetly correct the grammar of college professors and, while her advice was taken, no offense was.[5] They also described Mrs. Welch as a worrier who was always concerned that events or dinners and the like might encounter problems.[6] Even this, though, seems to indicate that Miss Mary wanted the best for those whom she loved.

Ministry Among Free Will Baptists

Mary Ann Welch never occupied a prominent role in the denomination as did Laura Belle Barnard or Lizzie McAdams or Fannie Polston. Instead, Miss Mary was content to work in a more “behind-the-scenes” capacity, but she nevertheless had great impact on Free Will Baptists.

Service as Faithful Pastor’s Wife

First, she was, according to Dr. Picirilli, “a true partner in the work with her husband, fitting easily into the role of pastor’s wife.”[7] Mrs. Welch took her role as a pastor’s wife very seriously, supporting her husband in his pastorate and working alongside him to help form the National Association of Free Will Baptists and to encourage the denomination to open a Bible college. In fact, in our conversation, both Dr. Picirilli and Dr. Wisehart referred to Miss Mary as the “co-pastor” of Cofer’s Chapel since she was so actively involved in church life. For example, she helped organize Wednesday prayer meetings by taking attendance, asking for prayer requests, and choosing people to lead in prayer.[8] Furthermore, her disposition allowed her to “stand in the gap” for her husband when he was moody or withdrawn in conversations with others.[9]

In addition, Miss Mary greatly loved young people; in her role as pastor’s wife, she worked with her church’s youth and community as well. She formed a group for the teenagers from Cofer’s and its surrounding community called the Go Tells. Through their activities, Mrs. Mary Ann impacted their lives as they grew into adults, leaving with them a spiritual legacy that would last throughout their lifetimes and into eternity. She also taught children a Bible verse for each letter of the alphabet. To this day, many people remember her “ABC Bible verses” and can still recite them.[10] Both she and Brother Welch were instrumental in national-level youth work among Free Will Baptists as well.[11]

Involvement in Women’s Ministry

Miss Mary was also quite involved in women’s ministry. She was an active founding member of the Cofer’s Ladies’ Aid Society. She helped Fannie Polston with the Free Will Baptist Record, which the women of Cofer’s published, in an editorial capacity, eventually becoming the editor herself.[12]

In fact, her involvement in the Ladies’ Aid Society and in helping establish Ladies Aid Societies in other churches led her to play a role in the organization of a national Free Will Baptist women’s group.[13] She was present at the 1935 formation of Women’s National Auxiliary Convention (WNAC) and served as a vice president in its first administration. She supported the WNAC throughout her lifetime. Miss Mary also held several offices in local, quarterly, and district auxiliary conferences. Furthermore, she served women outside of the denomination, including her work with the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in Nashville.[14]

Impact at Free Will Baptist Bible College

 Perhaps one of Mrs. Mary Ann’s greatest contributions to the denomination was her ministry at FWBBC where she served as a secretary/receptionist (and, briefly, as an English teacher). She was a faithful worker with the foresight to save many things she knew would have historical significance for future generations. In fact, several items in the Free Will Baptist Historical Archive housed at the college were collected by Mrs. Mary Ann.[15]

She was a great encourager to the students, staff, and faculty of FWBBC and often showed her care and kindness in small tangible ways. For example, she would frequently give people mints or other candies to “sweeten their dispositions,” as she would say. Dr. Wisehart said that she also would frequently slip dollar bills, tubes of toothpaste, or little bottles of Welch’s grape juice into female students’ pockets when she knew they needed such things.[16]

She also served as a dependable confidant to both students and co-workers. Mrs. Mary Ann was a prayer warrior who had calendars in each room of her house filled with prayer requests. According to Dr. Wisehart, “When she said she would pray for you, she really meant it.”[17] Of course, the emphasis that she placed on prayer can be seen in her other ministries as well, especially in her women’s ministry.[18]

Dr. Wisehart had a special relationship with Mrs. Mary Ann and Bro. John, so much so that when a FWBBC student was asked to identify Mrs. Mary Ann in a picture, he responded with “That’s Dr. Mary’s mother.”[19] She would greet her with a “Good morning, Mary Sunshine!” and, as Dr. Wisehart was writing her dissertation, Mrs. Mary Ann never failed to hearten her.

The Welches cared for many other FWBBC students over the years, too. Mrs. Mary Ann also made sure that the congregation at Cofer’s Chapel did their part to take care of FWBBC students.[20] Certainly, her kindness and love to these students had lasting and eternal impact, both for Free Will Baptists and for the kingdom.

Conclusion

Mrs. Mary Ann Welch was truly an important Free Will Baptist woman whose humility and kindness endeared her to the people of our denomination. Her quiet faithfulness is indeed an example for us all. In her support of and labor alongside of her husband, she demonstrated what a good “help mate,” to use an older term, involved.

In her women’s work, she showed the great influence that women can have in the work of the church. In her position at FWBBC, she exemplified what being a good worker and encourager to those with whom and for whom you work is. In all of these areas, her Christian love and devotion to Christ and her fellow believers yielded fruit that we may be unaware of until we are in Heaven with her, though her legacy is nonetheless abundantly clear.

____________________

[1] Mary R. Wisehart, “Foreword,” in Robert E. Picirilli, Footprints: the Story of John L. and Mary Ann Weaver Welch (forthcoming book), iii.

[2] Robert E. Picirilli, “Meet Mary Ann Weaver Welch,” in Footprints: the Story of John L. and Mary Ann Weaver Welch, (forthcoming book), 2.

[3] Ibid., 2-3.

[4] Robert E. Picirilli, “The Welches in the Pastorate,” in in Footprints: the Story of John L. and Mary Ann Weaver Welch (forthcoming book), 1-2.

[5] Dr. Robert E. Picirilli and Dr. Mary R. Wisehart (Professor Emeritus and retired English professor) in discussion with the author, February 2017.

[6] Robert E. Picirilli, “The Welches in the Pastorate,” 3; Picirilli and Wisehart discussion.

[7] Picirilli, “Meet Mary Ann Weaver Welch,” 3.

[8] Picirilli, “The Welches in the Pastorate,” 3; Picirilli and Wisehart discussion.

[9] Picirilli and Wisehart discussion.

[10] Wisehart, iv; Picirilli and Wisehart discussion.

[11] Robert E. Picirilli, “New Beginnings in the Pastorate,” in Footprints: the Story of John L. and Mary Ann Weaver Welch, 7-8.

[12] Picirilli, “Meet Mary Ann Weaver Welch,” 1-2.

[13] Picirilli, “New Beginnings in the Pastorate,” 3.

[14]Picirilli and Wisehar discussion; Picirilli, “The Welches in the Pastorate,” 3.

[15] Picirilli and Wisehart discussion.

[16] Picirilli and Wisehart discussion; Robert E. Picirilli, “The Welches and the Bible College,” in Footprints: the Story of John L. and Mary Ann Weaver Welch, 10; Wisehart, iv.

[17] Wisehart, iv.

[18] Picirilli, “New Beginnings in the Pastorate,” 2.

[19] Picirilli and Wisehart discussion.

[20] Picirilli and Wisehart discussion; Wisehart, iii-iv.

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