Astley U. Nunnery


1873-1957


Astley U. Nunnery (1873-1957)

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Life Sketch of A. U. Nunnery
An attempt to set forth a true sketch of any man's life should be an intelligent effort, that is, the biographer should know his subject. I have known my subject for thirty years, and know him to be a high-toned Christian gentleman. He was born in Benton County, eight miles south of Camden, Tennessee, on August 22, 1873. His parents died when he was five or six years old. After their death, he was carried to Henderson County and then to Decatur County, where he spent most of his life. During his boyhood days he lived about three miles south of Cedar Hill. His brother. Alonzo, was a preacher and publisher. On October 18, 1896, he was licensed to preach the Gospel, and ordained on August 8th, 1897. He has pastored from three to eight churches since his ordination. At the same time he has had some thirty-odd debates, meeting such men as I. B. Bradley, E. M. Borden, Claude Cayce, N. V. Parker, Joe L. Netherland, and others. He has baptized thousands of people, preached hundreds of funerals, and has pastoral near one hundred churches, one of which, twenty years. He is loved by all sound Baptists, and is known by all, to be a clean debater. At present he is seventy-three years old, and still active in the Lord's work.

W. H. Hopper, Woods-Nunnery Debate, p. vii, July 2-5, 1946.

Known Debates
  • About 30 debates by 1946
  • E. M. Borden (Church of Christ); between Wildersville and Parson, TN; February 8-11, 1916. Proposition 1: “The Baptist Church is scriptural in origin, doctrine, and practice.” (Nunnery affirmed, Borden denied). Proposition 2: “The Church of Christ is scriptural in origin, doctrine, and practice.” (Borden affirmed, Nunnery denied). [Gospel Advocate, Vol. 58, No. 11 (March 16, 1916), 272]
  • J. F. Curtis (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints); Durham, OK; October 1918; general church
  • Claude Cayce (Primitive Baptist Church)
  • ?W. L. Oliphant (Church of Christ); West, OK
  • Bynum Black (Church of Christ); Dewar, OK; 1927
  • Coleman Overby (Church of Christ); Parsons, TN; 1929 
  • N. V. Parker (?)
  • Joe L. Netherland (?)
  • I. B. Bradley (Church of Christ)
  • Guy N. Woods (Church of Christ)
  • Guy N. Woods (Church of Christ); Parsons, TN; July 2-5, 1946. Book publication: Woods-Nunnery Debate. Huntingdon, TN: Joyce Hendrix, 1947.


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Buried in Mt. Ararat Cemetery between Lexington and Parsons, Tenn.

Directions:
Between Parsons and Lexington on Highway 412 turn north on the Darden Christian Chapel Road. Next turn right on the Sulphur Springs Rd. In about a mile you should see the cemetery. It is across the road from the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church building.