Claudius Murat Murchison was born May 22, 1858, in Moore County, North Carolina, to DC Murchison and Martha Hackney Murchison.  His mother died when Claudius was four years old. 

Claudius is 2 years old in the 1860 Census, living with his parents in the St. Lawrence Township, Chatham Co., NC.  In the 1870 Census he is 12 and attending school.  The family is living in the Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC.  The 1880 Census lists Claudius as being 22 years old, a farm worker, and living with his parents in Gulf, NC.

In 1878 and 1884, he was elected as a messenger to attend the Sandy Creek Association for Bethany Baptist Church.  Sensing a call to the gospel ministry, Claudius requested to be ordained. Following the procedure of ordination among Southern Baptists, Bethany called an ordaining  presbytery to examine Claudius as to his call and doctrinal beliefs.  The presbytery, which consisted of Rev. M. Baldwin, O.T. Edwards, W.G. King, W.H.H. Lawhorn, and J.W. Stallings, recommended Claudius to Bethany Bapist for ordination.

Claudius is considered a pioneer Baptist preacher.  About 1884, as a missionary under the State Board, he came to South Fork Baptist Association and preached at Warlick's and Mountain Grove churches.  On January 30, 1886, he married Alice Penelope Temple, a Greensboro College graduate who was described as an "educational enthusiast."  Claudius brought his bride to the area west of Hickory where he was preaching.  In a little clearing in the wilderness, they established an academy and a community post office.  Claudius named the place Penelope in honor of his wife.

Claudius began holding worship services in the academy, and Warlick's organized a mission there as a branch of their church.  On October 19, 1888, an independent church, Penelope Baptist, was born with 45 charter members.  Rev. Murchison served as the first pastor until April, 1891, and he would accept the call to the pastorate of Penelope three more times, serving the church in 1892-1895, 1899-1900, and 1902.  He was always very busy in his work for the Lord: in education, in the growth of the church, in evangelistic work, and in guiding the young people of his day.   As a pastor's wife, teacher, post-mistress, and mother, during a time when when women were not actively supported for "speaking out, taking part, and being heard," Penelope was caught up in the work Claudius had begun.

In two letters dated July26 and July 31,1890, Rev. DC Murchison  wrote to loved ones in Gulf about traveling by rail to Penelope and the prospects for "Claud's" academy.  

In 1897 Penelope Academy, listing 80 students from seven counties, was considered a "leading preparatory school for boys and girls."  Nontheless, the academy's days were numbered, as local communities would soon begin to fund free public graded schools.  Claudius wrote in The Baptist Worker in 1899 of his work in the area west of Hickory in the 1880s and 1890s.  Besides Penelope, he held many other pastorates, but the details are not totally clear.  The South Forks history, written in 1901, lists him as "presently serving at Mount Holly, preaching twice a month," and names other pastorates as Catawba, Kid's Chapel and Thessolonica.  The history further reads  that he has "done considerable missionary work; one of our best preachers; a safe, consecrated, level-headed man; a valuable workman in advancing the Master's cause."   

Penelope's niece recalled that "Uncle Claudius had a good appearance, neat, appropriate for a minister.  He wore a dark suit, white shirt. black tie, hat and shoes.  He had a mustache.  He was considered by my mother and other students at the Penelope Academy as being strict and stern in discipline.  He taught practical religious principles which he expected to be obeyed.  When he and his family visited in our home, he conducted long family devotions, reading from Biblical passages, followed by lengthy prayers.  These were usually after the evening meal before we could begin our school home work and get ready for bed.  He emphasized we obey our teachers, parents, shun evil and strive to observe and possess the 'fruits of the Spirit.'  Drinking alcoholic beverages and playing cards were not to be done."   

At home with Penelope in Ridgecrest, Claudius died at night on April 21, 1922.  Penelope dressed him and waited for the day to come. It was a beautiful spring morning and the birds were singing.  Morning was a special time for Claudius and Penelope; they often enjoyed early morning walks.

Charily and Children, an in-house publication of Baptist Children's Homes, reported on Claudius' death:

The death of Rev. C. M. Murchison marks the passing of one of the most useful of our pastors. He was a graduate of Wake Forest College, and in his early days did school work along with his preaching.  He had charge of Penelope Academy in Catawba County for some years.  He served churches in Lincoln County, NC.  In later years he served churches at Yanceyville, doing there a splendid work, and was a leader in the work in the Beulah Association.  The school called him again and he took charge of the school at Bakersville.  Going back into the pastorate he went to Magnolia Street Church, Greensboro, NC.  In the midst of promising work there he was stricken down.  This was more than a year ago.  Since then he has lingered on the margin till last Saturday morning the silent boatman called for him at Ridgecrest (NC) and carried him over to the other side.  He was a great friend to the Orphanage.  We shall miss him. (April 29, 1922)

Penelope died in Chapel Hill in 1931.  She is buried alongside Claudius in the City Cemetery, Marion, North Carolina.

The above portrait of Rev. Murchison and his family hangs in Penelope Baptist Church, which celebrated her first hundred years in 1988.  Left to right: Carl, Rev. Claudius, Donald, Penelope, Claudius Temple.

Family Tree of Claudius Murat Murchison

(-Generation One-)

1 Claudius Murat Murchison

         2        i Donald Rudolph Murchison

         3        ii Carl Allanmore Murchison

         4        iii Claudius Temple Murchison

(-Generation Two-)   

3 Carl Allanmore Murchison

        5        i Powell Murchison

4 Claudius Temple Murchison

        6        i Nancy Croom Murchison

        7        ii Cameron Murchison

        8        iii David Claudius Murchison

(-Generation Three-)

8 David Claudius Murchison

       9        i Brad Murchison