Butts County GaArchives News.....Macedonia Baptist Church Destroyed by Fire September 1965
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Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 February 20, 2011, 8:57 pm

Jackson Progress Argus September 1965
Macedonia Baptist Church Destroyed by Fire on Monday

Historic, 138-year old Macedonia Baptist Church, one of the model rural 
Baptist churches of the South, was totally destroyed by fire early Monday 
night from a blaze started from a lightning bolt.  Effective work by firemen, 
using pumper trucks from Jackson and Monticello, saved the Educational 
building to the read of the destroyed structure although the roof buckled from 
the intense heat.

The handsome, white frame edifice was struck by a lightning bolt around 6:45pm 
that startled the entire community.  The blaze was discovered about five 
minutes after the tremendous thunder clap by Rev. Bill Thomas, Macedonia 
pastor, and his wife who were standing on the porch of their nearby pastorium 
when the first flames were noticed.  Those first on the scene rushed into the 
building to remove church records, furniture, pews, piano, songbooks, etc.  
Some pews were destroyed, however, as there was not enough manpower on hand in 
the early minutes of the fire to remove all furnishings.

The building destroyed by the Monday fire was approximately 50 years old.  The 
interior of the sanctuary had been repainted this year and much work and money 
spent on renovations within the past few years.  According to some of the 
older members of the church, this was the third building to be built on the 
original sills, and was the first fire in the church’s long history.

Built on rich lumber, the fire burned furiously for about three hours and 
smoldered for many more, though the structure was consumed in less time.

Macedonia Baptist Church was constituted September 13, 1826 and was one of the 
oldest churches in the area.   Butts County was created on December 24, 1825, 
so the church is almost as old as the county.  The constitutional members of 
Macedonia were Samuel Leak, William Redman, Thomas Thomas, Joseph Byars, Jane 
Leak, Nancy Thomas, Lillis Lee and Jane Lee.

According to Rev. Thomas, Macedonia currently has about 450 members and is one 
of the fastest growing churches in the county.  It is a member of the Kimbell 
Baptist Association.

Mr. Thomas said Tuesday morning that he and the congregation of Macedonia wish 
to thank the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, the Butts County Sheriff 
Department, the Jackson Police Department, the Monticello Fire Department=, 
and the many friends who came and helped  save the Educational Building and 
help remove contents of the church.  Many have already contributed toward a 
new building, Mr. Thomas pointed out, and those desiring to make a donation 
may make check to Macedonia Baptist Church and send it to Mrs. Nora Bankston, 
Treasurer, Rt. 2, Jackson.

The pastor estimated the loss at $50,000 and stated that there was some 
insurance.

We have already begun plans to rebuild, Mr. Thomas said Tuesday, and through 
the building is destroyed the church is still out there.

Rev. Thomas announced Wednesday morning that church and Sunday School services 
will be held as usual at Macedonia with the Sunday School annex being used as 
a place for meeting.

Copied from Jackson Progress Argus
May 27, 1965


Additional Comments:
Newspaper Article had photo of original structure before fire.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/butts/newspapers/macedoni2938nw.txt

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