Clay County GaArchives Church Records.....HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY CHURCHES Copyright Date January 1, 1976 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: REBECCA STEWART RSTEWART@ENERVEST.NET October 5, 2011, 6:51 pm Clay County Churches A - Bethel Baptist Church B - Bluffton Baptist Church C - Bluffton Methodist Church D - Enterprise Baptist Church E - Fort Gaines Baptist Church F - Fort Gaines Methodist Church G - Fort Gaines Presbyterian Church H - Midway Baptist Church I - Mt. Gilead Baptist Church J - Mt. Zion Baptist Church K - Mt. Vernon Baptist Church L - New Lowell Methodist Church M - Old Camp Ground Methodist Church N - Shiloh Baptist Church O - Vincent Methodist Church P - Vilulah Church Q - Wesley Chapel Church Fort Gaines Baptist Church The First Baptist Church of Ft. Gaines was established May 11, 1845 by Rev. Joshua Mercer, Thomas Long, Lewis Everingham and Rev. H.A. Wilcox. There were fourteen charter members: William Castleberry, Catherine Castleberry, Richard Grist, Jas.F.Rowland, Osborn Eley, Jacob Anderson, John Garner, Richard F. Grist, Mary B. Grist, Mary Colbert, Mary Tatum, Patience Anderson, Lucinda C. Garner, Lewis Paullin. The original church was built on land donated by Mrs. Mary Henderson who also furnished most of the funds for materials and workmanship (slave labor). The present church building was completed in 1892 at the same site. Mt. Zion Baptist Church Mount Zion Baptist Church is located South of Ft. Gaines on the Ft. Gaines- Bluffton Road. It was organized in 1856 and was called “Little Sisters”. Early families active in the church were: Foster, Killingsworth, Hammack, Hubbard, Martin, Belisle, Land, West, Culbreth. The first pastor recorded is R. Thornton in 1860. Mt. Vernon Baptist Church The Mount Vernon Baptist Church is located five miles east of Fort Gaines on Highway 37. In August 1886 a few Baptist came together and erected a large bush arbor at the presnt location of the church and organized Mount Vernon Baptist Church. The organizers included these: Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Pearce, Mrs. J.H. Hancock, Mr. and Mrs.A.C. Sutton, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Womble, Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Pearce (other names nknown). The first pastor was Rev. J.S. Knowles and the first clerk, D.B. Womble. The land for the church was given by the Sutton Estate. Midway Baptist Church Midway Church located North of Fort Gaines on Highway 39 was formed in 1882 as Union Church being the community church for Baptist and Methodist. Later the Methodist withdrew and joined the New Lowell Church. Rev. W.J. Patterson was the first pastor and J.E. Methvin the first clerk. W.E. Gay and R.G. Gay were the first delegates to the Association. Other family names associated with this church are Lokey and King. Bethel Baptist Church The Bethel Baptist Church, located 9 miles South of Fort Gaines on the Blakely Road, came into being Nov 1, 1856. Rev. W.S. Leggett was the first pastor and C.H. Davis the first clerk. Jas. Freeman and O.H. Davis were the first delegates to the Bethel Association. Early pastors included the Reverends R. ; Thornton, R.J. Powell, J.S. Parker, L.R. Sims, John Martin, H.R. McLendon, J.H. Corley, R.B. Taylor, J.S. Knowles, J.W. Martin. Early clerks of the church included Jas. Freeman, J.J. King, J. underwood, John \ Melton, G.A. Granberry, J.C. Camp, O.A. Cox, and R.W. Woolf. Vilulah Church Vilulah ChurCh, located in Randolph County, is neAr the Randolph-Clay County Line. The church, constituted Dec. 14, 1867 under a bush arbor, stands on land given by Robert “Uncle Bobby” Knowles. James N. Bigbie, who lost an arm during the Mexican War, and Capt. William Forsythe Davis of the Confederate Army chose the name “Vilulah”. Early members of the church included Albert Bailey, Jarrell Ragan, Abner Belcher, Judge Irwin Saunders, Baal Smith, Dr. Thos. Bigbie, Asa McLendon, Alexander Morgan, Andrew Balckburn, Benjamin Joiner, R.H. Dean, W.H. Bruner, L.J. Joines, James Knowles, Sisters Ammelia Dennington,Nancy McReid, Mary Knowles, Martha Knowles, Susan Knowles, NaAcy R, Bruner, Elizabeth Dean, Phoebe Ingram, Sara Joiner, Sara Etheridge, Amanda Bruner, Sara Bruner. Rev. Matthew Page of Coleman was called as the first pastor. Enterprise Baptist Church • Enterprise Baptist Church was constituted in 1879 in Enterprise schoolhouse. Rev. J.S! Parker was the first Pastor of the Church. Wesley Rish and W.W. Wells were the first deacons and D.W. Hammack the first clerk. Other charter members were W.R. McKinnon and wife, W.W. Wells and wife, B.B. Smith and wife, W.W. McKinnon, Miss Martha McKinnon, Mrs. Welsey Rish, Mrs. J.S. Parker, and Mrs. D.W. Hammack. The first church was built in 1884 and in 1911 the present building was constructed. Mt. Gilead Baptist Church Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, the oldest church in the county, was constituted in July, 1822. It is located seven miles NE of Ft. Gaines on the old “stage coach route” from Ft. Gaines to Cotton Hill to Cuthbert. The land on which the church was constructed was donated by J. Hugh Edge. The first building of round pine poles also served as a schoolhouse. The members who constituted the church were: J. Hugh Edge, Elizabeth Edge, Dr. Smith and wife, Louis Pearce, Mary Pearce, Major Thomas Tawson and wife. There were also several slave members: Jim Edge, Fannie Edge, Louis Edge and wife, Nelson Smith, Louis Smith, Sam Pearce, Fannie Pearce. The first pastor was Rev. Jim Davis. Other early members were John H. Callaway, Thomas Green, Seaborn Jones, Richard Thornton, William Davenport. Shiloh Baptist Church The Shiloh Baptist Church, constituted in 1840, is located thirteen miles NE of Ft. Gaines on the Ft. Gaines-Cotton-Hill-Cuthbert Road. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Thomas Muse. During the pastorate of Rev. James Cumbie, 1865-1869, the church was moved to Cotton Hill. In 1882 that building was torn down and a new one put at the present site of the church. Early pastors included: The Reverends James Bass, Joe Monday, Howell, Stout, Toby, W.H. Norton, J.H. Corley, Knowles, J.E. White, J.O. Nowell, A.C. Wellons. Early deacons and clerks were James Hobbs, Thomas Crozier, A.B. Cross, J.W. Ray, G.R. Smith, R.T. Boyett, J.A. Shepherd, R.L. Boyett, A.W. Dawson, Tom Crozier. Bluffton Baptist Church The Bluffton Baptist Church was organized about 1869. The charter members were C.B. Holmes, W.P. McArthur, William Grace, G.W. Collins, Guss Ingram, Rev. J.S.Parker was the first pastor. The first church was used by Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterians. It was built by early settlers near the springs. These settlers included Zacharian Coward, T.F. Jones, C.B. Holmes and Butler Bryan. Early pastors were: The Reverends L.R. Sims, J.A. Mundy, W.H. Norton, J.S. Parker, W.L. Curry, Thos. Muse, R.B. Taylor, J.S. Knowles, J.L. Underwood. Old Camp Ground Cemetery and a historical marker located on Fort Gaines-Cotton Hill Road. New Lowell Methodist Church New Lowell Methodist Church was organized in the early 1840’s. Mr. Hartwell. Jones Wash gave the lot on which the church now stands. Old Lowell Church was destroyed by fire about the time of the Civil War and the church property for some reason was no longer owned by the church. From 1865 to 1898 there was no place of worship so the Methodist and Baptist built the Union Church (Midway) and worshiped there. About 1890 the Methodist moved their place of worship to Salem Church. The property on which the Lowell Church had originally stood was in time purchased by W.T. Credille, Sr. of Greene County who settled in the community and married Ada Elizabeth Standley. In 1900 this same land was deeded again to the church and the present church was completed. For four generations the Credille and Wash families have been affiliated with this church. Some other early members were Lewis Hartley, Edgar Redding, E.G. Owens, J.I. Crapps, R.L. Burnett, W.E. Puckett, Erasmus King, J.T. and R.L. and W.T. Standley. Wesley Chapel Church Wesley Chapel Church was organized in 1840 as Bald Hill Church. The charter members were James F. McKemie, Robert T. Green, William M. Credille, Alexander Renfroe, Charles S. Zuber, J.M. Sanders, William Olliff, Samuel C. Jones, Etheldred Ingram. The first pastors were the Reverends J.F. McKemie, F.M. Wilson, J.M. Lowe, Dr. J.F. Perry, Jefferson Morris, S.R. Weaver, Ernest Phillips, Henry Sessions, J.E. Parker. In 1852 land was given by Simeon Tyner and a church was erected. At this time the name was changed to Wesley Chapel. In 1897 under the leadership of M. B. Farrell a camp meeting was organized and a tabernacle was built. It was known as Tyner Springs Camp Ground and was used regularly until 1913. Fort Gaines Methodist Church The Fort Gaines Methodist Church was organized in 1822. An Act of the Georgia General Assembly incorporated “the Fort Gaines Methodist Church and that William P. Ford, James P. Holmes, James E. Brown, James Johnson and John Dill and their successors in office, be and they are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate by the name and style of the trustees of the Fort Gaines Church/’ The first services were held in the residence of General Dill. In 1830 a house was built for all denominations. It was burned in 1836 and in 1840 the Methodist built a church on the same site as the present church. The present church was constructed in 1894. W.A. Graham, W.M. Speight, A.S. Brown, S.E. Lewis, W.B. Holmes and J.D. McKissack served on the building committee. The pastor was P.H. Crumper. Early pastors were W.C. Crawford, Asbury Hanks, U. Bedell, Z. Brown, J. Hutto, Rice Stripling, Osborn R. Franklin. Fort Gaines Presbyterian Church Fort Gaines Presbyterian Church was organized in 1847 and its history is recorded in the history of Flint River Presbytery thusly; “Besides the liberal contribution of the churches, the Presbytery received a liberal behest from a Mr. Homer Alexander, residing near Ft. Gaines, Early County of rents, issues and profits of a valuable plantation to be applied to the support of Domestic Missions of the Presbytery.” The first church was built in 1847 on the corner of West Jefferson and Jackson Street (J.W. Grimsley bought the old church building and used it in construction of his home). The present church building was constructed in 1910. The Susie McAllister-Hall was added to provide Sunday School class rooms. Rev. A.R. Liddell was the first resident pastor. Bluffton Methodist Church The first church building in Bluffton was erected around 1850. It served the Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists After a few years the Presbyterians sold their interest in the church to the Methodist and Baptists and moved back to North Ga. About 1880 the Methodists decided to build another church and sold their interest in the original church to the Baptists. The first building and the new building were erected on the community property donated by Mr. Tommy Davis. Mrs. Regina Rambo was largely responsible for the new building which was dedicated in 1886. Active families in the Methodist fellowship at that time were: The Regina Rambo family, Charles Rambo, J.D. Rambo, Fielding Rambo and J.J. Hayes. Rev. Charles L. Hayes is believed to have been the first pastor. Other early pastors were: W.P. Harrison, S.W. Stubbs, P.S. Twitty, E.M. Whiting, John B. and E.H. McGehee, J.G. Harrison, W.F. Smith, Whitley Langston, W.D McGregor, W.C. Lovett, Ed Cook, W.C. Wardlaw and a Rev. Culpepper. Vincent Methodist Church The Vincent Methodist Church, located three miles from Bluffton on the old Bluffton-Edison Road, was organized as the Lucile Chapel Church on Aug. 8, 1923 by the Rev. Marvin Vincent. The church was named for the daughter of Mrs. Edna Mills from whom the land was purchased for the church. Charter members of the church were: Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Hayes, Edna Hayes, Ruth Hayes, Horace Hayes, Mr. Edna Mills, Lina Mills, Lubile Mills, Troy Williams, Mary Harrison, Martha Harrison, J.B. Bowman, Myrtle Kirkland, Allen Kirkland, Alma Hayes, Ear Hayes, Floyd Hayes, Russell Hayes, C.V. Snipes, Mrs. C.V. Smokes, Woodies Snipes, Emma Snipes, Lota Snipes, Charlie Snipes, Preston Williams, Earl Williams, J.F. Cliatt, Mrs. Dophrina Cliatt, Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Kirkland, Shelly, Snow, Bessie, and Carrie Kirkland, Johnnie Warde, Mrs. Dela Todd, Claude Chesher, Mrs. Myrtis Bigbie, A.C. Kelly, Manelle Vincent, Vivan Vincent, Leary and Mamie Lee Warde, Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Landrum, Mrs. John Bone, Mrs. Pauline Dozier, Trudie Mae Dozier, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Melton and Mrs. Will Long. The Church building was erected in 1923. For several years cotton was planted in the , churchyard and proceeds from the cotton and pecan trees in the churchyard were used to help support the church. In 1943 the name of the church was changed to Vincent Methodist Church. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/clay/churches/historyo370gbb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 13.3 Kb