Early County GaArchives Church Records.....New Hope Baptist Church ************************************************ 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: Donna Eldridge DonnaEldrid@aol.com June 25, 2004, 12:32 pm HISTORY OF NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH New Hope Baptist Church, located ten miles south of Blakley in Early County, is one of the oldest churches of the Bethel Baptist Association. New Hope Church was constituted shortly after the close of the war between the States, and during its history of more than half a century the church has grown in strength and served mightily in Kingdom work. On August 2nd, 1869, a small group of Baptists assembled in a small log church building which belonged to the Dubose Methodist congregation, and on that occasion the New Hope Baptist Church was constituted. The presbytery serving in the organization of the church consisted of Elders E. M. Knowls, W. B. Womble, and W. M. Davis. The church was constituted with seventeen members, and the first officers chosen to serve the new church were Rev. E. M. Knowls, Pastor; W. R. George and J. A. George, Deacons; E. S. Cheshire, Clerk. During the first sixteen years of its history New Hope Church worshipped in the Methodist building where the church was constituted. In 1885 the first church building which was to be the home of New Hope Church was completed and on February 22nd of that year the building was formally dedicated. This was during the first pastorate of Rev. J. E. Dykes at New Hope. This house served the church for sixteen years, and in 1901, during the third pastorate of Rev. J. E. Dykes at New Hope, a larger and more substantial building was erected. This building still houses the congregation at New Hope. Since the church was constituted in 1869 the following ministers have served as pastors of New Hope Church: Rev. E. M. Knowls (1869-1872), (1875- 1876); Rev. J. S. Parker (1872); Rev. W. B. Womble (1873-1875), (1879-1880); Rev. J. V. Tipton (1876-1878); Rev. J. M. Jones (1879); Rev. J. E. Dykes (1880- 1886), (1892), (1900-1901); Rev. J. W. Martin (1886-1894); Rev. W. O. Crumbley (1901-1906); Rev. J. P. Sauls (1920-1923); Rev. E. M. Palmer (1923-1926); Rev. R. D. Dodd (1926-1928); Rev. R. E. Zachert (1923-1931). In 1931 Rev. E. M. Palmer was again called to the pastorate of the church and he is serving as pastor at the present time. In all the church has had thirteen different ministers as pastor during the sixty three years since it was constituted. It is of interest to note that Rev. J. E. Dykes was pastor on both occasions when the church buildings were constituted. Brother Dykes spent his last days in the community of the church where he so faithfully labored during the early days of its history. Also, it is of interest to recall that Rev. J. W. Martin served twenty four years in all of his three pastorates at New Hope. Brother Martin still lives within the Association and each Christmas season the New Hope congregation heartily enjoy his annual visit among them. The following have served as deacons of New Hope Church: Brethren W. R. George, J. A. George, Sr., G. F. Mock, S. A. Lindsey, B. R. Houston, L. C. Houston, C. W. Middleton, W. R. Mock, and H. R. Pierson. The present Board of Deacons is composed of the following Brethren: L. C. Houston, C. W. Middleton, W. R. Mock, and H. R. Pierson. The following brethren have served the church as clerks: E. S. Cheshire, W. S. Bush, W. G. Stovall, B. M. George, B. R. Houston, S. L. Houston, W. A. Lindsey who was elected clerk in 1906 and has continuously filled that office acceptably to the present time. At the present time Brother W. K. George is Treasurer of the Church. Brother L. C. Houston is superintendent of the Sunday School. Brother Byron Middleton is president of the B.Y.P.U. During the present year more than twenty acres of land planted in peanuts, cotton and corn have been dedicated by members of New Hope Church as Lord's Acres; pigs and cows are being raised for the work, and many of the good women of the church are regularly giving 'Sunday eggs' and raising broods of chickens for the work of he Kingdom. The church has experienced a great revival and the membership of New Hope Church is praying and working for a greater measure of service in the work of the Kingdom. The present value of the church property is estimated at $____ and the membership of the church is ______. (pages 228-229) "History of Bethel Association - Including Centennial Meeting" Centennial meeting held with Baptist church at Edison, Georgia, October 25, 26, 27, 1932 A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator. W. H. Joyner, Coleman, Ga., Clerk Compiled and Edited by Alexander Lee Miller Moderator of Association 1909 -- 1934 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/early/churches/nbb30newhopeb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb