MONTGOMERY COUNTY, GA - Churches Tarrytown Baptist ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Olivia Williamson Braddy http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007446 THE MONTGOMERY MONITOR Mt. Vernon, Georgia August 31, 1988 Tarrytown Baptist Celebrates 85th Anniversary The Tarrytown Baptist Church is celebrating the 85th anniversary of its founding this week through homecoming services Sunday and revival each evening. Former Jimmy Voyles is the guest preacher, and he and several other former pastors participated in the Sunday morning services. Pastor Jeff Rollins led the service, welcoming many guests and former residents who had returned home for the big day. Rev. Carl Milton, director of missions for the Daniell Baptist Association led in prayer. Rev. Dick Johnson, who retired this year from Calvary Baptist Church at Jesup, spoke to the congregation, recalling his many delightful years at Tarrytown. Also, former Pastor Roger Branch, who now leads the Ailey Baptist Church, was on hand for the after-dinner service. Special music included a duet by Chester Hilton and Carey Strickland and a medley of spiritual songs by Fran Warnock, a granddaughter of Cornelia Warnock. After the morning worship service, members and guest gathered in the spacious church social hall where the tables were laden with a tremendous variety of good country cooking. Enough was left over for supper that evening. The minutes of the Tarrytown Baptist Church show that the church was organized at a meeting on Saturday, August 30, 1903. Attending the meeting were J. J. Calhoun, Teresa Calhoun, J. I. Calhoun, Nancy Calhoun, W. L. Calhoun, M. A. Calhoun, Lizzie Dickens, L. T. Thigpen, Sister C. H. Calhoun, R. J. Boyd, Cynthia Boyd, Viola Beaty, Sister Martha Wheeler, W. H. Dunn, and M. C. Dunn. J. D. Rabun preached at the first service the next morning, August 31. R. J. Boyd was the first church clerk. The church adopted 13 Articles of Faith. Bro. O. O. Williams was elected the first pastor of the church on September 15, 1903, and on October 18 that same year the church applied for admission to the Daniell Baptist Association. Some reasons for dismissal from the church were attending dances and using improper language. However, upon repentance, members would be restored to full fellowship. A record was kept of what each member contributed, and if he didn't have the money, he contributed whatever he had, such as chickens, hogs, cotton, corn, and syrup. The pastor's salary ranged from $150 to $200 per year in the earlier years of the church. Records show that in 1914 the church had a Sunday School membership of 150 with 14 baptisms resulting from the Sunday School. The first record on an organized WMU in the church was 1910, when Mrs. J. J. Calhoun was president. During the depression years the ladies of the WMU saved their eggs gathered on Sunday and sold them for funds for missions. In the middle 1930's the church meeting house was partially blown down by a severe storm. It was rebuilt by monetary gifts and timber given by the people of the Tarrytown community. In 1954 the church acquired the old Tarrytown School property from the county, providing space and more suitable facilities. After completion of the steeple and other adaptations the new church facilities were dedicated in the summer of 1957. In 1966 the old church building was rotated ninety degrees and was completely remodeled into a pastorium for each acting pastor. The building is now valued at about $50,000. The church received the donation of an organ in 1964. That same year on September 1, the church went to full time services after having previously been two Sundays per month. The Tarrytown Baptist Church has a long record of support for such causes as the Children's Home; Foreign Home, and State Missions; Georgia Baptist Hospital; Ministerial Education; and others. The church has sponsored programs for the young people of the community, G. A.'s and R. A.'s. The active WMU now sponsors Mission Friends, R. A.'s, G. A.'s and Acteens. Membership of the church is currently 158. There are 75 enrolled in Sunday School and 50 in Church Training. The Rev. Jeff Rollins is the church's 33rd pastor.