Georgia: Oglethorpe County: New Springhill Baptist Church Crawfordville Road, Philomath, Georgia ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Bobbie Scott-Bridges DBRIDGES74@aol.com ==================================================================== New Springhill Baptist Church Crawfordville Rd. Philomath, Ga 30660 Church History The oldest Black church in Philomath, Ga., Springhill Baptist Church was founded in the year of our Lord 1870, by the late Rev. Silas Johnson. This church had its origin in a house prayer meeting, conducted by Rev. Silas Johnson and a group of other black people. After a number of years of house to house prayer meetings, Rev. Johnson and his people decided that a central place of worship was needed. With permission and encouragement from Dr. David C. Barrow, they built a large brush arbor on the Barrow plantation. Worship service in this central meeting place brought new members, namely Sister Littie Pollean, Bro. Tom Cheney, and assistant pastors Rev. Sam Sanders and Rev. Levy Thornton. Soon the membership increased therefore, Rev. Johnson and his assistant pastors felt a need for a building. Their brush arbor was extremely inadequate in bad weather. Again, Dr. Barrow came to their rescue, and gave them one acre of land and all the pine trees, needed to build a log church house. The congregation raised fifty cents for recording of the deeds in the Lexington courthouse. Then they began to cut trees and build their beautiful, little church of handhewn, handnotched logs. Not until the building was erected did Rev. Silas Johnson and his group request transfers of membership letters from white churches to which they belonged: Rev. Silas Johnson from Bairdstown Baptist Church; L.C. Parker and Maomie Pope from Bethesda Baptist Church. Nancy Morton, Frank Maxey, Lit Dalton, Emily Martin, Febbie Parlens, Tony Thomton, Lucy Reid, Tom Wright, Roda Barrow Daniel Gresham, J.S. Peek, Isom Daniel, and Ike Pittard were an assortment of people from, churches of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist faiths of Woodstock, which is now Philomath. The Reid, Wright, Barrow, Daniel, Peek and Pittard families moved their letters from the Wright Plantation, Black Presbyterian Church. This church was organized, built and developed under the direction of Dr. Reid, pastor of the Woodstock, White Presbyterian Church. The Blacks were never able to ordain a minister from their own group because the Presbyterian Church required higher standards of education for its ministers. The first pastor of the new rustic log Baptist church was Rev. D.P. Murden. Under his leadership, so many new members were baptized, that it was necessary to enlarge the building by constructing a big box house. In this house of worship, the thriving congregation began to elect deacons, and ordain ministers. During Rev. Murden's 25 years of consecrated service, the deacons elected and ordained were: Dea. Frank Maxey, Tom Wright, Lit Dalton, Tony Parks, Mack Delphia, Lim Bryant, Daniel Gresham, and B.J. Johnson, deacons; Rev. Silas Johnson, Rev. C.L. Parker, Rev. Mack Delphia, ministers. It was during Rev. Murden's administration that the log box church received the name of Springhill. The congregation derived this name when they found a crystal clear spring bubbling delightfully at the foot of a wooded hill, on which the church was built. The spring only a few hundred feet away, never failed them, no matter how hot or dry the days were. At the close of Rev. Murden's 25 years of service, Rev. R.F. Griffin was elected as pastor. Pastor Grifin continued the evangelistic work and the clapboard improvement work on the church building, which Rev. Murden had so ably instigated. At the end of six years of pastorate, Rev. Griffin resigned, and Rev. Barnet was elected as pastor. Rev. Barnet served the church until his death, 13 years after his election. During his ministry, many united with the church and additional deacons were elected and four ministers were ordained. Deacons were: J.S. Peek, D.M. Maxey, Handy Barrow, W.G. Johnson, and Ike Pittard. Ministers ordained were: Rev. J.J. Gresham, Rev. A.R. Combs, Rev. B.J. Jackson and Rev. B.R. Roberts. After Rev. Barnet's death, ministers serving in rapid succession were: Rev. L.H. Hinderson, two years; Rev. J.F. Franklin, five years, Rev. J.W. Curry, one year, and Rev. G.W. Williams, eight months. After Rev. Williams left the church, Rev. R.F. Griffin was persuaded to accept the pastorate for the second time. With his return, the church's stability returned. Deacons were elected to fill expired terms of older members and the church progressed admirably until the building burned in April 1936. Deacons that were serving at this time were: West Pope, H.L. Johnson, Billy Hull, Lewis Watson, G.W. Murden, J.J. Gresham, B.J. Johnson, Robert Maxey, J.J. Willis, and W.M. Jackson. There men were ably directed by the church's clerks, Daniel Gresham, Alonzo Johnson and Rev. Mack Delphia. After the April 19, 1936 fire, worship services were held in the school building, which had been built in proximity to the church building. During this time, came stress, discontentment and strife between the members and congregation. This is how the churches got the names of Old and New Springhill. The New Springhill Church was built in the year of 1937 on an acre of land given by H.M. Callaway. At this time, the Rev. R.F. Griffin was pastor. Along with the following deacons, namely, Dea. D.K. Maxey, Dea. Henry Johnson, Dea. West Pope and Dea. Billy Hull and the congregation, the church began to take roots and grow. The first business meeting was held on the first Saturday in April 1937, in the yard beneath the trees, where the stone tables once stood. Officers were as follows: Pastor, Rev. R.F. Griffin; deacons, the late Dea. Henry Johnson, Dea. West Pope, Dea. D.K. Maxey, Dea. Billy Hull, with Dea Henry Johnson as church clerk. The church was dedicated and showed great signs of progress. After two years, Rev. Griffin retired from pastor and Rev. A. Comb became pastor. This being his home church, Rev. Comb had a desire to make this one of the best churches in the area. He, along with the deacons and members began to make many plans. Rev. Comb served his generation well and left a footprint on the sand of time for the young people to follow. Rev. Comb served eight years until his death. Deacons who served under Rev. Comb were: Dea. Billy Hull, Dea. D.K. Maxey, Dea. C.S. Pope, Dea. Ben H. Pope, Dea. Clemon Hull. After Rev. Comb's death the church was without a leader for six months. Several ministers came to carry on the Word of God . In 1949, Rev. B.W. Paige was called and elected as pastor. He served well, and the church continued to grow. Under Rev. Paige, the church was able to get it's first piano. Rev. Paige served seven years, from 1949 to 1956. The church called the Rev. H.L. Harper, who served from April 6, 1957 until Jan. 1959. Rev. H.L. Harper was a man who believed in building. He was the first to speak of a new church building and of other things that we are continuing today. After Rev. Harper left, the Rev. J.L. Curgers was called as pastor in April 1959. He served until 1968, when his health failed. Then, our present pastor, Rev. Lamar Davenport was called. He continues to lead and inspire our congregation. During these 131 years the following pastors have served: Rev. D.P. Murden, 25 years; Rev. R.F. Griffin, 6 years; Rev. J.F. Franklin, 5 years; Rev. J.W. Curry, one year; Rev. R.F. Griffin, four years; Rev. A.R. Combs, eight years; Rev. B.W. Paige, eight years; Rev. H.L. Harper, two years; Rev. J.L. Curgers, nine years; and our present pastor, Rev. Lamar Davenport, thirty three years. There have been 214 deacons ordained from 1870 until now. Nine ministers have been ordained from 1870 until today, which comprises some of the best ministers of the State of Georgia. There were also nine church clerks. The Rev. Silas Johnson, founder of Springhill Church, had influence in organizing three churches in Wilkes County. They are Pleasant Grove of Rayle Ga, Lyonsville, and White Rock. In spite of hardships, trials and tribulations, Springhill, with God's guidance, has been able to preserve its cherished heritage; look to the future of prosperity land directive leadership; and point the way to God for lost men, women and children. Deacons who have passed on, and were instrumental leaders were Dea. Billy Hull, Dea. Clemon Hull, Dea. Robert Hull, Dea. C.S. Pope, Dea. Ben H. Pope, Dea. J.L. Hull, Dea. Warren Pope. Our present officers are: Pastor, Rev. Lamar Davenport; Chairman of Board of Deacons, Dea Ervin D. Smith; Church Clerk, Sis. Rhonda Goolsby; Assistance Clerk, Sis. Lena Johnson; Finance Clerk, Dea. Ervin D. Smith; Treasurer, Dea. John P. Hull; and the following deacons, Dea. Willie O. Dunn, Dea. Thomas Dunn, Dea. Eddie Hull, Sr., Dea. Bobby Daniels, Dea. Robert C. Daniels, Dea. John Craig, Jr. Founders Rev. Silas Johnson Bro. Lit Dalton Sis. Roda Barrow Rev. C.L. Parks Sis. Emily Martin Bro. Daniel Gresham Sis. Maomie Pope Sis. Febbie Parlin Bro. J.S. Peek Sis. Nancy Morton Bro. Tony Thomton Bro. Isom Daniel Bro. Frank Maxey Sis. Lucy Reid Bro. Ike Pittard Bro. Tom Wright Rev. Mack Delphia Dea. Lim Bryant Sis. Little Pollean Bro. Tom Cheney Rev. Sam Sanders Rev. Levy Thornton In the year of 1970 the church began to talk about a new building. The late Dea. Billy Hull asked the church to prove they wanted a new building by raising half of the money needed to build a church and then we would go to the bank to ask for a loan for the other half. This seemed to satisfy the membership and they began working together to raise money for the new building. The membership was successful. In July of 1977, the ground was broken for a new building. For the sum of $85,000.00, Mr. Allen Haggard, a contractor from Danielsville built the church. In April of 1978 the church was completed. We marched into our church and had our dedication service Sunday May 7, 1978 with our former pastor, Rev. B. W. Paige in charge of the service. Rev. C.P. Wright brought the sermon. We thank God for guiding us and leading us with his blessing, this building. December 3, 1983 the church was paid for. After going into the new building, there have been some changes and many things added as follows: We changed our conference to every three (3) months: February, May, August, and November; we added a steeple, neon sign, an organ, and steam table; we added a bathroom in the pastor study and handicap bathroom stalls in the men and ladies restroom; a ramp was built on the back of the church for easier access for the handicap; the carpet has been replaced; the yard has been paved, this land was donated by the family of the late Dr. Thomas Nash; and a new roof has been put on. Our main fundraising events are the Men and Women Day Program, Homecoming, and Family and Friends Day. November 28, 1992 two deacons were ordained, Bro. Bobby Daniels and Bro. Charles Daniels. The ordaination sermon was by Rev. James E. Wright. In August of 2000, Dea. Willie O. Dunn resigned from the church clerk job after 52 years of service. The officers that now presently serve are, Rev. Lamar Davenport, Pastor; Dea. Ervin D. Smith, Chairman of the Deacon Board; Sis. Rhonda Goolsby, Church Clerk; Sis. Lena Johnson, Assistant Clerk; Dea. John P. Hull, Treasurer. Springhill, as a whole, is 130 years old. New Springhill is 64 years old.