Pike County GaArchives Church Records.....Flat Rock/Hollonville Methodist Church Copyright Date March 10, 1952
************************************************
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:
Lynn Cunningham http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002535 August 13, 2014, 10:59 pm

History of Flat Rock Methodist Church
Pike County, Georgia

I have been asked to write a history of what I know about Flat Rock Church. I 
will first tell about what my mother told me of in her childhood days. She said 
there used to be a camp ground there and her grandparents tented and she stayed 
with them. They were members of that church. This brings me to what I know 
about Flat Rock church.

In 1873 our entire family of ten, both parents and eight children - had their 
letters transferred to Flat Rock from Red Oak. Our first preacher was named 
Wesley Hanson. The second one was David Nolan. He lived in Senoia. He came 
Friday evening and stayed until Monday. The next preacher was T.H.L. Harwell. 
He lived in Turin, came on Friday evening and stayed until Monday. The next one 
was Cadesman Pope who lived in Zebulon. Each one of the three served three 
years.

The church building look to be at least 200 years old. It was just a hull, a 
big one, too. There was no way to fasten the doors, the windows had plank 
shutters, and cracks you could put your hand through, steps of rock, and no 
lighting - only from the sky. Just back of the pulpit there was one small 
window for the preacher to see how to read. There were 3 acres in the lot and a 
deed to so many feet out of right of way to the spring nearby. There was a big 
ground for burying. My great grandparents are buried there. We had preaching 
once a month, quarterly meeting once a quarter and Sunday school every Sunday. 
Our Sunday school superintendent was John Foxworth, a retired sea captain. A 
man of fine education and a loyal member of Flat Rock church as long as he 
lived - he also taught the Bible class. He was killed by a runaway team. He was 
greatly missed by the church and community. Capt. Foxworth was a grand old man 
and a man of much learning.

We went to Sunday school as usual. When we got there the Bible, Hymn Book, and 
glass that sat on the pulpit were gone. We did not know where for a long time. 
We thought it was gone for good, but one morning a near neighbor got up as 
usual, when he looked out the Bible, Hymn Book were lying on his woodpile in 
the glass was on top of them and a note from a man another County was with it. 
He said he had read the book and found that he had done wrong and was returning 
it and asking forgiveness, which was given and we hope he was benefitted by it.

I remember that an old colored preacher used to come often in sit in the back 
part of the church and sometimes the preacher would call on him to pray. He 
would pray an able prayer.

Flat Rock, because of its age, has always been called the mother church of the 
work which consisted of 7 churches. One preacher served all of these churches 
and lived in his own home several miles away. We worshiped in the old church 
about 10 years and then they began to plan for a new church.

The entire membership hated to give up the dear old church where they had 
worshiped and had such glorious revivals, but all thought it would be best for 
the future of the church and it proved to be. They sold the old building to a 
retired M.D., a longtime member of the dear old church. Dr. Williams had the 
church and moved to his own community, and built a dwelling. There was enough 
sound timber in it to build him a three room house, front and back porch. My 
father bought the timber in the grove, not that he needed it for he had a big 
body of woods on his own farm, but it was to get more funds to start the new 
church. The trustees then bought one acre square from G.W. Perkins in the 
village of Hollonville and moving Flat Rock to Hollonville. They got Mr. 
Perkins to frame the church. He was an architect, a contractor, and a very fine 
workman. This dear friends, is the original Hollonville Methodist Church which 
is still Flat Rock moved to town.

This is written by Miss Addie Huckaby, a member of this church. I am in my 90th 
year and am of sound mind and a clear memory, thanks to the Giver of all good 
gifts.

March 10, 1952 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/pike/churches/flatrock95nbb.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/

File size: 4.6 Kb