Pike County GA Liberty Chapel Congregational Church

Contributed by Wayne Foster WF73Ghia@aol.com 



History of Liberty Chapel Congregational Church
Lifsey Springs, Pike Co


  Written by Mrs. J.C. Alexander
     1941

Forty-nine years ago our forefathers and mothers saw
the need of a church in this community. So on January
7, 1892 they met at the home of W.W. King and
organized Liberty Chapel Church with less than a
dozen members. Rev. W.H. Graham named the church
Liberty Chapel and was the first pastor of Liberty
Church. For a few months they had their meetings at
the homes in this community, mostly at W.W. Kings
home. 

Later they had their meeting at Cook's School, which
was across the road from where the school building
now stands. It was burned down. In the summer they
built a bush arbor and had the revival there.

Interest was growing rapidly in a church also
membership was growing too. They decided it was time
for them to build a church.

Mr. Tom Foster gave one acre of land off his lot for
the church building, never to go back to his lot of
land if it ever ceased to be a church, but if the
property were ever to be sold, it would go to the
other congregation church funds.

In 1895 the church was built. Some money was raised
for the building, some lumber was donated and
everybody was giving their time in erecting the new
church. Mr. Jeff Foster and his son, Richard drew all
of the boards that they first covered the church with
and they lasted until the church was covered in
January 1935. Mr. John Mangham layed off all of the
pews and J.A. King and Lee King nailed most of them.

Rev. W.H. Graham was pastor from 1892 to 1904 and by
this time the church had grown to nineteen members.
It is to Rev. Graham we give the praise for having
Liberty Chapel today.

Now comes the pastor that we all know so well, Rev.
Gideon Horne who served so well from 1904 to 1914 and
the church had grown to 57 strong. In 1907 the church
was ceiled which cost $58.50.

In 1915, Rev. W.H. Graham was welcomed back to pastor
Liberty Church, but only stayed one year.

From 1916 to 1920 Rev. Gideon Horne came back to reap
the golden harvest as he had done before. 5 more were
added to the fold this time.

The next two years were pastored by Rev. Buckamire,
there were eleven by_________, ready to do at anytime
whatever they could.

It was 1922 to 1925 that Bro. Gideon Horne came back
to do his last and best work and six more were added
to the fold.

For two or three years students from the seminary in
Atlanta came to preach, Rev. Curtis Matthews first
preached a year or so and then Rev. George Penn. They
were young but did what they could for the growth of
the church. After they couldn't pastor the church any
longer, the church went without a pastor until 1936.
All the time there was no pastor, the annual singing
continued on the second Sunday in September. The
years there were no pastor, Rev. Gideon Horne would
preach on fifth Sundays and some other time too. The
interest for a church was still kept up. By this time
the church needed covering and some new window panes.

So Mr. And Mrs. O.W. Buchanan and Mrs. J.C. Alexander
decided we would see if we could raise the money to
cover the church. We soon got enough for the covering
and panes too. 

In January 1935 the church was recovered and panes
put in. After having the church repaired there was
still enough interest for a church, so it was
reorganized in January 1936. At this time Rev. David
W. Shepherd came to this field to watch and care for
all that was in the fold and he gathered more.

At this time only 27 was left on the church roll,
many had moved away and joined other churches and
some had died, 6 of these 27 have left this church,
one by death and the other 5 have moved away, so they
called for their letters.

There were 12 added to the church roll while Mr.
Shepherd was pastor, which made 33.

As the church was just reorganized and much interest
was shown by everybody, Mr. Shepherd and everyone
went to work to see how much they could improve the
church building inside and outside.

It was painted on the inside and outside. The pews
were painted and windows stenciled. A piano and
$16.50 worth of songbooks were bought. There was
shrubbery set out around the church.

In November 1938 when Mr. Shepherd left us and Rev.
Gerald Smith took his place, there were still lots of
good work being done, and it is to him that we give
thanks for having organized a Ladies Aid. For the
short time that Mr. Smith was with us, there were two
to come into the Church.

The oldest member of Liberty Chapel Church is Mrs.
C.D. Thompson of Griffin, who has been a member for
over 40 years.

The Church book show at all time that all pastor's
salary has been paid up each year.

After Rev. Gerald Smith moved away, we had he
pleasure of calling Rev. and Mrs. Donald West into
our church to take up the work that was left for our
next pastor. Up until this day Bro. West and family
have done much for our Church Community and has
helped our Ladies Aid Society to become better
organized.

Pastors:


Rev. W.H. Graham        1892-1904
Rev. Gideon Horne        1904-1914
Rev. W.H. Graham        1915-1916
Rev. Gideon Horne        1916-1920
Rev. Buckamire             1920-1922
Rev. Gideon Horne        1922-1925
Rev. Curtis Matthews     1925-1926
Rev. George Penn           1926-1927
    no pastor                 1927-1936
Rev. David Shepherd     1936-1938
Rev. Gerald Smith          1938-1939                                          
                         Rev. Donald West           1939-  ? 


========================
USGENWEB NOTICE:  In keeping with our policy of providing
free information on the Internet, data may be freely used
by non-commercial entities, as long as this message
remains on all copied material. These electronic pages
cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other
presentation. The submitter has given permission to the
USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE
access. ==============