SCHLEY COUNTY, GA - Churches Phillippi Primitive Baptist Church Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Harris Hill Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/schley.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm From "The History of Schley County," by Mrs. H.J. Williams, written and published in the 1930's Phillippi Primitive Baptist Church was constituted the twenty- eighth of February, 1835 in what was then Marion County. The presbytery was formed by Elders Joseph J. Battle and Andrew Hood. After the Principles of Faith had been adopted, the following males and females were received into the full fellowship of the church: Phillip Bailey, David Cremer, Joshua Lee, Avery Heath, William Babb, Spicey Johnston, Anna Maria Johnston, Catherine Morrison, Eleanor Stewart, Hester Duke, Mary Babb, and Nancy Heath. Joshua Lee was chosen the first deacon and was ordained by the presbytery. The monthly meetings were appointed to be held the first Sunday and Saturday before, just as they are held at the present time. In a copy of the minutes of the church dated March 1, 1835, is the statement that when the door of the church was opened for the reception of members, "Randall Stewart and Lotty, a black sister, were received into the full fellowship of the church, by letter." At a meeting held on April 4, 1835, Elder Andrew Hood was elected to serve the church as pastor. Peter Stewart was chosen as the first clerk of the church. On the second day of May, 1835, it was moved and carried that this church have a written decorum. On August 29, 1835, Peter Stewart was licensed to preach the gospel. It is interesting to note in the minutes of September 30, 1837, that a church division took place. The following is a copy ver batim of the action of Phillippi church on that occasion: "Wheras, there are certain characters who call themselves Missionaries, arisen in the Baptist denomination, and are forming Institutions, which we believe to be contrary to the word of God, viz. Missionary, Bible, Tract and Temperance Societies, Theological Seminaries, and Baptist Colleges. Resolved therefore that we declare a non fellowship with said institutions and with all engaged in them. We further resolve that we do not invite or suffer a Baptist preacher, known to be friendly to, or engaged in said institutions, to preach in our meeting house." Among the pastors who have served Phillippi during the past 98 years have been: Elders Andrew Hood, Joseph J. Battle, James B. Hamilton, Peter Stweart, James Murray, J.R. Respass, John Green Murray, John Roe, M.M. Jennings, J.M. Murray, W.A. Wade, T.V. Prioce. A number of the above named ministers served this church from 20 to 25 years consecutively. A copy of the first minutes of Phillippi church is still in a good state of preservation. In them may be found a record of almost every conference held from the time the church was constituted in 1835, until July 1876. The Primitive Baptisits have always been very strict in regard to the behavior of their members. A copy of the minutes, of 1837, discloses that a certain brother was excommunicated for getting drunk. Another was brought up for trial before the church for visiting a Masonic lodge. Others were excommunicated for taking a homestead to avoid payment of honest debts. A question always asked at church conferences was: "Are the brethren and sisters at peace with each other?", and if they were not, the offenders were tried before the church conference. The minutes also reveal the fact that the doors of the church were opened at each monthly meeting for the reception of members, both white and colored. Phillippi is the only church in Schley county which has continued the custom of hold services on Saturdays. Attendance at the church conferences were obligatory to male members. The present pastor of Phillippi is Elder T.V. Price. The Church clerk is R.N. Chapman. The updated and reprinted version published by the The Schley County Preservation Society has this to say. Phillippi joined the Bethel Association in 1935, but withdrew in 1937 and joined the Upatoi Association in 1937. More moderators and association elders were elected from Phillippi than any other church in the Upatoi Association. It was the largest church at one time with 125 members and 5 ordained elders in the body. The last elder to serve the church was Elder John Mangham. He served from 1958 to 1974. The next 4 years the church was maintained by other churches in the Association. The last service held there was November 1978. The last member of the church was Mrs. Tom (Forrest McMickle) Cook. She died January 13, 1975 at age 84. This last portion credited to Ethel Phillips. The Phillippi Cemetery is on-line: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/schley/cemeteries/philli.txt NOTE: Phillippi is one of the oldest churches in Schley County. There is a cemetery there, very old. The church has been abandoned for years but the cemetery is in fair shape. There is an oil painting of the old Phillippi church in better days that hangs in the foyer of the Schley County courthouse.