Sumter County Church Chronology
submitted by Alan Anderson
1831 Americus Baptist Church constituted, Samson Eng- lish and James S. Lunsford, presbytery Oct. 1833 Sumter County's Bethel, Bethesda, Providence, Shi- loh and Spring Creek Baptist Churches applied for dismission from Columbus Association Nov. 1833 Bethel Baptist Association constituted in Richland with Spring Creek Church only one from Sumter Coun- ty July 1834 Americus Baptist Church granted 4 acres (northeast corner Troup (now Lee) and Wild; "common burying ground for the citizens of Americus" established on 3 acres, Lot 1, Square P, where "the present Bap- tist meeting house now stands," (in the cemetery); County Commission (Inferior Court) deeded 4 acres to Methodist Protestant Church "for the purpose of a place of public worship," northeast corner Lot 2, Square R Sept. 1834 Spring Creek Baptist Church hosted second session of Bethel Association ca. 1835 "The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Americus, Georgia about the year 1835. Rev. Ed- wards Preacher in Charge. Wm. Pegg L.P." ca. 1836 Salem Methodist Church organized in New Era commun- ity (Lot 105, 27th Dist.) Mar. 1836 Mount Tabor Presbyterian Church had been organized, the original sanctuary razed in 1982 (northwest corner Ga. 30 and Ga. 153) Nov. 1836 Sumter Inferior Court rewarranted 4 acres, Lot 2, Square R, to William Pegg, Edmund Nunn and Lewis Joiner, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, "for a place of public worship" July 1837 Stephen Herring and Alexander Ramsey each donated 3 acres (the former Lot 95, the latter Lot 86, both 27th Dist.) to Lott Warren, William Pegg, Isaac McCrary, James Harrison, Thomas D. Harvey, Eason Smith and Thomas C. Sullivan, trustees, Methodist Society of the Episcopal Church at Americus, both for "making a Camp Meeting ground" Sept. 1837 Ebenezer Baptist Church constituted ca. 1838 J.W.P. Jenks called from Providence, R.I. by Lott Warren to preach for Baptists in Americus at the courthouse; Harmony Primitive Baptist Association organized in Americus with 34 churches and 1,056 members Oct. 1838 Free Providence Baptist Church constituted Apr. 1839 second Baptist Church erected on west side Cotton Ave., where Forsyth now crosses it Nov. 1839 Americus Baptist Church hosted 7th Bethel Associa- tion session Jan. 1840 Friendship Baptist Church constituted by presbytery of James S. Lunsford, James Matthews and John Rush- in (north side Ga. 30 east of Ga. 153) Oct. 1840 Friendship Baptist Church united with Bethel Assoc- iation Dec. 1840 Americus Camp Ground incorporated, William L. McRee William P. Hames, John W. Tommey, Quincy Bass, Wil- liam Pegg, Joseph M. Wyatt, trustees June 1842 Americus Presbyterian Church organized, George M. Dudley, William J. Patterson and Henry K. McCay, elders Nov. 1842 Pleasant Plain Baptist Church newly constituted Aug. 1843 Isaac B. Deavors, John J. Miles, Phillip Belcher, presbytery, organized Mount Olive Baptist Church, Rev. Phillip Belcher, pastor (Lot 242, 29th Dist.) Nov. 1843 Bottsford Baptist Church admitted to Bethel Associ- ation; Spring Creek Baptist Church had dissolved and a new church constituted near the same place ca. 1843 "About the year 1843, or 1844, Geo. M. Dudley, A.A. Robinson, & E.S. Young commenced a Sunday School in Americus upon the "Union Plan"." Nov. 1844 Friendship Baptist Church hosted 12th Bethel Assoc- iation session 1845 construction of first sanctuary for Americus Metho- dist Church, Rev. Richard Menafee, pastor (north- east corner Church and Prince), Rev. Thos. Samford preached dedication ceremony Mar. 1845 Americus Methodist Circuit: Americus, Rocky Mount, Shiloh, Salem, Bethesda, Bethel, Andrew Chapel, Concord, Danville and Tabernacle Churches Oct. 1845 Rehoboth Baptist Church organized (originally Lot 15, 16th Dist.), William Maund, James S. Lunsford, presbyters July 1846 Liberty Primitive Baptist Church constituted by Al- lison Culpepper and Daniel C. Davis, presbytery, east side Chokeelagee Creek in southwest Sumter County (moved to Sumter City 1858) Sept. 1846 Methodist Church Tabernacle and Camp Ground located on 5 acres, Charles J. Malone, Joseph Wood, Humph- rey Drury, John W. Tommey, David Laseter, James Glass, George W. Varner, trustees (south side Young's Mill Rd. between Ga. 45 and Magnolia Spgs. Rd.) Oct. 1847 Methodists organized M.E. Church Sabbath School in Americus, Jos. J. Granberry, superintendent, Rev. R.E. Oslin, pastor Dec. 1848 Lebanon Baptist Church constituted by presbyters Francis F. Seig and John U. Fletcher at Plains of Dura, Rev. Jesse Stallings, pastor Nov. 1849 Bethel Baptist Church, Americus, hosted 17th Bethel Association session convened in Methodist Church Aug. 1851 Sumter Inferior Court incorporated Mt. Olive Bap- tist Church in 29th Dist. June 1852 Augustus B. Raiford sold Pleasant Grove Methodist Church its 2 acre lot, "with the meeting house thereupon," Anderson Stembridge, Robert Summers, John H. Parham, Thomas P. Redding, trustees (north- east corner Chambliss Mill Rd. and Ga. 195) ca. 1853 Shiloh Baptist Church constituted (northwest corner Lasco Harvey Rd. and Shiloh Rd.) Apr. 1854 newly completed Americus Presbyterian Church sanc- tuary destroyed by fire Jan. 1855 Americus Station, M.E. Church, organized with first quarterly conference, Rev. Walter Knox, Presiding Elder, Rev. Jesse R. Littlejohn, pastor, Adam A. Robinson, Timothy M. Furlow, Charles J. Malone, John V. Price, John H. Wallace, George W. Bivins, Robert J. Hodges, stewards Feb. 1855 John Coker donated 2 acres to New Hope Universalist Church trustees, Micajah B.Pickett and George R. Harper, "except the graveyard" (Lot 79, 26th Dist.) Mar. 1855 Americus Presbyterian Church dedicated its new sanctuary (north side E. Lamar east of water tank) Aug. 1855 Bethel Baptist Church of Americus, now First Bap- tist, dedicated its new sanctuary, Rev. H.C. Horna- dy, pastor (southwest corner Church and Forrest) Apr. 1856 Americus Methodist Church dedicated its new sanctu- ary, Rev. James W. Hinton, pastor (slightly east of southeast corner Church and Lee), T.M. Furlow, G.W. Bivins, John H. Wallace building committee May 1857 former Baptist church building on Cotton Ave., by then a grocery, burned Aug. 1857 dedication of Friendship Baptist Church sanctuary, Rev. Isaac Hart, pastor Nov. 1857 Friendship Baptist Church hosted 25th Bethel Assoc- iation session Apr. 1858 Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott organized St. John's Pa- rish in Americus, with nine communicants in the home of Ambrose Spencer (just west of southwest corner Barlow and Taylor) June 1858 Mt. Zion Methodist Church organized, Rev. Philip J. Dell, pastor (east side County Line Church Rd. south of Ga. 118) May 1859 Scott's Mater Tabernacle C.M.E., the city's first black church, organized when former mayor Thomas C. Sullivan donated 1/2 acre (northwest corner Anch- rom and Hampton) to M.E., South trustees T.M. Fur- low, A.A. Adams, A.C. Hornady, W.W. Ford and W.M. Hardwick, on behalf of their slaves, built by and named for Rev. Wm. J. Scott of Americus Methodist Oct. 1859 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church organized, George Harris, James Holman and Julius Hogue, deacons (southwest corner Ga. 30 and Huntington Rd.), and acquired 2 1/2 acre lot from Drewry Hardin Nov. 1863 Americus Baptist Church hosted 31st Bethel Associa- tion session Feb. 1864 James H. Raven sold 1 1/2 acres in Bottsford (Lots 10 and 11, 17th Dist.) for Rural Hill Methodist Church, Henry Lassiter, James Lassiter, James H. Raven, M.E. Rylander, Jackson Laney, trustees Apr. 1864 Bethlehem Baptist Church established in 17th Dist. (west side Thomas Mill Rd. at Pessell Creek) Aug. 1864 St. John's Episcopal Church renamed Calvary by Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott, D.D., Rev. Thomas J. Staley, rector May 1865 Calvary Episcopal Church entered Diocese of Georgia as new Parish Aug. 1866 Rev. Dr. George F. Cooper organized first black Baptist church in Americus, Bethesda Nov. 1866 Lebanon Baptist Church granted letter of dismission from Bethel Association Dec. 1866 historic last session of Georgia Conference hosted by First Methodist Church before split into northern and southern factions Mar. 1867 Methodist Tabernacle Campground, 100 acres, 26th Dist., sold by M.E. Rylander, Joseph Wood, S.P. Crawford, C.J. Malone, James Stewart, trustees July 1867 N.A. Jackson sold 4 acres surrounding Pine Grove Methodist Church to W.E. Riviere, N.A. Jackson, Matthew Rylander, trustees Sept. 1867 Bethel Baptist Church deeded land on which to con- struct their sanctuary (Lot 242, 28th Dist.) Nov. 1867 Americus Baptist Church dismissed from Bethel Asso- ciation to join Friendship Association June 1868 Old Shady Grove Baptist Church organized in New Era community July 1868 Bethel Baptist Church formally organized Aug. 1868 Mrs. Mary B. Brown deeded Bethesda Baptist Church its lot to Booker Norman, James Jones, Lyman But- ler, Peter Ragland and Hugh Bivins, trustees (west side Forrest between Church and Russell) Oct. 1868 Dr. Lovick Pierce preached at Methodist Church July 1869 Calvary Episcopal Church cornerstone ceremony by Rt. Rev. John W. Beckwith (east side Lee between Brannon and College) May 1870 St. Mark's Lutheran Church organized in Bottsford, with sanctuary built 1872, Rev. J.P. Margart, pas- tor (Lot 10, 17th Dist.), merged with St. Andrews of Plains 1966 Oct. 1870 Bethel Baptist Church petitioned for admission to Friendship Association Jan. 1871 Calvary Episcopal Church held its first service in new sanctuary, Rev. H.K. Reese, of Macon, officia- ting May 1871 Lebanon "Colored" Baptist Church organized in Plains of Dura Dec. 1871 Rev. Thomas Boone became Calvary Episcopal Church's first resident Rector July 1876 C.M.E. trustees J. Riley Covington, George Andrews, Cato Key, Austin Jones and Dennis J. Shepard brand- ed Rev. N. Bascom Sterrett, A.M.E., a liar in bur- ning of original Scott's Mater Tabernacle sanctuary Oct. 1877 dedication of first A.M.E. Church, with Bishop Campbell, D.D., officiating (northeast corner Jackson and Wild) May 1879 John J. Hudson donated 1/2 acre to Joseph J. Gran- berry, Wm. M. Hardwick, Walter T. Davenport, Moses Speer, John J. Hudson, A.A. Adams, Tim Furlow, Wm. R. Stewart and Ezekiel Taylor, trustees, for con- struction of East Americus Methodist Church (south- west corner Hudson and Jefferson); S.S. Sloan & Co., contractors, took lien against newly construc- ted sanctuary of "Methodist Episcopal Church South in East Americus" June 1879 S.S. Sloan & Co., contractors, took lien against newly constructed Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church sanctuary, Mingo Glaze, Allen Stephens, George James, Lewis Tooke and W.R. Wilder, trustees Spring 1880 Ebenezer Baptist Church organized, Rev. Joseph McGrady, pastor (south side Sweetwater Creek, 29th Dist.) May 1880 Mrs. Ella E. Clark donated 1 acre lot to Welcome Baptist Church (south side Middle River Rd. east of Ga. 195) May 1881 Andersonville Primitive Baptist Church dedicated; Mt. Olive Baptist Church began construction (north- west corner Jefferson and Poplar) Nov. 1881 Mt. Olive Baptist Church moved to Andersonville July 1882 Mt. Olive Baptist Church dedicated, Rev. J.C. Bry- an, pastor June 1883 Bethel African Missionary ("Big Bethel") Baptist Church organized, then bought and moved into for- mer Presbyterian sanctuary on E. Lamar Aug. 1883 dedicatory service for new Mt. Olive Baptist Church sanctuary (name changed to Andersonville Baptist Church May 1913) Oct. 1883 Rev. Stephen White elected pastor at "Big Bethel" Mar. 1884 Charles M. Wheatley began construction of Presby- terians' current sanctuary, completed Jan.-Feb. 1886 (west side Jackson between Church and Lamar) June 1884 arson fire destroyed antebellum sanctuary of Ameri- cus Baptist Church Aug. 1884 dedication of New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Alex H. Hall, pastor (south side Mask Rd. west of Brady Rd.) Dec. 1884 dedication of Benevolence Methodist Church sanctu- ary, Rev. G.G.N. McDonell, pastor May 1887 Rev. J.C. Bryan, of Americus, elected President, State Baptist Convention May 1889 Second Methodist Church began in East Americus (a suburb encompassing Crawford, Forsyth, Hudson, Jef- ferson, Lamar, Mayo and Oglethorpe, as they are now designated), Rev. R.F. Williamson, pastor Feb. 1890 Emily Robinson sold Trinity A.M.E. Church its 1/4 acre lot, in Isomville (northeast corner Parker and Tripp), Julius Dixon, James Kendrick, Abram Purdy, trustees (consolidated with Allen Chapel A.M.E. 1965) Apr. 1890 groundbreaking ceremony for fourth sanctuary of Americus Baptist Church (northeast corner Lee and Taylor) June 1890 cornerstone ceremony for First Baptist Church sanc- tuary, Rev. A.B. Campbell, pastor Aug. 1890 John R. McNeill deeded 1 1/6 acres to Shady Grove Baptist Church, Joe Dowdell, Jackson Carter, J.M. Littleton, trustees (south side New Era Rd. be- tween Ga. 49 and New Era) Oct. 1890 Ed Timmerman sold St. Paul's A.M.E. Church its land, Charles E. Little, Prince Sanders, Edmond Little, Godfrey Kleckley, Henry Evans, John King, Jackson Hicks, trustees (northeast corner Della Glass Rd. and Logan Store Rd.); John E. Sullivan, David A. Mayo, Thomas M. Cobb, T. Fisk Logan, Wm. C. Barrow, Lonnie J. Blalock and J.T. Joiner, trus- tees of Second Methodist Church of Americus, accep- ted deed to their church and land in East Americus from First Methodist Church trustees Moses Speer, Ezekiel Taylor, J. Henry Allen, Reddick J. Perry, Timothy M. Furlow, John A. Cobb, Walter T. Daven- port, Lott Warren and Joseph J. Granberry Feb. 1891 DeSoto Baptist Church organized under the presby- tery of Brothers Moore, Walters and Weekly, C.E. Walters, pastor Jan. 1892 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church completed, a wooden, domed structure designed by G.L. Norrman (east side Lee between Brannon and Taylor) Nov. 1892 J.W. Bailey donated 1 acre to A.T. Greene, S.G. Pryor, Jr. and T.J. Wade, trustees, Leslie Method- ist Church, for a sanctuary to be built; Church Council formed, Rev. C.E. Walters, chairman, to organize Leslie Baptist Church Dec. 1892 Carl J. Schneider deeded to Rt. Rev. Thomas A. Becker, Bishop of Savannah, St. Mary's Roman Catho- lic Church sanctuary and lot Feb. 1893 Leslie Baptist Church Sunday School organized Mar. 1893 Mary J. Taylor sold Mt. Creek A.M.E. Church its 1 acre lot in Andersonville, "where church house now stands," Isaac Watson, Green Watson, John Walker, Jackson King, Louis Gant, Wilburn Johnson, Aaron Watson, Stephen Gant, Green Waters, trustees (now located north side Sam Bradley Rd. just west Ga. 195) Oct. 1893 Leslie Baptist Church accepted into Friendship As- sociation Oct. 1894 Second Methodist Church moved its sanctuary to southwest corner, Jefferson and Mayo, and renamed St. Paul's Methodist with formal dedication Nov. 1894 formal dedication of Salem Methodist Church sanctu- ary, Rev. L.J. Ballard, pastor Aug. 1895 Friendship Baptist Church organized, Rev. J.C. Bry- an, pastor (east side Cotton north of Wheeler) May 1896 R.L. Kite sold Mt. Carmel A.M.E. its 1 acre lot, Simon Merritt, Joe Terry, George Chaney, Frank Hooks, Jerry Walters, trustees (west side Hooks Mill Rd. south of Mask Rd.) July 1896 cornerstone ceremony for Scott's Mater Tabernacle C.M.E.'s brick sanctuary, Rev. G.A. Thomas, pastor Mar. 1897 Furlow Lawn Baptist Church organized by Richard M. Stewart, Dr. Evan T. Mathis, E. Frank Lanier, Wal- ton T. Callaway, W.T.A. Dunn and Frank A. Hooper, Rev. R.L. Bivins, pastor; First Baptist of Americus formally named by conference June 1897 formal dedication of Furlow Lawn Baptist Church sanctuary (southeast corner College and Lee) June 1898 Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church bought 1 acre from DeSoto Plantation Co., Lige Hardaway and Pleas Gosha, trustees (now west side DeSoto Seed Farm Rd. just south of DeSoto) Nov. 1900 Universalist Church completed (north side Taylor east of Lee) 1901 St. Luke Baptist Church organized, adjoining Concord United Methodist Church cemetery, J.H. McGarrah, A.O. Clemens, G.W. Brown, C.D. Edwards, J. Williams, B.J. Stewart, C.E. Edwards, deacons, Rev. E.J. Coes, pastor, E. Battle, clerk (rebuilt 1906) Apr. 1902 formal dedication of Methodist Church sanctuary at Sumter City, Rev. J.G. Harrison, pastor (destroyed by fire Sept. 1923); First United Methodist Church accepted architect Denny's plans for new sanctuary May 1902 Midway Baptist Church dedicated, Rev. R.L. Bivins, pastor (Lot 128, 16th Dist.); last sermon preached at antebellum First Methodist Church sanctuary by Rev. Dr. J.W. Hinton, who had preached its dedica- tion sermon 46 years earlier; demolition begun of antebellum First Methodist Church sanctuary Aug. 1902 lightning struck Leslie Baptist Church killing one congregant, Richard M. Dodson, and causing recon- struction of entire sanctuary (completed in 1903) Mar. 1903 Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church bought from Patterson family its 1/8 acre lot, John C. Burnette, Gates Porter, Jim Rogers, trustees, Rev. J.S. Myrick, pastor (intersection Carter and Lee) Aug. 1904 First United Methodist Church congregation worship- ped in new sanctuary for the first time Oct. 1906 dedication of Furlow Lawn Baptist Church sanctuary, Rev. R.L. Bivins, pastor Nov. 1906 Mrs. Josie B. Jossey sold 1 acre to Jackson Grove Baptist Church deacons Lem Bivins, Meldrin Duncan, John Hayes, Gus Jackson, Freeman Kitchens, Anderson Ross, Abe Swain, "being a part of what is known as the Walker Lot" 1907 Peace Baptist Church constituted, Rev. J.L. Latimer, pastor June 1907 cornerstone ceremony for St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plains, Rev. Chas. A. Phillips, pastor Nov. 1907 Bishop James Atkins spoke at dedication of new First Methodist Church sanctuary, Rev. J.P. Ward- law, pastor Apr. 1909 Methodist Church sanctuary in DeSoto begun Oct. 1909 Robert E. Lee sold to Friendship Baptist trustees Anthony Foy, Jack Clark, Clay Darden, Charles Ly- ons, Simeon Jenkins, D.O. Simpson and W.M. Barner their sanctuary and lot on Cotton; Frank Sheffield donated to Walter C. Herring, A.M. Barlow, J.O. Tucker and W.W. Collins, trustees, DeSoto Methodist Church, lot "fronting on Luke Street for the build- ing of a Methodist Church," used ecumenically by Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and Primitive Baptists (accepted into South Georgia Conference 1911) July 1910 cornerstone ceremony for Plains Methodist Church, J.P. Dickerson, pastor Oct. 1911 announcement of First Church of Christ Scientist preparing to occupy former Universalist sanctuary June 1912 Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church organized (west side Ga. 118 south of Holman Rd.) Feb. 1914 St. Paul's Methodist Church in East Americus relo- cated in new sanctuary (northwest corner Lamar and Rees) Apr. 1917 Furlow Lawn Baptist Church changed its name to Cen- tral Baptist Church, Rev. G. F. Brown, pastor Sept. 1917 groundbreaking ceremony for brick sanctuary of Bethesda Baptist Church, Rev. M.W. Reddick, pastor Oct. 1917 Lee Street Methodist Church sanctuary dedicated, Rev. J.A. Thomas, presiding (northeast corner Burke and Lee) Apr. 1919 razing of 1877 Campbell Chapel sanctuary preparatory to erection of brick replacement Apr. 1921 First Christian Church organized with twenty mem- bers, W.A. Joyner, pastor May 1921 Primitive Baptists leased former St. Paul's Metho- dist Church sanctuary for a year Oct. 1921 New Point Methodist Church rebuilt after April fire Jan. 1922 First Christian Church held their first service in their new sanctuary, formerly the Universalists' Aug. 1922 spontaneous combustion fire destroyed First Metho- dist Church sanctuary Mar. 1923 Miss Rebecca Cowles, oldest living member of the church, laid first brick for new First Methodist Church sanctuary, Rev. J.M. Outlar, pastor July 1926 dedication of St. James Pennington Episcopal Church, Rev. J.B. Lawrence, rector, W.L. Walker, engineer, Sam D. Cobb, brickwork superintendent (east side Ga. 195 south of Old Stagecoach Rd.) July 1927 first meeting held in new sanctuary of DeSoto Bap- tist Church, Brother E.T. Moore, pastor Nov. 1927 dedication by Bishop W.B. Beauchamp of brick sanc- tuary of Leslie United Methodist Church, Rev. J.H. Wilson, pastor Feb. 1929 formal dedication of DeSoto Baptist Church sanctu- ary, Brother C.E. Rogers, pastor (brick veneered July 1959) Sept. 1929 cornerstone ceremony for Mt. Olive Baptist's brick sanctuary, Rev. C.W. Woodall, pastor Nov. 1933 Rev. V.W. McCranie, Scott's Mater Tabernacle C.M.E. pastor, murdered and the parsonage burned by un- known parties Mar. 1934 fire destroyed Mt. Salem Baptist Church (Lot 211, 17th Dist.), but rebuilt by August Apr. 1934 dedication of First United Methodist Church sanctu- ary, Bishop Warren A. Candler presiding, Rev. H.T. Freeman, pastor Nov. 1934 dedication of Rylander Methodist Church sanctuary, original having been destroyed by fire, Rev. J.E. Channell, pastor Nov. 1936 Bethesda Baptist Church sanctuary destroyed by fire Sept. 1937 dedication of rebuilt Bethesda Baptist Church, Rev. P.H. Jackson, pastor Mar. 1938 dedication of Andersonville Methodist Church sanc- tuary, Rev. L.D. Shippey, pastor May 1938 dedication of First Christian Church, Rev. W.A. Joyner, pastor Nov. 1938 dedication of rebuilt Bethesda Baptist Church, Rev. P.H. Jackson, pastor Mar. 1939 Shady Grove Baptist Church burned during factional dispute within the congregation Oct. 1940 announcement of reunion and rebuilding of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Rev. S.M. Holton, pastor June 1941 Church of the Nazarene organized, Rev. David Patten pastor Dec. 1942 Father Godfrey A. Weitekamp became first resident priest for St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church Jan. 1944 fire destroyed First Baptist Church annex Oct. 1945 dedication of new Daniel Grove Baptist Church sanc- tuary, Rev. D.A. Greene, pastor (intersection of Ga. 49 and District Line Rd.); Americus Evangelis- tic Group built sanctuary, Rev. Ellis Barfield, pastor (south side Hill, between Felder and Henri- etta); Assembly of God Church purchased lot (south- west corner Lamar and Prince) to build pastorium for initial services, Rev. Raymond D. Jones, pastor Dec. 1945 fire destroyed Bethel Baptist Church in 28th Dist., Rev. W.W. Richardson, pastor Apr. 1946 dedication of St. Jerome's Roman Catholic Church, for blacks, by Bishop Gerald P. O'Hara of the Sav- annah-Atlanta Diocese, Father Joseph B. Wider, priest (northeast corner Bel-Air Plaza, then the southwest corner Forsyth and Lamar) Mar. 1947 Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church relocated across Carter from its original location and dedicated its new sanctuary, Rev. L.J. Jones, pastor Apr. 1947 tornado destroyed Andersonville Methodist Church (rebuilt May 1948 and dedicated Sept. 1949) Mar. 1948 announcement of construction of Church of Christ brick sanctuary (southeast corner Hill and Lee), Brother John Jarret, pastor Oct. 1948 Bethel Baptist Church occupied its brick veneer sanctuary, Rev. Truitt Kendrick, pastor; Russell Thomas and Carroll B. Austin deeded to Deacons Johnnie Ball, Tom Townsley, Reed Hoston, Sr., Reed Hoston, Jr., Freddie Denson, Warren Ingram, 6 acres, "New Corinth Baptist (Colored) Church and Cemetery grounds" Nov. 1950 remodeled Leslie Baptist Church sanctuary dedicated Rev. Ira B. Faglier, pastor Jan. 1951 dedication of new First United Methodist Church parsonage by Bishop Arthur J. Moore (south side E. Church, east of sanctuary), Rev. J. Monroe Yarbrough, pastor Apr. 1952 dedication of Church of the Nazarene's new sanctu- ary (south side Elmo between Cherry and Mayo) Mar. 1953 formal organization of St. Paul's Evangelical Luth- eran Church, Rev. Russel J. Crouse, pastor July 1953 Brooklyn Heights Baptist Church constituted, Rev. Edgar Dalton, pastor Aug. 1953 St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church held its first service in its new sanctuary, Rev. R.J. Crouse, pastor, razed and replaced by Faith Baptist Church sanctuary 1986 (south side Felder at Tripp) Oct. 1953 groundbreaking ceremony for Brooklyn Heights Bap- tist Church sanctuary, Rev. R.H. Forrester, pastor (northwest corner Mary and Washington) Dec. 1953 Wallace F. Cheek Memorial Baptist Church constitu- ted in their newly completed sanctuary, Rev. W.J. Adair, pastor (south side Tripp at Felder) Feb. 1954 dedication of Brooklyn Heights Baptist Church sanc- tuary May 1960 C.L. Dunmon, contractor, began demolition of Vic- torian Era First Baptist Church sanctuary Feb. 1961 razing of Victorian Era St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church sanctuary; reopening of Victorian Era First Baptist Church sanctuary's cornerstone; Americus Evangelistic Church began services in homes June 1961 Americus Evangelistic Church rented New Point Church sanctuary with ten charter members until July 1964 Dec. 1961 dedication of new St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church sanctuary, at original location, Father Raynor Dry, priest Feb. 1962 "Big Bethel" Baptist Church moved into new sanctu- ary (west side N. Jackson between Masonic and Peach) July 1962 Americus Evangelistic Church formally chartered Sept. 1962 formal dedication of new Central Baptist Church sanctuary and new educational building, Rev. M.C. Gardner, pastor Oct. 1962 groundbreaking for St. Martin de Porres Catholic Chapel, for blacks, replacing St. Jerome's, a vic- tim of urban renewal; groundbreaking ceremony for Cheek Memorial's new pastorium on Vienna Hwy. Apr. 1963 published history of First United Methodist Church of Americus on its 128th anniversary, Rev. Vernard E. Robertson, pastor June 1963 cornerstone ceremony for new sanctuary of Spring Creek Baptist Church (northeast corner Spring Creek Church Rd. and Lamar or Lower River Rd.) Sept. 1963 formal dedication of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Chapel, for blacks, Benjamin Ritzert, architect, Paul Bush, builder (southeast corner Maxwell and Vista) Oct. 1963 consecration of St. Jude's Episcopal Chapel at Lake Blackshear, by Bishop Albert Rhett Stuart Jan. 1964 dedication of new Assembly of God sanctuary, Rev. Leroy Sanders, pastor (east side Tripp south of Furlow) Mar. 1964 Americus Evangelistic Church bought and occupied former Cheek Memorial sanctuary Apr. 1964 Triedstone Baptist Church burned (southwest corner Crawley and Quincy) Dec. 1964 organization of Morningside Methodist Church, Homer Grimes, pastor (formalized Sept. 1965) Feb. 1965 dedication of new Wallace F. Cheek Memorial Baptist Church sanctuary, Rev. J.E. Keen, pastor (intersec- tion Ga. 49 and Middle River Rd.), first service in it having been Dec. 1964 June 1965 announcement of $178,000 donation to Andersonville Methodist Church by New Jersey resident Robert B. Brown, who had been impressed by the congregation's welcome during a one-time visit years earlier July 1965 formal dedication of DeSoto Baptist Church Sunday School annex and completely renovated sanctuary, Rev. James C. Bell, pastor Mar. 1966 dedication of Cheek Memorial Church pastorium, on lot adjoining the sanctuary May 1967 dedication of First United Methodist chapel and education bldg. by Bishop Arthur J. Moore (east side S. Lee, south of sanctuary), Rev. Vernard E. Robertson, pastor Sept. 1967 Faith Baptist Church formally constituted, Rev. H.C. Harvey, pastor, having begun in 1958 by Mrs. Camilla Comer as a mission of First Baptist Church of Americus on the farm of Dr. Howell in the South- erfield community Oct. 1967 Americus Christian Church held its initial service at old New Point Church on Plains Rd., Rev. Scott Callahan, pastor June 1968 Salem Methodist Church held its first ever service as a full-time church, Rev. Harold Sheppard, pastor Aug. 1968 Faith Baptist Church held its first service in for- mer Lutheran Church sanctuary on Felder at Tripp, Rev. Charles Watley, pastor Sept. 1968 Trinity Baptist Church constituted, Rev. Woodrow C. Davis, pastor (north side Felder between Furlow and Varsity); dedication of DeSoto Methodist Church Fellowship Hall Apr. 1969 formal dedication of Seventh Day Adventist Church sanctuary, Rev. Bill Guth, pastor (northeast corner S. Lee St. Rd. and Murphy's Mill Rd.) Aug. 1969 Americus Holiness Deliverance Gospel Tent formally dedicated, Rev. Aaron Snipes, Sr., pastor Nov. 1969 First Southern Methodist Church of Americus consti- tuted, met at Seventh Day Adventist sanctuary; St. Luke Baptist Church destroyed by fire Jan. 1970 groundbreaking ceremony for new Rehoboth Baptist Church sanctuary, Rev. L.R. Norris, pastor (west side Hwy. 49, just north of Fox Stephens Rd.) Dec. 1970 Lee Street United Methodist Church first-ever to join the Chamber of Commerce May 1971 Calvary Baptist Church of Leslie formally consti- tuted at the former home of Mrs. S.E. Echols July 1971 Paul Anderson, "World's Strongest Man," spoke at Leslie United Methodist Church youth revival 1972 Ebenezer Baptist Church relocated to Church St., Andersoville, Rev. J.G. Allen, pastor Mar. 1972 First Southern Methodist Church of Americus bought 3 acres from Troy Morris to build sanctuary, Rev. C.T. Taylor, pastor 1973 St. Luke Baptist Church's new sanctuary dedicated, Rev. N. Jackson, pastor, Chairman H.E. Jackson, W. Boynton, Y. Green, W. Banks, C. Tatum, secretary, Bro. H. Ross May 1973 Fellowship Baptist Church constituted (north side Tommy Hooks Rd. east of S. Lee St. Rd.) Jan. 1975 Inspirational Church by Faith founded, Elder John T. Taylor, pastor (south side Adderton between La- fayette and Magnolia) July 1976 First United Methodist Church planted time capsule near chapel to be opened in 2035 Oct. 1976 formal dedication of restored St. James Pennington Episcopal Church in Andersonville May 1977 formal groundbreaking ceremony for Fellowship Bap- tist Church, Rev. William W. Givens, pastor June 1977 formal dedication of DeSoto Baptist Church Marie Joiner Bell Fellowship Hall, Rev. James C. Bell, pastor July 1977 Maranatha Baptist Church constituted at Plains af- ter integration split in Plains Baptist, Rev. Dan Ariail, pastor Aug. 1977 formal dedication of United Holiness Church sanctu- ary, (southeast corner Hale and Johansen), Evangel- ist Aaron Snipes, pastor Feb. 1978 groundbreaking ceremony for Cheek Memorial Baptist Church's education building, Rev. Russell W. Anglin, pastor Mar. 1978 groundbreaking ceremony for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints sanctuary (southeast corner Fairway and Lee) June 1978 groundbreaking ceremony for Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains sanctuary, Rev. Fred Collins, pas- tor Oct. 1978 Central Baptist Church to raze 1917 sanctuary to be replaced by education bldg. designed by Charles Purvis, of Americus Feb. 1979 groundbreaking ceremony for Lee Street Methodist Church parsonage, Rev. Ed Cadle, pastor July 1979 announcement of Americus Evangel Assembly of God Church, Dr. Max McKinney, lay minister (Rev. Jerry H. Fleming, first pastor) May 1980 Central Baptist Church dedicated its Minnie Tillman Children's Education Bldg., Rev. Ed Hurst, pastor, Ralph Clanton, Alfred Dupree, Charles Goodman, Char- les Reeves, James Steward, Wally Summers, building committee June 1980 dedication of DeSoto Baptist Church James Cooper Bell Entrance and Steeple Dec. 1980 dedication of new sanctuary (formerly Sunset Gardens south side Upper River Rd.) for Evangel Assembly of God, Rev. Stephen Duke, pastor May 1991 George Bardin Hooks, Jr. baptism in First Baptist Church of Americus made him only seventh generation family member in Georgia in same church Mar. 1992 dedication of Americus Mennonite Fellowship Church, Rev. Lewis Overholt, pastor (formerly Evangelistic Group's 1945 sanctuary) ? non-denominational Christian Fellowship Church (now Victory Worship Center) sanctuary dedicated, Rev. Earl Dunmon, pastor (southwest corner Columbia and Lee) June 1995 Rev. Wendy T. Joyner, one of only two female Bap- tist preachers in Georgia, became pastor of Fellow- ship Baptist Church Mar. 1997 ecumenical interracial services, sponsored by Sum- ter Area Ministerial Association, with A.M.E.'s Norris Harris at First Baptist, First United Meth- odist's Rev. Jerrell Lillard at Bethesda Baptist, Calvary Episcopal's lay minister Kathy Monahan at United Holiness, Bethesda Baptist's Rev. Fer-Rell Malone at Mennonite Fellowship and First Baptist's Rev. Dr. Reed Crumbliss at Big Bethel Baptist, first time ever in Sumter County's over 160-year history Feb. 2003 dedication of Sherlock Hall at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, memorializing church founders Christopher Joseph and Annie Gill Sherlock May 2003 dedication of addition to James Bolan Lawrence Hall at Calvary Episcopal Church, officiated by Rt. Rev. Henry I. Louttit, Jr., Bishop of Georgia, Rev. Reg- inald R. Gunn, rector, Martin K. Johnson, architect Dec. 2005 Central Baptist Church moved to new sanctuary on Upper River Rd., Rev. Harris Malcom, senior pastor Aug. 2006 Restoration Church of Americus held its inaugural service at GSW's Jackson Hall, Rev. George F. Edge, pastor Sept. 2006 First Baptist Church of Americus held its 175th anniversary, Dr. Robert L. Whitmire, pastor, in union service with Bethesda Baptist Church, first time since 1865 with both congregations; "A Journey of Grace - A History of the First Baptist Church of Americus, Georgia" book published, Alan Anderson, author