Sunday, July 1, 2001
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Sunday, July 1, 2001 |
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Circuit churches alive and well here
By CAROLYN CARY
Tired of the mega-church atmosphere where you may meet 5 percent of the members and probably never get to know the senior minister? "Do not be fooled," said the Rev. Earl F. Dabney; "small, rural circuit churches are very much alive." Dabney looks after three circuit churches in the county: Merrill Chapel United Methodist Church, New Hope United Methodist Church and Hartford United Methodist Church. "I don't get around to the circuit churches on a horse, like John Wesley did in the 1700s, but a car does just as well," he said. The doors are all open to newcomers of all races and nationalities and the congregations guarantee that you will not leave a stranger. The churches all have a rich history, beginning shortly after the War Between The States and, as was common to all churches at the time, they began under a brush arbor. In the case of New Hope, the first congregation began in 1872, just 15 years after slavery was abolished. Church members built the first permanent building in 1954, using parts of the older building. It has a cemetery which was expanded when given additional land from Georgia Power Company. It has a membership of 190 persons. New Hope is at 618 Inman Road, in the Inman Community. The Hartford Church has an interesting beginning, also dating back to 1872. A white missionary from Hartford, Conn. came about that time to teach blacks how to read. He was found one morning drowned in Line Creek, presumably because of his missionary efforts. The church members did not have any idea who his family was or exactly where he was from. Though his name has been lost in antiquity, the name of his hometown remains a part of Fayette County history. With a membership of 75 persons, Hartford is across from Starr's Mill at 202 Padgett Road. Merrill Chapel dates back to 1877, at which time an acre of land was purchased from S.F.
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