Sunday, July 15, 2001
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Sunday, July 15, 2001 |
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Flat Rock AME marks 147 years and counting
By CAROLYN CARY
If you turn to the Bible, Isaiah 32:2 (RSV), you will see the words, "Each (man) will be like a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land." Thus came the name of Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal Church, celebrating its 147th year. In 1854 it was on the Spears' plantation and was called Scufflefield at that time. It is believed that the present Ebenezer United Methodist Church now sits on that site. It served the blacks in the community that lived nearby, as there was no other black church. Officers recorded at that time were Coot Ware, Bill Elder, Anthony Bennett, Henry Arthur Arnold, and Jack Ware. Ebenezer United Methodist and Scufflefield agreed to exchange land and after relocation, the black church changed its name to Flat Rock AME. It sits near the rear of the newly built post office building. The first building was built by the Fayette County Board of Education and elementary level classes were taught there until the schools in the county were consolidated. At one time it accommodated as many as 100 pupils and Irene Glover Curry was the teacher for many years. The land it sits on was originally in the John Wiley Adams family and donated for a church. Many of the Adams family worshipped here in its early years. Though destroyed by fire in 1917, it was rebuilt under the auspices of Brothers John Arnold, Sam Williams, Levi Miles and others. Several black churches developed from Flat Rock, including Edgefield Baptist Church, Fayetteville; Little Vine Baptist Church, Tyrone; and Piney Grove Baptist (now Wilkes Grove Baptist Church), Peachtree City. Remodeled in 1953, it was made smaller and restrooms were added, along with a choir loft. Nathaniel Glover, Booker Ware, Willie Glass and Elmore Swanson oversaw the project, with Daniel Glover creating the floor plans and doing the carpentry work. In 1978 a new facility was built and is still home to a current membership that can trace membership back several generations. Air conditioning was added in the late 1980s. The senior pastor is the Rev. Charles Atkins Jr. with the Rev. Richard Shaw as the associate pastor. They conducted an anniversary celebration this past Sunday complete with dinner on the grounds. They were joined in the afternoon service by members of Rising Star Baptist Church, its choir, and its pastor, the Rev. Milton Reeves, delivered the sermon. A poem written by Flat Rock member Marie Glover Stinchcomb tells it all: "We too are striving, still to do our best, Faith too in God to keep us strong, And pray that Flat Rock AME Church Will still Continue on. For it has been and always will be, A great Rock in a weary land." The worship hours are at 11 a.m. each Sunday. It is at 148 Old Chapel Road, just south of Ga. Highway 54 west, and can be reached at 770-461-0283.
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