Wednesday, June 22, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Plaque marks church anniv.By CAROLYN CARY The Bethlehem Baptist Church of Peachtree City celebrated its 138th anniversary of a viable congregation by unveiling a historic plaque. The church was first organized under a brush arbor in 1867 and in 1878, James A. Arnold, a white landowner, deeded two acres of land to the members. The first building was very near the present one on South Dividend Drive, opposite Falcon Field. The community was known as Clover. In 1904 Frank Rainey, Anderson Thompson, and Tuck Penson purchased a tract of land one acre wide and two and a half acres long for the sum of $31.25 to be used as a cemetery and is still in use. The church was rebuilt in 1914 and the name changed from Bethel to Bethlehem Baptist Church. A school for African-American children, grades 1 through 7 operated on this site until 1954. The congregation has only had eight ministers since 1867 and the current minister is the Rev. Dwight E. Elder, appointed in 2003. The plaque dedication service drew not only members but visitors from the Peachtree City community. Guest speaker for the occasion was the Rev. Edward Johnson Jr., who serves at Flat Rock AME Church, Fayetteville. The two ministers opined that Flat Rock was the oldest black church in Fayette County, 1854, but Bethlehem was the oldest black church in Peachtree City. Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown presented the congregation with a proclamation and announced a civic committee in the area would continue to help with restoration of the cemetery. Deacon J. W. Stargell, a long-time member, remembered that as a child, he looked forward to maturing so he would be able to do something for the Lord. We must continue to love one another, he said, and reach out to the world telling them Jesus will show us the way. Deacon Robert H. Cofer, and his wife, Tina, began several months ago to plan the program and to purchase the plaque. The church is located at 475 Dividend Drive and can be reached at 770-631-0267.
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