Holly Grove AME Church celebrated its 112th anniversary recently with the theme, “Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future.”

The past includes its beginning in 1896 when Washington Arnold moved to the county and did not see a church in the area. After the congregation met for a year under a brush arbor, a white neighbor, Flimester Arnold, gave them land to build their own church. He also gave them a stock of trees from which they acquired lumber for the project.

In 1897 the first building was constructed on the site of the current church, on Holly Grove Church Road in what is now southern Peachtree City.

A new structure was built in 1940, it was destroyed by a tornado, a new building constructed in 1943, remodeled in 1957 and the current building was constructed in 1969.

To celebrate its 112th anniversary, the 75-member congregation shared stories, photos and family remembrances. Food, games, and entertainment completed the program.

Holly Grove’s senior pastor is the Rev. Eyvonne Hudson Whitman, M. Div.

Sunday School is at 9:15 a.m. with Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m. Bible study is on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

The next big event you don’t want to miss is Homecoming, on Sunday, Aug. 23. Be sure to be on hand by 10:30 a.m.

Mattie R. Harper said the focus in 2010 will be Cultivating Christianity with an extended outreach, building a strong youth department and continuing to preserve the rich history of the church.

Holly Grove has two cemetery locations, one is behind the church and the older one is located on Wellborn Chase Drive, off South Redwine Road.

Nine years ago members began to identify just about all the gravesites without a marker and have proceeded to purchase and place one per site.

The church is located at 400 Holly Grove Church Rd., which extends from South Redwine Road over to Robinson Road. It can be reached at 770-631-7650.

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