|
|
First Presbyterian Church of |
"For where two or three
are gathered in my name, I am there among them." – Matthew 18:20
The
Founding
"City of Griffin, Pike
County, Georgia – On Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in November, it being
the 27th day, 1841, agreeable to an appointment of Flint River
Presbytery, the following ministers being present: Rev. Michael L. Dixon, Rev. Henry L. Deane
and Rev. L. W. Corbin, the following persons presented themselves: Dr. James S. Long, Mrs. Jane E. Long, Miles
Garrison, Mrs. Garrison and Mrs. Bishop, having previously been members of the
Presbyterian Church elsewhere, and Mr. Thomas H. Spruce who was examined on
experimental religion. All of these had
'publicly' declared their approbation of the doctrines, governments and
disciple of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, having covenanted to
live together in unity as Christians and also to aid as God might enable them
in supporting the gospel amongst them.
These were constituted a church to be known as the Presbyterian Church
in the City of
First
Presbyterian's Pastors
|
|
|
Henry L. Deane |
1841 – 1844 |
William L. Keith
|
1845 – 1857 |
|
R. A. Mickle |
1858 – 1862 |
|
Civil War |
1862 – 1866 |
|
John Jones |
1866 – 1870 |
|
Robert N. Nall |
1871 – 1877 |
|
Malcolm McH. McKay |
1878 – 1890 |
|
William G. Woodridge |
1891 – 1901 |
|
L. G. Henderson |
1902 – 1906 |
|
William A. Murray |
1906 – 1918 |
|
J. Marion Stafford |
1919 – 1924 |
|
Malcolm Williamson |
1924 – 1930 |
|
Paul Watson |
1930 – 1935 |
|
|
1936 – 1943 |
|
Leonard Topping |
1944 – 1947 |
|
E. P. Nichols |
1948 – 1952 |
|
Harold M. Shields |
1953 – 1956 |
|
C. Edward "Ed"
Davis |
1957 – 1968 |
|
|
1969 – 1982 |
|
Spencer R. Frye |
1983 – 1994 |
|
|
1996 |
The First Presbyterian
Church of Griffin started with six members lead by the Rev. Henry L.
Deane. They met in an old warehouse
located on what is now Broad Street. The
members sat on sacks of corn and other goods, which filled the warehouse. In the first five months they grew by 67% to
ten members. The first report sent to
Presbytery read:
"FIRST
REPORT, APRIL 1842
Organized and constituted on
Saturday the 27th day of November, 1841.
6 members present
2 members added on examination
2 members added on certificate
_____
10 Total
now in communion, 1842"
Of special note from the
early minutes: "Sunday morning,
March 31, 1844, Wm. Thompson, infant son of Jas. S. and Jane E. Long; Sidney
Clopton, infant son of Robt. S. and Mary J. Lanier; Ellen Elizabeth and Samuel
Henry, infant children of Henry L. and Catherine T. Deane received the ordinace
of infant baptism." Sidney Clopton
Lanier later became poet Laurent of Georgia.
The Rev. Henry L. Deane served for three years, until the
end of 1844. Under his ministry
membership increased from six to thirty-eight, church services were held only
once a month, but there were many prayer meetings. It is stated that two-day meetings were
common, beginning on Saturday morning and ending Sunday night.
In 1848, more than six years
after the founding, the first church building was built. The church was built on an acre lot received
as a grant from Gen Lewis Lawrence Griffin, the founder of the City of
Griffin. This lot was located at the
corner of North Hill and Chapel streets.
The building 
cost
$2,000, $150 of which was received from the Church Extension Committee of
Presbytery, the rest being raised by the members. On Sunday morning, August 16, 1848, the
session adopted the following resolutions:
"Whereas the meeting-house now building is expected to be finished
shortly; resolved, that it be dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, and
that appropriate religious services be held on the first Sabbath in October
next, for that purpose, Resolved, second, that as soon as the house is finished
and dedicated, that a Sabbath School be opened in it for the instruction of the
children and youth of our congregation."
The Griffin Presbyterian Sunday School was organized October 22, 1848
with ten teachers and forty-six pupils.
1848 was also the first year
the pastor's salary is mentioned. The
Rev. Wm. L. Keith was chosen to preach two Sundays a month for "at least
$200" annually. The annual report
for that year shows "For minister's salary $186.50." No explanation of the difference is
noted. In 1849 Rev. Keith received a
raise to $431 per year for preaching three Sundays per month.
On Thursday night, June 14,
1849, the session met for the purpose of adopting rules and regulations for the
better government of the church. The
following were adopted:
First – There shall be a
board of trustees of seven members, to be elected by the church.
Second – It shall be the duty
of the trustees as soon as possible to get an act of incorporation from the
Legislature, and to have invested in them, the right of the church property for
the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church in Griffin.
Third – They shall annually,
on the first of October, rent the pews, and they are hereby requested to
collect the same quarterly and to pay it over to the Clerk of Sessions.
Fourth – They are also
requested to have direction, and contract for, any repairs, alterations, or
additions to the church property that may be deemed necessary.
Fifth – They are also
requested to provide for the keeping and lighting of the church, and to
recommend the way and means to pay for the same.
Sixth – The session recommends
as a standing rule that the first Sabbath in each season, to wit: the first
Sabbath in March, June, September and December be the regular Communion for
this church, at which time the Sacraments of the Lord's Supper shall be
administered."
The church elected the
trustees in 1849, and an act to incorporate the Presbyterian Church at Griffin,
in the County of Pike, was approved by the Legislature February 1, 1850.
Discipline
In the early days, disciple by the session was very rigid, and members were often cited to appear before them. For example: "The clerk was directed to cite Brother X to meet the session at the church on the second Sabbath in April to show cause why he absented himself from the church, and thereby neglected the means of grace." Brother X presented himself and answered the charges against him; "I am in such circumstances that I am not able to appear in suitable attire at the church on the Sabbath Day." The case was continued for further consideration.
Another case happened February
28, 1851: "It being made known to
the session by the Moderator that two brothers had attended a ball and dance, a
committee was appointed to see the brethren and report at next meeting." The report read: "Both the brethren confess guilty and
manifest no signs of repentance, or desire to remain members of the church;
therefore, resolved that they be suspended until they show suitable signs of
repentance. Resolved, that the session
of this church disapprove of dancing at balls and dancing parties, and of
parents sending their children to dancing schools."
The
Civil War
For much of the Civil War the
church was without a pastor. The Rev.
James C. Patterson served as interim pastor on several occasions, first from
January to October of 1863, then from June of 1865 to February of 1866. Rev. James C. Patterson was the President of
the Synodical College for Women, of the Presbyterian Church in
Griffin. It was located on four acres
where Taylor Street Middle School currently stands. It was not uncommon for the church to go
several months at a time without holding services during the war. Additionally, there were a number of refugees
that became members of the church. One
instance from the church records:
"Mr. Jas. H. Gordon and Mrs. Caroline M. Gordon, members of the
Chickamauga Church, presented themselves for membership in this church, but
without regular letters of dismission, having been compelled to flee from the
face of the enemy and leave their homes and their sanctuaries in haste, their
pastors having been driven from their flocks and the flocks scattered – perhaps
never to be gather again on earth. It
has been found impractical to obtain letters, the session having received
satisfactory evidence of their regular church standing – received them as
members in full fellowship in this church."
Need for
Revival
In a narrative to Presbytery
October 8, 1885, the session reported regular service twice each Sunday and
weekly prayer meetings; that these meetings were very well attended; that their
pastor preached with zeal, earnestness and simplicity, greatly to the
edification of his hearers; yet with all these means of grace that they were
constrained to confess that as a church they were in a cold state; that they
had received no member by profession, and but few by letter since their last
report.
This brought about much
searching of hearts, and this searching began with the session themselves. Shortly after this the session held a meeting
the object of which was mutual confession.
Every member of the session was present and made feeling and touching
confession of his shortcomings. They
resolved to have a pastoral letter prepared and read to the congregation. In that letter it was stated that: The spirit of pleasure and worldliness had
prevailed among the people; that there had been no anxiety for the salvation of
souls; that offerings had been held back; that reproach had been brought upon
the name of Jesus Christ by the sinful lives of the people, and that the
session trembled at the wrath of God and the judgment denounced against his
careless shepards, and so they came with their own humble confessions. These were long and detailed confessions of
their sins to Almighty God; to have more reverence for the session, and to submit
themselves to the discipline of the church.
The next report to Presbytery stated that the spiritual condition of the
church was much improved and that peace and harmony prevailed.
The
Second Church Building
Having outgrown current
facilities, the church began construction of a new church building in the
spring of 1888. The corner stone was
laid. Engraved on it are these words,
"Built 
upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the
chief Corner Stone. – Ephesians 2:20."
The corner stone now sits on the current church grounds. The first service was held in the new church
November 4, 1888. The full report of the
Treasure of the Building Committee reports that the lot cost $1420; the
building $10,016; the furnishing, which was done by the ladies of the church,
$450. The Ladies Society also donated
$1236.20 to the building fund. The
interest on the building fund was $1436.01.
On December 17, 1888, the
Building Committee was instructed to move the bell from the old church to the
new. The church bell had been purchased
in 1871. This bell is currently on the
grounds of the present church. The old
church and half-acre lot were sold for $1000 and this was added to the building
fund. On 
was free from debt of any
kind. A report from an old newspaper
reads: "February 18, 1890
dedicatory services of the new Presbyterian Church were held. The church could not be wholly dedicated to
the service of the Lord until it was fully paid for. The church decorations were very beautiful
and the singing was good. The learned
and eloquent Dr. G. B. Strickler of Atlanta read the lesson of the parable of
the sower, Luke 8, and took as his text a part of the 18th
verse: "Take heed therefore how ye
hear." The text was appropriate to
the occasion since it was here that the Gospel would be preached and here that
it should be heard in the right way. He
said that as a man hungers for bread and thirsts for water just as much at
three score as at three, so should we desire and have keen relish for the
truths of the Scripture."
In 1894 a Pilcher Pipe Organ
was purchased at a cost of $1,425. This
organ was completely rebuilt in 1978 when it was moved to the current
sanctuary. The organ was the 25th
organ built by the 
Henry Pilcher Organs Builders
of Louisville KY. It originally had
manual bellows. Later a hydraulic pump
that operated by city water pressure powered the organ. This was not entirely satisfactory as the
pump leaked and flooded the basement on many occasions. At some point an electric blower was
added. In 1993, John Farmer of North
Carolina reworked the pipes and added another rank for a fuller and richer
tone. A new bench was added that allows
the organist to adjust the seat height for more comfort while playing. All original parts of the organ, including
the bench and the mirror have been preserved.
The Turn
of the Century
In July 1902, the Rev. L. G.
Henderson, of Americus, was called and began his work in the church. A complete reorganization of the church took
place. The envelope system was adopted. The home department of the Sunday School was
established. The missionary spirit was
awakened and the interest developed in missions was far-reaching. A Mission Sunday School was begun under most
favorable auspices. Mrs. C. H. Osborn
donated a lot and deeded it to the church for the purpose of building a house
of worship to be known as Osborn Presbyterian Chapel. This Chapel was on Tinsley Street and was
built during this time.
In 1902, it was the privilege
of the church to have with them for a meeting, Dr. Edward O. Guerrant of
Kentucky. Under his preaching there was
a gracious revival and large numbers were added to the church on profession of
their faith in Jesus Christ. Among these
were many of the young people of the church.
Following the meeting, the session passed a resolution of thanksgiving
for these showers of blessing in answer to prayer.
In 1906 the church began to
support a missionary to China, Miss Josie Woods.
Women of
the Church
The Women of the church have
always been very active and have operated under different names. Originally it was "The Ladies Benevolent
Society" and "The Mite Society" there was also a "Mission
Band." Later there was the
"Ladies Aid Society" the " Service Circle" and "The
Woman's Missionary Society."
Currently we have the "Presbyterian Women." In 1925 the women were organized as the
"Women's Auxiliary." The first
year as the Women's Auxiliary was so successful that a the meeting of the
Atlanta Presbyterial in 1925, the President stated that out of fifty-five
churches, in the Presbyterial, the Griffin Auxiliary was recognized above all
others for work accomplished during the last year.
Growth
In 1924 it was decided that a
Sunday School annex was needed. It was
decided to use the Manse adjoining the church for this purpose, and the
necessary changes were made to accommodate the growing Sunday School. A new Manse was built on Mimosa Drive in 1938
on a lot donated by a few members. The
old Manse served as the Sunday School building until 1951 when an educational
building was built on the site. The
building was completed on November 4, 1951.
In April 1941 an outpost
Sunday School was organized at Liberty Hill in Lamar County. Sunday School was held each Sunday afternoon,
with original membership of forty-seven.
Changes
in Church Government
On November 1, 1936 the rotary
system of electing deacons was established.
Under this plan two new deacons were elected each year and serve for a
term of three years. In January 1949,
the rotary system for elders was adopted.
In 1990 the Deaconate and the Session were combined into one body.
Building
the Current Church Building
On Sunday, February 19,1967,
the Building Planning Council recommended that consideration be given to moving
the church to a new location. On April
23rd, the congregation voted 127 to 81 in favor of the
recommendation. On September 24th,
they voted to purchase five acres of land at the intersection of Memorial
Drive, Futral Road and East College Street for the future location of the
church. In 1975 the architect's plans
for the new building were approved, and the Planning Council was directed to
develop a plan for financing the new facility.
1977 was the year of decision, after many years of meetings and
discussions, planning, and prayers, the decision was made to build the new church
building at a total cost of $560,000.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place October 2, 1977. Some of 
the stained class windows from
the old church were moved to the new building, and the Pilcher pipe organ
(purchased in 1894) was completely rebuilt.
The church bell, originally purchased in 1871 that had hung in the
original church building was moved to the grounds of the new building. The corner stone was removed from the old
church and now sits near the bell on the current grounds.
September 10, 1978 was the
last Sunday in the old church, After the worship service that morning, members
of the congregation went home, ate lunch, and returned at 2 PM with trucks,
station wagons, and other vehicles. In
four hours everything movable had been transferred to the new building. The first service in the new building was
September 17, 1978. The dedication
ceremony was held November 19, 1978.
On August 24, 1980 the
congregation voted to build an Activities Building. It was completed in July 1981.
The
Sesquicentennial
On Thanksgiving Eve, November
27, 1991 the First Presbyterian Church of Griffin celebrated 150 years of
serving the Lord. There were three
services that were part of this celebration.
Thanksgiving Eve there was a community service held at the church. Leading in service were: Dr. Bruce Morgan – First Baptist Church, Dr.
Cleopatrick Lacy – Mount Zion Baptist Church, The Reverend Doug Winn – Saint
George's Episcopal Church, The Reverend Monroe Grant – First Christian Church,
The Reverend Katherine Pash – Saint John's Lutheran Church, Captain Ken Nelson
– The Salvation Army, The Reverend Hubert Flanagan – First United Methodist
Church, and Dr. Spencer Frye – First Presbyterian Church.
On November 29, 1991 (the day
after Thanksgiving) there was Celebration In Music at the church, with
special music provided by the choir.
Then on Sunday December 1, 1991 a special celebration service was
given. After the service a Celebration
Dinner was held in the Activities Building.