THE HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH

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The Mount Vernon Baptist Church was organized first as a Primitive Baptist Church.  This organization took place in a schoolhouse on October 18, 1878 with J. T. Thaxton acting as moderator.  The Presbyter examined and approved the orthodoxy of W. H. Harden and G. W. Phillips.

After the church was organized, G. W. Phillips was chosen as pastor with W. H. Harden elected church clerk.  While in conference, the members decided to buy the old academy at Indian Springs for a church.

A building committee was selected to supervise the building of Mount Vernon Primitive Baptist Church.  The committee members were G. W. Phillips, J. N. Phillips, J. T. Thaxton, S. W. Phillips, Rufus Hoard, Henry Grant, and C. H. Etheridge.

The land on which the church was built belonged to Miss Martha Bankston, Miss Eliza Bankston, and Mrs. Cynthia Johnson. i  The church bought three acres of land for $25.00, with part of it set aside as a cemetery.  This land was deeded on July 13, 1885 to Mr. A. D. tingle and Mr. W. S. Tingle as deacons of the church.

On December 14,1878, the church opened its doors for the reception of members and accepted William Johnson and wife Edney Johnson by letter.  J. N. Phillips was elected church clerk.

On January 10, 1879, the members approved a committee of three to draw up decorum for the church.  The committee members being: G. W. Phillips, S. J. Thaxton, and Rufus Hoard.  The decorum was presented and accepted on March 15, 1879 by the members.

Elder G. W. Phillips was again elected pastor on October 11, 1879.  The pastorate ended in 1882 when Elder John Mullens became pastor.  Although some of the first members of the Mount Vernon Primitive Baptist Church are mentioned in the church minutes as performing assigned duties, a complete list of charter members is not available.

There are no minutes covering the period from November 11, 1882 to June 22, 1883.  It is assumed that no meetings were held during this period.

On June 22, 1883, a conference was organized by appointing James G. Kimball as moderator and B. K. Hoard as church clerk.  On a motion offered by W. D. Hoard, the church unanimously agreed to dissolve and grant each member a letter of dismissal.

Later, an invitation was extended to W. G. McMichael, John I Kimball, Thomas B. Cooper, and James G. Kimball to assist in establishing Mount Vernon as a  Missionary Baptist Church.   Those present who presented their letters and became members of the newly created Mount Vernon Baptist Church were:

W. D. Hoard	Nancy Treadwell
B. K. Hoard	Cynthia Johnson
Sallie Hoard	Martha Bankston
Bexsy Hoard	Jane Amos
T. W. Phillips	Eliza Bankston
Emeline Phillips	C. H. Etheridge
Caroline Grant

The church elected Rev. James G. Kimbell as pastor and B. K. Hoard as clerk.

A committee was appointed on September 20, 1884 to arrange for the rebuilding of Mount Vernon Church.  Those comprising the committee were: R. K. Hoard, W. D. Hoard, A. D. Tingle, A. H. Treadwell, E. H. Grant, Alex Sanders, C. H. Etheridge and E. B. Hale.

On June 6,1885, Alex Sanders, A. D. Tingle, and A. H. Treadwell were appointed to select a building site for the church.  On July 4,1885, the building committee was reduced to A. D. Tingle, W. S. Tingle, A. H. Treadwell, E. H. Grant, and C. H. Etheridge.

The members next made a decision to lay off the cemetery in orderly plots, and on  July 6,1889 appointed W. J. Garr, A. H. Treadwell, W. D. Hoard, and C. H. Etheride as a committee for this purpose.

Mount Vernon Baptist Church met first on May 3, 1890 to organize a Sunday School.

M. D. Sr. ii, G. R. Ridgeway, and Joel Watkins were appointed a committee on November 4, 1893 to ascertain how much money could be raised to buy an organ.   Rev. J. g. Kimball resigned on September 5, 1896, after 13 years as pastor, on October 4, 1896 the church elected Rev. W. N. Hurst as its second pastor.

The turn of the century found Mount Vernon Baptist Church firmly established and ready to take its place in Christian leadership along side other churches of Butts County.

The church decided on February 6, 1937 that they would appoint a committed to get up funds to buy a piano for the church.   The committee was G. O. fuller and D. V. Grant.

A committee was appointed to purchase a piano for the church consisting of Rozelle Clark, A. M. Garr, and Marguerite Garr.   The committee bought the piano and A. M. Garr placed it in the church for the regular meeting in April 1937.

Then on March 5, 1941, the church appointed a committee consisting of Mrs. Jim Treadwell, Mrs. Jim Moore, Marguerite Garr, and Mr. Jim Duffy volunteered to get donations to paint the outside of the church and build cement steps to the church.  This was all completed by the July meeting.

On September 20, 1947, the church voted to have the church wired for lights.  It was paid for by Mrs. S. D. Johnson and Mrs. K. H. Hines in memory of their mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Garr, Sr. life members of the church.

On March 19, 1961, plans were made in conference to erect a new building to house part of the Sunday School.   This was during the time Rev. J. B. Bennett was pastor at Mount Vernon the first time.   A committee was appointed to see that the building was done.   The committee consisted of Floyd Moore, Jams Gregory, James Treadwell, and Lake Clark.

In June 1970, the church decided to dig a well and build restroom for the church.  This was completed in June.  On January 31, 1971, the members decided to build a new church building, and the ground-breaking service for the new church was held in August 1971

In conference on September 5, 1971, it was decided to borrow $25,000 for the building fund, with the remainder to be raised by the members.

On March 1, 1972, Floyd Moore deeded a strip of land, 70 feet on the road front, to Mount Vernon Baptist to be used for the new church.

Sunrise services on Easter 1972 were held in the not yet completed sanctuary. Sunday School rooms were completed and used in June 1972 for Vacation Bible School and Sunday school classes.

Full-time pastorship was extended following decision in conference on April1, 1973. On August 12 of the same year, Perry Culpepper and Andrew Moore were ordained as deacons.

Following two years work on the new church, services were first held on Homecoming Day, August 19, 1973. The old church building was torn down on Wednesday, November 7, 1973. Work continued on the new building with the Sunday School rooms and Sanctuary being completed, restrooms furnished, air conditioning installed, PA system installed, and the entire church carpeted in time for dedication services on August 10, 1975

An organ was added to the Sanctuary in May 1976.

A newsletter was begun in 1976 featuring announcements, pastor's messages, and birthdays. The newsletter is sent out every two months at the present time.

The bricking of the annex was began in the spring of 1977 with the work still continuing.

In August of 1977, a tradition was begun: babies born to members of the Sunday School or Church are presented a Bible by the pastor in a Sunday morning service.

In October of 1977 the basement of the church was used for the Homecoming meal. Folding tables were purchased for use in the basement also at this time.

For use in Vacation Bible School in June 1978, a refrigerator was installed in the basement of the church. In August 1978, the basement was wired for an electric stove.

On October 25-27, 1978, Mount Vernon had a centennial revival celebrating the constitution the Mount Vernon Primitive Baptist Church (October 18, 1878). Members wore clothing of the late 19th century, made replicas of bonnets and long dresses. Lanterns and kerosene lamps decorated the church. Rev. Leo Jenkins presented inspiring talks each night using magic and chalk talk messages. Picture drawn during he services were presented to members during Sunday School. Members bringing the most visitors selected a picture. The Sunday School attendance on October 1978 was 74, topping the goal of 70.

Children's church was begun in the fall of 1978, during the morning worship service. Pins for Sunday School attendance were reinstated in November 1979

On December 1981, a note-burning was held at Mt. Vernon. Payment to the bank was completed 3 years ahead of time. History of planning to build was read. Rev. Joe Parham presented a message at the end of the ceremony.

New carpet was placed in the sanctuary in July 1982. At Homecoming August 8, 1982, a Brush Arbor Meeting was held. A choral presentation entitled a Brush Arbor Meeting was given. Members dressed as people of the 1900's. Horse and buggy appeared at this service.

On August 11, 1982, R.A.'s was begun. Ted Strickiland was chosen as the leader.

In October 1982, improvements were begun on the basement to the church. Work continued until 1984 with painting, paneling, window and ceiling work being done.

By Easter of 1983 a new curtain was added to encase the opening around the baptismal pool.

A steeple was added to the church building by the spring of 1984.

The church annex renovations progressed over the years from its beginning in 1977. It was re-roofed, bricked and improvements are continuing to be made at the present time. It was air conditioned in July 1985. A used piano was purchased to be placed in the annex; this was also in July 1985.

In June 1985, the church voted to pave the church parking area. August 1985 hopefully will see the completion of the project.

A brick enclosure for a church sign was built in August 1987. Children's church for preschoolers was begun in 1987 with parents on a rotating basic teaching during the worship service.

Pastors that have served Mount Vernon Baptist Church are as follows:

Primitive Baptist Pastors
George W. Phillips - 1878-1882
John Mullens  -  1882-1883

Missionary Baptist Pastors

James G. Kimball  -  1883 - September 5, 1896
W. N. Hurst  -  October 4, 1896 - ?
W. O. Sharpe (Served two different times)
J. C. Mayes
Z. M. Leverette
W. W. Arnold
Arthur Jackson
J. O. Bonner
I. G. Walker
A. C. Johnson
C. E. Elkins
C. C. Heard
T. H. Vaughn
R. E. chambers
G. O. Fuller
T. J. Thaxton
Jimmy Smith
J. B. Bennett (Served two different times)
W. P. tuck
Phil Minton
Raymond Etheridge
L. H. Britt
S. H. Odom (Interim Pastor)
John L. Cross (With Charles Davis as Associate Pastor)
James Paige
Joe Parham  -  June 4th 1976 - January 28, 1979
Larry Green (Interim Pastor)
Eddie Morgan  -  1980-1987
Hugh Wheelus (Interim Pastor)
Arthur L. Price  -  August 2nd,1987 - August 1992
Joe Parham(Interim Pastor) September 6,1992-February 28, 1993
Milton Hill  -  June 3,1993-December 1995
Shuford Jones(Interim Pastor) April 1996-November 1996
Terry New - November 1996 until present

i Mrs. Cynthia Bankston (Johnson). This is the only one of the three sisters which married.
ii This is most likely meant to be M. D. Garr, Sr.