Habersham County Churches

Bethlehem Baptist Church was organized in 1819 or 1820 in Watt Adair's School House about five miles north of Clarkesville. The original minutes have been lost, but in 1838 the church agreed to copy the Articles of Faith from the Providence Church and these minutes have been preserved. A list of the charter members was preserved and are listed as follows:

Dozier Sutton	Died in 1867
Joseph Prince
Benjamin James	Dismissed by letter August 29, 1868
Demiel Williams	Dismissed by letter August 29, 1868
A. J. McAllister	Excluded June 20, 1868
James White
Thomas R. Harkins
K. H. Watson	Died September 12, 1871
Lacy Vaughn
Thomas J. Stonecypher, Deacon	Dismissed by letter July 18, 1868
Jacob Balew
John F. Love	Dismissed by letter August 20, 1868

Sussana A. Harkins
Hizziah Smith	Dismissed by letter May 23, 1874
Sally Jones
Martha Miles
Fleet Jinkins
Sarah English
Salina English
Eleana Shirley	Dismissed by letter August 17, 1867
Nancy C. White	Excluded June 20, 1868
Drucilla Smith	Excluded June 20, 1868
Elizabeth Williams	Dismissed
Sarah Gastley
Mirenda Hames
Charlota Black	Died 1873
Elizabeth Bellew
Marinna Eirod
Eliza McEntire
Hanah M. Shirley	Dismissed by letter August 17, 1867
Talitha C. Stonecypher	Dismissed by letter
Caroline Love

In 1850 the church voted unanimously to become a "Constituent Member of the Georgia Baptist State Convention." They withdrew from the Mountain Association and formed a new association. It was at first known as the Union Meeting.

In 1851 two deacons were chosen: Brother Henry L, Meeks and Gilliam Wilbanks.

As early as 1852 a Sunday School was discussed but there is no record that it was carried out at this time.

On July 5, 1856, the church agreed to hold prayer meeting the second Monday night in each month for the "Spread of the Gospel."

On December 20, 1862, the church agreed for an academy to be built on the Bethlehem lot.

As early as 1853 the Reverend Singleton Sisk preached a missionary sermon and a collection was taken for home and foreign missions; $4.06 was given for foreign missions; $1.18 for home missions; $1.55 for Bible Cause, and $0.94 for African Missions (contributed by the Negro members), making a total of $7.73.

In a Union Meeting (later known as Habersham Association on October 29, 1853, letters were received from the following churches: Providence, Antioch, Nacoochee, Bethlehem.

On February 6, 1892, the church granted leave for a "Public School" to be taught in the church.

The church agreed to meet on the first Sabbath in April of 1894, to organize a Sunday school. Mr. Thomas J. Gastley was the first Sunday School Superintendent.

Nineteen Negroes belonged to the early church. These Negroes were slaves who belonged to the members, both male and female. Mention is made in the minutes of these members joining by "experience."

Following is a list of the early pastors and the approximate terms of service:

1839-1844	John Suggs
1844-1845	J. C. Jarrard
1845-1846	James West
1846-1866	Singleton Sisk
1867-1868	E. L. Sisk
1868-1869	David W. Porter
1869-1870	Thomas Carter
1870-1874	D. S. McCurry
1874-1875	Samuel Byers and Louis L. Waldrop
1875-1882	L. L. Waldrop
1882-1888	John Kytle
1889-1890	John J. Kimsey
1890-1893	L. J. Dunkin
1893-1894	L. J. Dunkin
1894-1895	John J. S. Dickson
1895-1898	William R. Powers
1898	F. L. Prater
1898	J. S. Dickson

FINANCIAL REPORT
Saturday 1, 1893

1891 Paid Pastor on Subscription $20.50
Unpaid 11.00

1892 Paid 8.50
Unpaid 2.00

1893 Paid 1.50
Unpaid 2.50
For Cemetery Paid Treasurer $15.95
By Nails 2.00

Balance 13.95
T. J. Gastley by Lumber 26.53
A. J. Crane by Hauling 1.00

Balance 25.53
In 1893 $0.75 for Minutes.