Statham
Georgia
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Bethabara Baptist Church
History
Bethabara Baptist Church was constituted in September, 1844 by a small group of Baptists who had been holding a brush arbor meeting at what is now the corner of US 78 and GA 53. Although the minute book recording the church's first 12 years was destroyed in a house fire, enough can be reconstructed from other sources to show that the church grew fairly rapidly during its first few years.
At the start of the Civil War, Bethabara seemed poised for much continued growth, but it was not to be. Eight young men of the church wrote home from an early Confederate encampment. Army records show that only 2 of these early volunteers returned alive, and both were permanently disabled. The pastor's son and namesake died from wounds at Gettysburg.
After the very difficult Reconstruction period, the church began to grow again and experienced its greatest evangelistic outreach about a century ago. Mission organizations were added to the Sunday School. After the turn of the century, members began to see the need for a better church house.
In 1913, through the generosity of the Carithers family and others, and with lots of hard work on the part of all the church members, construction of the present worship building was begun. Although the pulpit area and the lighting have been updated, this sanctuary retains its original basic design and many original furnishings, such as the stained glass, walnut pews, and metal ceiling.
After the Great Depression, the church progressed from 'quarter-time' to fulltime worship. In the late 1940's through the early 1960's educational space and the pastorium were constructed. The present annex was purchased from a sister church in 1986; recent renovations were completed in 1989.
Because of continuing population growth in the area, Bethabara seems poised to enter into a new era of growth. In recent history, the church donated almost 5 acres of land to the Georgia Baptist Children's Home and Family Ministries so that a Developmental Disability Ministries home could be built near the church cemetery. Church Trustees have completed the transfer of the building and cemetery trust to management by the Georgia Baptist Foundation. A Preschool playground has been built, a new fellowship hall was built in 2000, and a new Children's wing is currently under construction that will adjoin the fellowship hall. Bethabara is definitely a community church with loads of growth potential.
Bethabara Baptist Church was constituted in September, 1844 by a small group of Baptists who had been holding a brush arbor meeting at what is now the corner of US 78 and GA 53. Although the minute book recording the church's first 12 years was destroyed in a house fire, enough can be reconstructed from other sources to show that the church grew fairly rapidly during its first few years.
At the start of the Civil War, Bethabara seemed poised for much continued growth, but it was not to be. Eight young men of the church wrote home from an early Confederate encampment. Army records show that only 2 of these early volunteers returned alive, and both were permanently disabled. The pastor's son and namesake died from wounds at Gettysburg.
After the very difficult Reconstruction period, the church began to grow again and experienced its greatest evangelistic outreach about a century ago. Mission organizations were added to the Sunday School. After the turn of the century, members began to see the need for a better church house.
In 1913, through the generosity of the Carithers family and others, and with lots of hard work on the part of all the church members, construction of the present worship building was begun. Although the pulpit area and the lighting have been updated, this sanctuary retains its original basic design and many original furnishings, such as the stained glass, walnut pews, and metal ceiling.
After the Great Depression, the church progressed from 'quarter-time' to fulltime worship. In the late 1940's through the early 1960's educational space and the pastorium were constructed. The present annex was purchased from a sister church in 1986; recent renovations were completed in 1989.
Because of continuing population growth in the area, Bethabara seems poised to enter into a new era of growth. In recent history, the church donated almost 5 acres of land to the Georgia Baptist Children's Home and Family Ministries so that a Developmental Disability Ministries home could be built near the church cemetery. Church Trustees have completed the transfer of the building and cemetery trust to management by the Georgia Baptist Foundation. A Preschool playground has been built, a new fellowship hall was built in 2000, and a new Children's wing is currently under construction that will adjoin the fellowship hall. Bethabara is definitely a community church with loads of growth potential.