History:

Although there were only twenty homes in Perry in 1826, a Methodist congregation was organized which resulted in the first church building in town being erected in 1827 on the site of what is now Evergreen Cemetery. Following the custom of that day, the land around the church was used as burying ground. The first pastor was James Howard who was followed by James Dunwoody, J. E. Evans, and Samuel Anthony.

Early records of the Perry Baptist Church show that this congregation was organized March 31, 1838 in the Methodist church and held meetings there until a sanctuary was completed in June of that year.

The Perry Presbyterian Church was organized in the Methodist church on April 25, 1847 and held services in the Baptist church until the Presbyterian sanctuary on Carroll Street was completed and dedicated in September, 1849. The spirit of brotherliness and fraternity continues among people of this town.

Although there are no records to substantiate this, it is thought that the second building of Perry Methodists was erected in 1846 when the town was formally laid off in streets. This building was located on the front half of the present church square and faced Washington Street. It was a wooden structure which was used until 1860 when additional land was purchased from John M. Giles to make the square as it is now.

The present beautiful colonial type building was begun in 1860 but not completed when the War Between the States began in 1861. The architect was a northern gentleman, D. P Flandreau of Chester, NY, who brought to the task of planning and building the church careful training and genuine efficiency. Mr. Flandreau moved to this section and became so attached to its people that he cast in his lot with the southern folk and left Perry in 1861 with the Southern Rights Guard to fight in the War of the Sixties. Trustees in charge in 1860 were: Rufus Felder, Lewis M. Houser, James L. Turrentine, and John L. Birch.

Another version of the building of this New England type church is that a slave named Pete, who was sent north to study architecture for two years by his master, W. M. Davis, a wealthy planter who lived near Perry, designed and built this structure.

Probably the true story is that the slave, Pete, who had been given his freedom for building his master a fine home, completed the building of the Perry Methodist Church with the help of other slaves after their masters had gone off to war in 1861.

There are legends concerning the church’s first bell, but its true story is unknown. According to the traditional story, this bell was shipped to Columbus, GA to be melted and used for cannon balls by the Confederates.

Regardless of its fate, the bell now hanging in the church’s belfry has engraved on its exterior: “Cast M. E. Church, Perry, Georgia, A .D. 1866 by Meneelys, West Troy, N.Y.” Also, it has “Meneelys Rotating Yoke, patented 1860” on its attachment ring. Perhaps this type of yoke accounted for the purity of tone of the bell.

Sad to relate, for this bell is cracked after many years of calling church members to worship services and of tolling for funerals.

Also, this 100-year old bell served the entire community as a fire alarm bell until the early 1900’s.

In 1906 and 1907, under the pastoral leadership of T. E. Davenport and J. W. Arnold, the edifice erected in 1860-61 had its first re-modeling. About $4000 was spent on it. The architect was P. E. Dennis of Macon and the contractor, Sam P. Houser of Perry. The building committee was Fred M. Houser, L. F. Cater, W. B. Sims, and L. M. Paul. The church was lowered three feet. The front porch and columns were added. A number of Sunday school rooms were arranged in the rear of the sanctuary. Attractive stain glass windows were placed and circular pews installed.

In the 1920’s, the basement was deepened by several feet and rooms for the elementary grades of the Sunday School built to take care of the children’s division.

In 1932, plans were made for a temporary educational building because money was scarce during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Under the leadership of the Rev. Herbert Etheridge, an annex was built on the south side facing Main Street to help meet the needs of the growing Sunday School where the average attendance of 138 surpassed anything in the history of the church at that time. $2400 was spent on this project. Trustees were W. B. Sims, T. C. Rogers, L. F. Cater, J. C. Mathews, and Sam A. Nunn.

The next building project took place in 1950-51 when a permanent annex to the sanctuary was erected facing main street after the temporary structure was removed. Plans for this building were begun as early as 1945 when government bonds were purchased for this purpose. Additional bonds were bought during the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Smith (1945-50) and earmarked for the building fund. Church records show that the Macon District Committee on Church and Parsonage locations met April 12, 1950 and approved plans presented by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Smith, for the erecting of a Church School plant at the Perry Methodist Church and the re-modeling of some of the present facilities to cost approximately $30,000.

The annex was completed in 1951 during the pastorate of Rev. H.H. Heisler. The architect was John Dennis of Macon, and the contractor, Harry Griggs of Perry. Mayo Davis was chairman of the building committee composed of George C. Nunn, Floyd Tabor, A. G. Hendrick, G. F. Nunn, Edward Mason, E. P. Staples, Paschal Gray, J. C. Mathews, T. C. Rogers, and W. V. Tuggle.

The cost of the annex was $28,794 and the improvements and repairs to the sanctuary amounted to $725.50.

In the 1950-51, the Church School had 475 enrolled with an average attendance of 241, and the church membership was 641. The M. L. Brown was general superintendent of the Church School.