|
The St. Paul AME Church originated as a tent on the Sweetwater
Creek in Austell, GA around the late 1800's. A prominent
townsman, Mr. G.O. Mosley on 22 February, 1896, donated
land for the congregation to have a place to worship.
In 1905 a small frame building was erected on this site
with Rev. A.A. Martin serving as pastor and Mr. Silas Pitts
Sr. as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Sam Wilson,
Will Wilson, Green Poole and Will Campbell also served as
Trustees, and worked diligently in erecting the First Church
House. In 1923 Mr. Homer Pitts, Sr. was elected Chairman
of the Trustee Board and during his term he accomplished
the task of bricking the outside of the church and installing
inside bathrooms and running water. Mr. Pitts served as
Chairman for over forty years and as honorary Chairman until
his death in 1979.
In 1963, the members saw the need for a fellowship hall
which was built and secured through the help of Rev. R.B.
Colbert, Mr. T.R. Weatherhall and Mrs. R.M. Few.
On May 4th, 1963, a board meeting was held and an agreement
was reached to incorporate the church. On May 26th, 1964,
the church was officially incorporated and the name was
changed to the Greater St. Paul AME Church, Inc.
The
Corporation officers are as follows:
Alvin
Poole, President
Bernice
Watts, Vice President
Bridgette
A. Lattimore, Secretary
Joan
Smith, Treasure
Rev.
C. Neal, Pastor
The
following as Board of Directors:
Oscar
Pitts
George
E. Jones
Vernon
Pitts
Ceal
Miller
Clarence
Miller
In
1974, under the leadership of Rev. G. Perkins the land for
the present church was purchased from Mr. James Few. In
June 1985 work was begun on the New Church. On October 20th,
1985 the congregation moved into the new church.
We
have been lead by many pastors who blessed us spiritually
and encouraged us to continue on in our works of serving
a true and living God. Today we serve God under the leadership
of Rev. Mark R. Harkness, Sr. and through him with the Lord's
many blessings and mercy, we the members are endeavoring
on a project to preserve our great church history where
as it will remain an asset to our community.
|