Boston Baptist Church to celebrate 150 years

Jill Holloway, Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Ga.
·3 min read

Oct. 18—BOSTON- The Holy Spirit is alive and well at a once small church in Boston, Ga., as they will soon celebrate their 150th anniversary.

The church was founded on October 12, 1872 after a founding council met together to assist in forming the church. Records indicated that following a sermon from J.S. Baker, 34 members enrolled their names to become founding members of what would later become Boston Baptist Church.

The church was located at the corner of Main Street and Jackson Street, with J.M. Rushin serving as pastor. However, it was only located there for only a year before it was destroyed by a storm in 1873.

As the church worked to construct a new building, they met with local Methodist and Presbyterian churches.

By September 13, 1873, a new building had been established and was dedicated to the Lord by Rev. C.D. Campbell.

After years of being at their location, the church decided they wanted a building that was more centrally located and purchased what is now their home.

In April 1910, the ground was broken for Boston Baptist Church. While breaking ground, Carrie Parramore Barrow passed by and asked if she could lay one of the bricks.

She was the only one to lay a brick that is now marked with her initials, "C.B.", which can still be seen on the south side of the church today.

In the fall of 1913, the church was completed and Rushin preached the first sermon.

Rushin was witness to many devoted members of the church, including Barrow, who taught the Primary School Sunday School class for fifty years before passing.

Other honorable members included Geneva Groover, who was a pianist for fifty years with the church.

To celebrate Groover, the church held a "Miss Geneva Day" and presented her with a loving cup.

While both Groover and Barrow have passed now, 150th Committee Chairwoman Faye Herring still recalls their presence, along with so many others.

"I still see some our old members and I can remember where they sat," Herring said. "I just picture them."

Herring explained that she played the organ and every Sunday when she would finish playing, a special member of the congregation would be waiting for her on the pew.

"She was a great comfort to me," she said. "Of course, I see my family. I had two great aunts and my grandmother that I remember in this church. It's very precious to me."

Mayor Danny Groover, agreed saying he remembered right where his grandmother sat every Sunday.

Although the church has lost many special members over the years, it has also grown in ways the original 34 members could have never imagined.

The church now boasts over 100 members with a Fellowship Hall, Education Annex and beautiful pastorium to their pastor for over 30 years, Tim Phillips.

The Fellowship Hall was the most recent addition, with it just being completed in 2002 by Carpenters for Christ.

However, the mission is still the same: "to be a lighthouse drawing people closer to each other and to Jesus Christ, who made all these things possible."

That history can be found in their original pulpit, which is still in use today.

The pulpit hopes to be home to many visitors come October 30, when the church celebrates its 150th anniversary and homecoming celebration during the 11 a.m. services.

All are invited to attend, sing historic hymns, engage in fellowship and reminisce on the history and lasting legacy God has created at Boston Baptist Church.