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In the late 1930’s several persons who were attending the rural Catlett Church of God began local prayer meetings. The burden was that God would enable them to have a place of worship in LaFayette.
In answer to their prayers, in August, 1941, Rev. and Mrs. Olon Parr of LaGrange came to LaFayette for a two-week tent revival. At the end of the revival, Rev. Parr, Mrs. Emma Chapman, and Jennie Mae Poarch contacted Mr. W.E. McKeown and Mr. Billy Enloe of the LaFayette Cotton Mill, asking permission to use the assembly hall of the mill’s Community House, 204 Magnolia Street, as a place for meetings until a plan could be made for a church building. Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Tipton, caretakers of the facility, gave their permission. The first service was Sunday school, the first Sunday of September, 1941. On December 4, 1941, the Rev. Parr conducted his first service as pastor of the newly-organized church. The text of his sermon was Luke 12:32; “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Among those attending in its early days, in addition to Pastor and Mrs. Parr and their daughter, Miriam (Mrs. Floyd Poarch), were: Floyd Poarch, Mrs. T.E. (Emma) Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Tipton, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Shipp and four children, Mrs. W.E. (Ethel) Cooper and two daughters, Mrs. Lou Lail and Edna and Roy, Mrs. W.H. (Minnie) Poarch, Miss Jennie Mae Poarch, Rev. W.C. (Chaney) Duckett, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Thompson and five children, Mrs. Mollie Herndon, Mrs. Eunice Bell, Ralph and Jo, Mr. and Prs. Josph A. Holcomb, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Ottis Poarch and Linda, Mrs. McMillan, Clara Mae Milam, and others.
After four years in the Community House during World War II, a block stuccoed edifice was constructed at 301 Daugherty Street. Some who made contributions to the church were: The Cove Street Church of God who loaned piano, pulpit stand, and pews for the tent meeting; Mr. W.E. McKeown and Mr. Billy Enloe of the LaFayette Cotton Mill; Chapman Brothers (Seab and Byron) for excavation and construction material; Mr. W.E. Cooper some framework for the building; Mrs. Homer Hill a piano for the new sanctuary.
After eighteen years, the Rev. and Mrs. Parr moved to Columbus, GA, as pastors. He died in 1962 and was buried in LaFayette Cemetery. Mrs. Parr returned to reside in LaFayette. While in LaFayette, Rev. Parr and Rev. A.A. Williamson of the Evangelical Methodist Church were instrumental in organizing the LaFayette Ministerial Association. The Rev. Parr also served as Boy Scout Master for many years.
Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth Dean and daughter, Bonnie, from Bowling Green, KY, came to pastor the church. Pastor Dean, realizing the need of a parsonage, encouraged the men in preparing property of the church across the street for a residence. He, too, was affiliated with the LaFayette Ministerial Association. Rev. Dean resigned in February, 1963.
Rev. Leon Newton and family moved to LaFayette the first of May, 1963. He also saw the need for a parsonage. Plans were made and the building, under the supervision of Rev. Newton and Luke Pettigrew, became a reality. Rev. Newton also served as Scout Master for the troop sponsored by the church. In April, 1967, plans were finalized to remodel and expand the church facilities. On September 29, 1968, the new unit, Sunday School rooms and a fellowship hall, was dedicated. Pastor Newton became involved in the state activities and the LaFayette church was host to the State Youth Convention, the Georgia Ministerial Convention, and the Christian Education Conference. The south side of the original church was bricked. The Women of the Church raised money to carpet the sanctuary, and the Youth Fellowship provided tile in the Fellowship Hall. New pews with padded seats were installed. After eight years of leadership, Rev. Newton resigned in June, 1970, and enrolled in the Gulf Coast Bible College, Houston, Texas.
Rev. and Mrs. Vanzil Clay of Mt. Dora, Florida, succeeded the Newtons. Under the Clays’ leadership, improvements were made in the parsonage and pastor’s study. The Women of the Church sponsored the purchase of a new organ.
Rev. Clay was active in the LaFayette Ministerial Association and the state church organizations. The Spring Revival, 1972, was a city effort with local pastors and music directors of the neighboring LaFayette churches having charge of the services.
Following the Clays’ resignation, January, 1975, to pastor the Elizabethton TN church, the Rev. Carl Hardison, an Air Force retiree, served the church for three months.
Rev. and Mrs. John Addington and daughters, Yvonne and Virginia, from Greensboro, NC, accepted the pastorate on October 7, 1975. He became an active member of the LaFayette Ministerial Association and served on the Bible-in-School committee, the Chaplains’ Associations at Hutcheson Memorial Hospital, and at health care center in LaFayette. He, with lay persons of the church, conducted morning services at regular intervals at the health care centers. He was active in the State Assembly of Ministerial Fellowship of Georgia.
Some other families active in the church over the years have included: Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Boyle and sons, Mr. and Mrs. James (Buddy) Cooper, Mrs. Bill (Geri) Chambers, Mrs. Annabelle C. Stephenson, Mr. and Mrs. Gib Coulter, The Rev. and Mrs. Lewis Thurman and sons, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil White and daughters, and Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Williams among many others.
A complete history of the church was compiled in 1980. Copies are kept at the church office, 301 Daugherty Street, at the Cherokee Regional Library and at the Church Service Department, Anderson, Indiana.
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