Bethany Baptist (Harris County, Ga.)

Bethany Baptist was formed on September 8, 1828, with six founding members, three male and three female. Harris County was formed in 1827, shortly after the Second Treaty of Indian Springs ceded the last of the Creek lands from the Flint River to the Chattahoochee. Thus, Bethany Baptist was one of the earliest churches formed in the new territory.  There is an extensive church history compiled by Lillian D. Champion, "History of Bethany Baptist Church, Pine Mountain Georigia 1828 – 1978". The history tells us the first church was erected in 1830 at Goodman's Crossroads, about a quarter of a mile southeast of the present location. A second building was constructed in 1838 about two miles north of the present site. In 1847, Joel Culpepper deeded seven and a half acres at this site to Bethany "as long as it is used for religious purposes and burying ground." The present church was built that year. There have been many improvements over the years but the original 1847 bones of the church are intact. The church prospered and the history tells us that by 1836 membership had grown to 73, and by 1845 it was 147. In August of 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War, total membership was 152, with 106 white members and 46 Black members.