The History of Pope City Baptist Church
In the late 1800’s Wiley Preston Pope and his wife, Frances Brady, settled on a farm a few miles south of Pineview. It was about the same time that the Hawkinsville and Florida Southern Railroad was incorporated. There was 42 miles of track running from Hawkinsville to Worth County, just south of Ashburn. The train ran very near the couple’s farm and soon led to other families moving into the area and thus “Pope City” was born.
As the community rapidly grew, the need for a school and a church was recognized. Wiley Pope donated land for the school and on the third Sunday in November 1902, Rev. B.F. Rainey preached the first sermon on behalf of Pope City Baptist Church at the home of Bob and Margaret Regan using Matthew 12:3 as his text. He continued to preach under an arbor for more than a year. In August 1903, Pope City Baptist Church was constituted and then in 1905, J.N. Bruce gave the church 2,000 ft of lumber and 4.9 acres of land for the first building which was valued at $200.00. By 1911, church membership had grown to 67 and a new and larger church was built. During the following years, the railroads were beginning to fail and it is said that the pastor who lived in Irwin County no longer had a way to get to Pope City to preach.
In 1928, under the leadership of Rev. J.M. Henderson, a new church building was erected at a cost of $800.00. In a true labor of love, church information from 1903 to 1932 was hand-sewn on a large sheet by Mrs. L.P. Brown and presented to Pope City Baptist Church on September 9, 1933 by Herman D. Bolin.
As the settlement of “Pope City” gradually faded away, Pope City Baptist Church remained steadfast in its service to the Lord. Through the years Sunday School wings were added, the first social hall built in 1980 and a baptismal added in 1994.
Rev. Danny Allen was called as pastor in January 1997 at which time there were about 10-15 active members. God began to work and by the year 2000, membership had grown enough to warrant the need for a new and larger social hall and kitchen. Just seven years later, church membership had increased so much that a new sanctuary and Sunday school rooms were added. On Sunday, March 4, 2007 Pope City Baptist Church held a Dedication Service for the new sanctuary and classrooms. Now, fast forward seven more years and here we are with this beautiful new and spacious sanctuary. God has so richly blessed this group of believers allowing us to grow in number and in spirit.
Today, Pope City Baptist Church is all that remains of a once prosperous community. The railroads are gone, the buildings are gone and most of the once nearby homes are gone, but the Lord is still here and the church continues to serve Him.
God continues to bless this church that began many years ago under an arbor made from trees. Many things have changed over the years, but the most important things have not ….. God is the leader of this group of believers and all glory belongs to Him!
As the community rapidly grew, the need for a school and a church was recognized. Wiley Pope donated land for the school and on the third Sunday in November 1902, Rev. B.F. Rainey preached the first sermon on behalf of Pope City Baptist Church at the home of Bob and Margaret Regan using Matthew 12:3 as his text. He continued to preach under an arbor for more than a year. In August 1903, Pope City Baptist Church was constituted and then in 1905, J.N. Bruce gave the church 2,000 ft of lumber and 4.9 acres of land for the first building which was valued at $200.00. By 1911, church membership had grown to 67 and a new and larger church was built. During the following years, the railroads were beginning to fail and it is said that the pastor who lived in Irwin County no longer had a way to get to Pope City to preach.
In 1928, under the leadership of Rev. J.M. Henderson, a new church building was erected at a cost of $800.00. In a true labor of love, church information from 1903 to 1932 was hand-sewn on a large sheet by Mrs. L.P. Brown and presented to Pope City Baptist Church on September 9, 1933 by Herman D. Bolin.
As the settlement of “Pope City” gradually faded away, Pope City Baptist Church remained steadfast in its service to the Lord. Through the years Sunday School wings were added, the first social hall built in 1980 and a baptismal added in 1994.
Rev. Danny Allen was called as pastor in January 1997 at which time there were about 10-15 active members. God began to work and by the year 2000, membership had grown enough to warrant the need for a new and larger social hall and kitchen. Just seven years later, church membership had increased so much that a new sanctuary and Sunday school rooms were added. On Sunday, March 4, 2007 Pope City Baptist Church held a Dedication Service for the new sanctuary and classrooms. Now, fast forward seven more years and here we are with this beautiful new and spacious sanctuary. God has so richly blessed this group of believers allowing us to grow in number and in spirit.
Today, Pope City Baptist Church is all that remains of a once prosperous community. The railroads are gone, the buildings are gone and most of the once nearby homes are gone, but the Lord is still here and the church continues to serve Him.
God continues to bless this church that began many years ago under an arbor made from trees. Many things have changed over the years, but the most important things have not ….. God is the leader of this group of believers and all glory belongs to Him!
1928-2007
2007-2015-
The beautiful steeple for the church was donated by Truett Cathy- Founder of Chic-fil-a. Truett Cathy was able to join us for our Church Dedication on March 4, 2007. Below is a picture of Truett Cathy and long-time friend and #1 fan of Chic-fil-a, Roy Warren (Roxanne Allen's father)
The beautiful steeple for the church was donated by Truett Cathy- Founder of Chic-fil-a. Truett Cathy was able to join us for our Church Dedication on March 4, 2007. Below is a picture of Truett Cathy and long-time friend and #1 fan of Chic-fil-a, Roy Warren (Roxanne Allen's father)
2015