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Church History

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Lavonia, Georgia, was constituted as a church on May 16, 1856, by a presbytery composed of the following: John G. York and Samuel B. Sanders, ministers; and Joseph Jackson, George Reed, John McFarland, Lewis Childs, and Robert Tribble, deacons. The number of members who entered into this organization was thirteen, who are as follows: Lemuel N. Tribble, Elvany J. Tribble, Reuben D. Adams (deacon), Margaret Adams, Mary Adams, A.F. Walters, Mary Walters, Samuel White, Nancy White, Thomas P. Jones, Margaret A. Jones, Abner Burgess, and Vina Walters.

Samuel B. Sanders preached for two years before the church was constituted during the summer months at a brush arbor not far from where the meeting house now stands, quite a convenience to the brethren and sisters who were members of Shoal Creek, Cannons, and Double Branches churches.

The minutes show the first conference was held on May 17, 1856, the day following their organization. Lemuel N. Tribble was elected Church Clerk, and they elected Samuel B. Sanders pastor. Records do not show when the original building was constructed.

A petition for admittance into the Tugalo Baptist Association was made July 19, 1856. Delegates elected were Reuben D. Adams and Abner Burgess. The church joined the Baptist State Convention on August 15, 1857.

Church Building Dedicated in 1900

A notation found in the minute record book of 1888-96 shows "Pleasant Grove Baptist Church rebuilt 1895 and sealed in 1897 . . ." April, 1900 minute records show a dedication service was held on the "fifth sabbath in April." The "church building was formally presented by J.R. Mauldin to Rev. W.J. Purcell who in a excellent Dedication Sermon dedicated the building to the Lord

Groundbreaking 1949

The previous church building was completed in 1949. A beam from the old building was used in construction and was under the pulpit area.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1949 - 1988

A pastorium was built in 1950 (in the city limits of Lavonia), and an eight-room education building was built in 1958. The present pastorium was built in 1961, with an additional six rooms and the social hall being built in 1963 to the educational building. In 1965, five more rooms were added to the educational building.

Vacation Bible School 1949

Mother's Day in Early 1950's

On February 3, 1985, Pleasant Grove voted to construct a new sanctuary at the church's present site. This structure was completed and financed with a "Together We Build" financing plan.

Current Worship Facility

In May, 1993, Pleasant Grove called its first full-time Minister of Music and Education, the Rev. Richard S. Dickson, who served the church until March, 2005.

More recently, a Family Life Center was constructed on the property with a large social hall and kitchen facility, a gym, an upper level walking track, classrooms, storage, and room for expansion.

Pleasant Grove Family Life Center

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Pastors of Pleasant Grove

1856-1866: Samuel B. Sanders
1866-1871: James T.W. Vernon
1871-1872: Jesse Brown
1872-1873: H.M. Barton
1873-1875: James H. Sullivan
1875-1877: I.H. Goss
1877-1880: J.R. Ivie
1880-1883: John D. Adams
1883-1886: Jesse Brown
1886-1887: L.T. Weldon
1887-1888: P.F. Crawford
1888-1890: J.H. McMullin
1890-1892: J.H. Ayers
1892-1894: James T.W. Vernon
1894-1896: L.T. Weldon
1896-1900: W.J. Purcell
1900-1904: R.M. Maret
1904-1908: W.J. Purcell
1908-1910: C.T. Burgess
1910-1914: C.T. Brown
1914-1916: J.P. Dendy
1916-1917: T.M. Galphin
1917-1918: Arthur Jackson
1918-1920: C.M. Cloud
1920-1922: E.L. Harrison
1922-1923: E.E. Woodson
1923-1926: George C. Steed
1927-1932: E.R. Broadwell
        -1935: A.T. Campbell
        -1941: L.P. Glass
1942-1943: W.M. Gilbert
1943-1945: W.T. Phillips
1946-1947: D.W. Satterfield
1947-1947: M.L. Coleman
1948-1955: Wade H. Lord
1955-1958: Al Price
1959-1961: James Whitlock
1961-1965: Harbin Sanders
1965-1970: LeRoy Campbell
1970-1971: Ray Richardson
1972-1984: J. Curtis Gilstrap
1984-1986: William C. "Bill" Cason, Jr.
1986-1996: E. Davis Lacey, Jr.
1997-1999: Bobby Jones (Interim)
1999-2003: John D. Forbes
2004-2005: Ed Floyd

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