History of Monticello Baptist Church

Early records show the Baptists began to establish themselves in Georgia as early as 1740, and by 1801 five different Baptist groups existed in the state. Before 1805, the area we now call Monticello and Jasper County was still Creek hunting land and it was later acquired in the cession of 1805 and added to Baldwin County.

From Church Minutes

In 1808 the present church lot is deeded to membership by William Penn. It is possible that Baptist services were held earlier in 1808. The earliest Baptists in Georgia were Separate Baptists lead by Daniel Marshall from Charleston which founded Kiokee Church. Their influence led to the establishment of other Baptist churches in Georgia. In 1794 there were only 52 Baptist churches in Georgia. In 1808 there may have been a few more than 100. This means that Monticello Baptist is one of the oldest continuous Baptist churches in Georgia.

In 1810 the church is established and first named Ephesus. The Church house was erected from hewn logs.

In 1828 the Georgia Baptist Convention held its first annual meeting in the church and is officially named the Georgia Baptist Convention. The reverend Jessie Mercer, for whom Mercer University is named, is elected the moderator. Two other prominent members at this time are Joseph E. Brown, who became Governor of Georgia in 1857, and Alfred Shorter, the founder of Shorter College in Rome. Mr. Shorter’s residence was on the site of the present doctor’s building adjacent to the present church.

In 1845 the Rev. Robert Tolefree is a messenger to the founding session of the Southern Baptist Convention in Augusta. He had been a professor of natural science, chemistry and natural philosophy at Mercer. He is listed as “preacher, farmer, and doctor from Monticello.” The church is a founding member of the Central Baptist Association, the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

In 1864 the church records are destroyed by Sherman’s forces but the building is not destroyed. It is remodeled and reorganized with 20 members is 1868 (five males, 15 females, no Sabbath School).

In 1897 the church purchased a new pump organ (now in the Museum). For the first time, a pastor is requested to live in town and Rev. Fields accepts the call and to live in Monticello and to conduct services two Sundays per month. Also, a new building is proposed with a goal of $3,800. The renovated church is torn down and the membership uses the Presbyterian Church for services while a new building is constructed.

In 1902 the new wood church is dedicated. It cost $3,800. In 1904 a new Finance Committee reports that $700 is required for the current year’s expenses which will include pastor’s salary, lights, sexton and Sunday School literature. In 1923 rooms are added to the back of the building for a Sunday School annex. Church treasurer’s report shows a balance of six cents.

In 1958 the new pastorium is constructed on Maddox Street for $18,000 and the old one to the left of the present church was torn down to make room for the new church planned. In 1964 a building fund was started for a new church building totaling $105,000. The new church building was finished at a final cost of $321,127.

In 1979 with Jim Renault pastor, the church debt is paid off thanks to a bequest to the building fund from Miss Lois Hardy which included the sale proceeds of her house. Many more church improvements and additions were made after this.

The present church has accepted its religious leadership role in the community and presently has over 400 total members, active and inactive. The budget is now over $400,000, a far cry from the budget of 1904. Dr. Bob Whitmire is the present pastor with Josh White, associate pastor. There are 35 active and inactive deacons.

The preschool has ranged from a high of 50 children to present 22 children and is led by Nancy Mitchell. The Monticello Baptist Church is now 200 years old and there have been 50 pastors in the church since its start in 1810. Sunday school starts at 9:45 and church services at 11 a.m.

Correction: In the article on the Persons family, we mistakenly named the wife of Ray Persons. Mr. Persons married Laree Malone not Spears as originally reported. The author apologizes for the error.