Georgia:  Elbert County:   Falling Creek Baptist Church

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This file was contributed by:
Chandler Eavenson
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294

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Churches
Falling Creek Baptist Church
On 25 Jan 1974 in the Elberton Star newspaper there was an 
article about the Falling Creek Baptist Church in Elbert
Co., GA with a Church History compiled by Rev. Jack 
McVeigh, Pastor, as follows: 

"Falling Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1788 and 
constituted in 1791. The records are not clear as to who 
started the initial work; however, we are sure that Thomas
Maxwell of Virginia was the guiding light in leading the 
church from it's infancy to a strong self sustaining church. 
Maxwell later went to Holly Springs Baptist Church were he 
served as pastor for 30 years (1796-1826). 

"One of the early pastors at Falling Creek was Rev. Dozier 
Thornton. The old minutes of Vanns Creek Baptist Church speak
of the first Baptist Association held at Falling Creek in 
1804 where Dozier Thornton was pastor. The old church records
of Falling Creek date back to 1835. The names of 13 members of
Falling Creek Baptist Church are listed in the records as having
died in the Civil War. 

"Falling Creek was the sixteenth Baptist Church in Georgia. The
land was deeded to John Gunter, Henry Brawner and William D. 
Campbell, deacons of the church, by James Davis on December 6,
1834. The second house of worship was built by William C. Head
and accepted July 15, 1850, by the following deacons: Peter
Cleveland, Thomas F. Willis, Richard Fortson, William Mills and
William D. Campbell. This building was destroyed by a storm 
December 2, 1942. The work on the present building was begun
December 2, 1942 and dedicated April 30, 1944. 

"The church celebrated it's 182nd anniversary on August 12, 1973.
Dr. Searcy S. Garrison, executive secretary-treasurer of the 
Georgia Baptist Convention, was the speaker."

[Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson]