Jerry Summers
In the Best of Grizzard column under Entertainment the humorist and controversial writer often would discuss the subjects of religion, church, and preachers in a less than flattering manner.
However, this article attempts to trace the positive history of a little church in northwest Georgia founded in 1836 which has grown into a mega church in the Baptist faith in 2022.
The Baptist Church at the Peavine community in Rock Springs, in the Walker County area was organized as an anti-missionary (Old School Baptist Primitive Baptist) church in 1836.
“The History of Peavine Baptist Church and its People 1836-1988 is a historical 100 pages of photos, art, and information that traces development of the church up through the printing of the date of the publication.
It is respectfully suggested that someone or persons will update the history and progress of the church to the present. It is a rich and continuing part of the fiber of the community.
“The name Peavine is derived from the abundance of word peavines that once grew along the ridge east of the church.” Originally named ‘Union Peavine” and several theories have been advocated as to the original source of the name.
As stated, the most popular theory was that the “Union name” was used to include all of the united uses of the property such as Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church school and cemetery.
Other theories are included in the history but one of the authors correctly states that “it is unimportant what the name is. It only identifies the buildings, land and people and the important part is the work and witness of the church.”
Throughout the 100 pages that was compiled by a Church History Committee of seven members are many branches of the families of the region.
Conversations with longtime members of the church and Peavine community by the committee and others were able to develop a rich fabric of wonderful stories about the people and the forward progress of the entity.
In 1988 the church had a membership of 160 members and today the roll of parishioners is around 1600.
The Pastors Preface by David Grebel during Peavines Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1986 was focused upon the theme from “Thirteen Acres Grew...”
“The book details the growth, the tragedies, the trials, but most of all God’s faithfulness to the hundreds of people who have gathered to worship and serve Him during the past 151 years. It is the story of ordinary people and extraordinary things that God led many of them to do.”
The soft bound catalogue is divided into five detailed sections that describe the early years of Peavine, many Family Histories of selective members, the history, identity, and location of grave sites in the Peavine Cemetery, numerous photographs depicting a visual history of the church and its members, and a detailed Appendix containing the Church Covenant and growth and expansion.
Although not entirely complete because of a lack of preserved records for a few years, what is contained in the entire publication is more than sufficient to trace the progress of the rural church up to 1988.
Selective family members, church pastors, deacons, lay leaders, and church clerks are among those identified in the Appendix.
Peavine has steadily moved forward with expansion of its physical plant and membership since the initial history that was produced in 1988.
The present church under Pastor Joel Sutherland during the past five years has brought forth modern technology to the Church while “maintaining its original mission of providing adherence and belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Googling “Peavine Baptist Church” will supply the viewer with any information that will immediately allow you to contact the church in Rock Springs, Georgia and to answer any questions about the available sources and activities.
An update to the present era could be a valuable project of love for the church to further preserve its rich past, present, and future history.
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Jerry Summers
(If you have additional information about one of Mr.
Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)