CARNEGIE BAPTIST CHURCH
Contributed by Donna Eldridge
Prior to the building of the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railway in 1901 there were several small post offices along the route followed by this railroad served by star mail routes. These post offices and small stores formed the nuclei for the towns which grew rapidly upon the coming of the railroad.
Carnegie is one of these towns which sprang up about this time. At this time the nearest church, school and district court house were at Mt. Hebron about two miles away. The new community grew so rapidly that the town was incorporated about 1903 and a public school was established during the same year. About the latter part of 1904 or the early part of 1905, feeling the need of a church in their town, Bros. J. W. and G. R. Swann, Marshall Culbreth and others, under the leadership of Bro. J. H. Corley, pastor of Mt. Hebron, organized Carnegie Baptist Church with about thirty charter members. Bro. B. W. Davis was called and accepted as its first pastor. Nelson Fellows was elected as Clerk. The church building was erected during 1906. The minutes of these early years of the church have been lost but the following facts of its subsequent history have been established.
In October 1905 the church called Rev. J. G. Corley as its pastor. It joined the Bethel Association during the same year, being represented by Bros. J. W. Swann and H. S. Page as messengers. Bro. Corley served as pastor from October 1905 to October 1910, being succeeded by Bro. W. L. Culbertson, who served until October 1915. At this time Brother Corley was again called and served until October 1926. In October 1926 Brother D. T. Cox was called. He accepted, but shortly moved to Columbus, Georgia to accept a full time church at that place. At the November 1926 meeting Rev. J. C. Grimes, our present pastor was called. The first deacons were Bros. Wike Ivey, H. S. Page and T. A. Fellows. The following are deacons at this time: Ross Swann, W. H. Bell, R. G. Hammack and O. H. Sanders.
The church has had an active Sunday School since its organization in 1905.
About 1910 a Woman's Missionary Society was organized and has grown to become one of the most active in the Association. At different times the church has had an active B.Y.P.U.
The Bethel Baptist Association was held at Carnegie Baptist Church in 1914.
(pages 160 - 161)
Centennial meeting held with Baptist church at
Edison, Georgia, October 25,
26, 27, 1932
A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator.
W. H. Joyner, Coleman,
Ga., Clerk
Compiled and Edited by
Alexander Lee Miller
Moderator of
Association
1909 -- 1934
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