Early 1800s
Prior to 1827 Home of the Creek, Muskogee Native Americans
1825 Treaty of Indian Springs. The creek Confederacy ceded their land by the treaty was invalidated by The US Government
1827 to 1830 The US Government renovated the treaty and moved the Creeks out of their homeland. The government made land surveys to prepare for the land lottery
December 14, 1827 Harris County was created by combing land from Muskogee and Troup Counties. Land lottery issued deeds.
July 7, 1833 Austin, an enslaved man, joined the Bethany Church.
Civil War tore apart the country from April 12, 1861 to April 9th 1865.
New Bethany Formed
January 1870 The Bethany Church “agreed to let the colored use the meeting house on the second Sunday of each month, provided they keep it in good order, closed, and key returned.”
June 12, 1877 New Bethany Church was formed by the black members of the Old Bethany Church. They continued to worship at the Old Bethany Church. Some of the members were John Harman, Redict Goodman, Baalam Goodman, Lee Johnson, Katie Culpepper, Edie Hastey, and Julia Dunlap.
October 4th, 1878 The Old Bethany Church informed the New Bethany Church that they could only worship there for 12 more months.
In 1878 Reverend J.D. Walker became the first pastor of the church. He was the pastor until his death in October 1880.
1879 The village of Hood was formed. It was named for E.C. Hood, a promoter of the Columbus and Rome Railroad. Hood was at the crossroads of Highway 27 and Highway 354.
The New Metal Church
In November 1880 John W. Gore was appointed the new minister. Although he was a farm laborer he could read and write and became ordained on February 27, 1881. According to the U.S. Census he married Louisa Gore in 1874 and they had 5 daughters and 3 sons.
1882 The town of Chipley was formed by Railroad entrepreneur W. D. Chipley to become a railroad stop and name the town after himself. The town of Hood moved up the road to join the town of Chipley.
February 28th 1885 Old Bethany informed New Bethany that they needed to vacate the premises immediately.
May 1885 New Bethany purchased a metal freight house for $125. They placed it on the land across the street from the current church. They purchase the building from Mr. Hudson and Mr. Johnson for $125.00 and moved it to the their first land. The congregation had 185 people and they worshipped in this building for 4 years.
The congregation built a larger metal building which cost $1,289.60 with the first lumber billposting $173.70
In 1897 the pastor changed to Reverend R.H. Billinglea until 1899. They asked Reverend Gore to lead the church again and eight years later they had a membership of 240 people but no church building.
April 24th, 1908 A tornado destroyed much of Chipley. The church lost all of the wall and roof. The only surviving part was the floor.
Rebuilding the Church
In 1908 a new temporary building was built on the land, located across the street from the present building.
Many of the churches in the community helped the Bethany Church. Reverend Gore asked the parishioners to raise $103.70, which he used to buy materials for framing and shingles to start rebuilding. Reverend Gore remained the pastor until his death in 1943.
1909 The congregation built the wooden church where it stands today.
The next minister was Tom Davidson. Reverend Davidson was born on April 16, 1887, in Harris County. His father, Tom, was 14 and his mother, Elvina, was 15. Tom married Mary Ogletree and they had four sons and four daughters. After Mary died he married Obenia (Truitt-Davidson) Ogletree on August 29, 1969 when he was 82, in Troup County. Reverend Davidson died on January 13, 1979 at the age of 91.
Reverend Davidson’s first task was to repair the church building, and in 1943 and 44 he renovated for $1,100.25. He also established the Bethany Senior Choir, and Sister Aurelia Davis Marsh was the Choir President. He made a number of other improvements over the years including adding running water, pulpit furniture and pews, the outside was bricked and electric lights.
On June 8th, 1952 the church was dedicated with a new cornerstone. The Board of Deacons were: Earlie Spratling, L. Ghosted, Willie H. Daniel, Ed Scott, Walter Bryant and Larkin Hightower.
Eight Deacons were ordained for the church by Pastor Robinson. These included: Vamus Culpepper, Robert Spratling, John D. Wortham, Ralph Sterling, Otis Hightower, Alexander Clark, Huddle Hixson and Willie Joe Tucker. Also four ministers were called to preach including James Hightower, Robert Spratling, Ralph Sterling and Jacob Clark.
Sister Essie Bryant, added Young Adult Choir to the Sunday Services. As the members grew older they renamed the choir to Bethany Gospel Choir.
In Spring 1977 the church decided to rebuild the leaning tower and contracted with the Pine Mountain Corporation. The same shingle design was used for the walls. The new tower was put in place using a large crane and stood 75 feet tall. They added a cross to both of the towers. The builders added a base for the church cell, now located to the left of the building.
Reverend Davidson retired as the pastor due to failing health.
Reverend Marsh Gates
Reverend Marsh Gates served the church from 1979 to December 12, 1999. Under his leadership several more Deacons were ordained including: Jamie Hill, Johnny Tucker, Morris Tucker, Clarence Ransom, Willie Clark, Adolphus Hightower, Robert Davenport and James Thomas.
Reverend Gates ordained three more ministers including: Ervin Smith, Stacey Curry and Leroy Copeland.
Pastor William Robinson
Pastor Robinson started with the church on May 12, 2001 and just celebrated his 20th Anniversary as Pastor on May 28th, 2023. He has added more officers and committees to balance the workload and increase in outreach projects from the church. He also made improvements to the church both inside and outside including landscaping, new lights, computer, baptismal pool and insulating the fellowship and kitchen areas.
Under Reverend Robinson five new Deacons were ordained including: Curtis Bray, Arthur Clark, Herbert Ransom, Robert McGee, Bobby Bray and Jonah Williams. Two new ministers were ordained including Jovantae Williams and James Maddox.
Chipley Historical Center 