About Our Church History

The New Haven Baptist Church grew out of a “bush arbor” located across the road from the present sanctuary. The Church was constituted on October 1, 1887, with the Reverends Simeon Tharpe, J. H. Oliver, and George W. Tharpe serving as the presbytery. Persons presenting letters of dismission from other churches and thus becoming charter members here, were Marcus Read, John Holland, and Roxie Holland from Anti-
och Church; James I. Dykes, George Barerntine, and Jennie Barrentine from Pleasant Hill Church; and Mrs. Margian Dykes upon the promise of obtaining a letter from Pleasant Hill Church.

The first messengers to the Association were J. I. Dykes, Marcus
Read and George Barrentine; the first pastor, Rev. Simeon Tharpe; and the first recorded membership submitted to the Association in 1887 was eight. The land on which the building now stands was given by Elijah F. Crosby. Among the local citizens assisting in the construction of the sanctuary, either through labor, material, or money, was T. B. Birdsong, Marcus Read, John B. Crosby, John Holland, Jim Cannon, and Tom Ham. To purchase the first piano for the new church, the membership sponsored a “Womanless Wedding” and other “stunts” and “skits”, for the enjoyment of audiences at several of the local public schools.

Rev. Simeon Tharpe, the first pastor, served the church only a short period, during and following its constitution and organization. The second and third ministers, Reverends Green B. Ward and W. D. Dewell, each respectively served for over a decade. Several of the leaders during the early history of the church, other than those already mentioned were: James Barrentine, Frank Cannon, H. G. Cannon, John Cannon,
John D. Collins, T. G. Crosby, Jack Cumbess, Augustus Epps, Freeman Epps, G. W. Epps, E. F. Hammock Mark Hammock, A. H. Henderson, George F. Leslie, S. Will Leslie, Abe S. Martin, C. L. Martin, William Mixon, and Ed A. Ward.

During the first decade of its existence; the building, a one-room sanctuary, was completed in 1897, only ten years after its constitution and the membership had increased from 8 to 109. During the early years of the church, worship services were
held only once a month, and at times only quarterly. Saturdays before meeting Sundays were set aside as conference days. Later services were held twice monthly and finally, in 1950 the church went full-time under the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Morrow.

At the Ebenezer Association Meeting in 1907, the Church requested and received a letter of dismissal, together with Pleasant Hill Church. The purpose of the withdrawal from the Ebenezer Association in 1907 was for the organization of a new Baptist Association to be known as the Big Sandy Association. The Big Sandy Association did function with a few churches participating but soon disbanded. 

In 1910 New Haven requested and received re-admission into the Ebenezer Association.

The following is a roster of pastors prepared from the Ebenezer Association Minutes and any omission of names was not intended:

• Simeon Tharpe (1887)
• G. B. Ward (1888-1900)
• W. D. Dewell (1901-1912)
• W. H. Burch (1913)
• J. W. Ham (1915)
• C. C. Tooke (1917)
• J. L. Lawrence (1918)
• J. W. Baggarly (1920)
• W. M. Kelley (1923)
• G. H. Hendricks (1926)
• J. C. Dykes (1928)
• Bob Cocheral (1930)
• J. T. Collins (1932)
• G. Williams (1943)
• A. L. Phillips (1944)
• Woodrow Wilcher (1946)
• P. M. Newton (1948-1949)

Brick steps were built across the front of the church – P. M. Newton (1948-1949)

Church voted to go to full-time services – J. J. Morrow (1950), C. J. Heath (1952)

Four Sunday School rooms were built on the side of the sanctuary, and new floors, pews, and a stoop were built on the front – Reuben H. Lyles (1953-1960)

The first well was drilled for the Fellowship Hall and two bathrooms were added – D. H. Faircloth (1960), James F. Ahl (1963)

The Church installed and completed a Baptismal pool in 1974 – Robert Lavender (1966-1972), L. H. Britt (1973-1976),

Installed Central Heating and Air Conditioning, pews padded, floors carpeted, Fellowship Hall converted to Sunday School rooms, nursery, Pastor’s Study, and a basement added – T. J. Hester (1977-1981),

Our second well was drilled – P. M. Newton (Interim Pastor) (1982)

The First Extension or Short Course Camp for Twiggs County was held at this Church by Mrs. Kathleen Carswell of Jeffersonville. She and certain other members of her “Troop” slept overnight on the Church floor.

Our oldest member, Mrs. Ladonia Griffin, lived to be over 100 years old. Her son William B. Griffin, had been an active deacon at New Haven Baptist Church for over 42 years.

In 1954 Miss Lillian Crosby presented a plaque to New Haven Baptist Church and furnished the Junior Sunday School room in loving memory of her mother, Mrs. Mattie Crosby.

“Miss Lillian” taught the Junior Class for seventeen years.
Sunday School was originally held at 3 o’clock each Sunday afternoon; classes were taught in different sections of our one-room sanctuary divided by curtains that could be drawn to make Sunday School rooms.

Several parishioners traveled five miles and upward to attend services at a time when the only mode of travel was by foot, buggy, wagon, mule, or surrey.

Those who united with New Haven Baptist Church were baptized at Reynolds Mill, Myricks Mill, Clay Pit, Black Jackson’s Lake, and Antioch Baptist Church’s pool.

The Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Association convened here in 1898, 1933, and 1971. Vacation Bible School has been held for 29 years. Our 1982 enrollment was 86 with an average of 70.

Dr. William R. Birdsong purchased Elijah F. Crosby’s Estate and deeded .617 acres to the Church in 1981. The former site of the Crosby School.

June 2019 of the first phase of our long-term Building Project. After five years of planning and fund-raising, New Haven broke ground on our new 2400 sq ft Sanctuary, along with a complete remodel of our existing Sanctuary. The old Sanctuary was converted into a new Choir Loft, Pulpit, and Baptism area. The old side wing was converted into two new Adult Sunday Schools rooms. The remodeling also added 4 new restrooms plus a remodel of Pastoral Office and Church Office. New Construction added two new entrances along with the construction of a new Handicap accessible ramp.

During the construction, services were held in our Fellowship Hall. A challenge to seat and hear comfortably, but God’s blessing poured over every service held within those walls. During construction, members had the opportunity to walk thru and write scriptures on the walls, floors, and just about every square foot of area before walls and carpets were installed.

New Haven celebrated its first service in the new Sanctuary on December 22, 2019. During the service, members, and guests enjoyed our choir accompanied by the new baby grand piano that was graciously donated for the new Sanctuary, along with memories shared by our oldest and longest active member, Mr. Jimmy Cannon. Along with the new building came Our new sound and video system which has allowed live streaming of services during times we were unable to gather for in-person services. Another of God’s blessings as this would have been impossible in the old Building.