In 1896,

Washington Arnold moved into Fayette County, and not

seeing a church in the area, he and others started one.

It was to

become the Holly Grove African Methodist Episcopal

Church.

It was

first under a brush arbor and then in an old abandoned

house. It was important to them that their families be in

church on Sunday.

After a

year in this location, they looked around to see how they

might better their worship experience, plus they needed a

school in the community for their children.

A white

neighbor, Flimester Arnold, gave them land to build their

own church and he also gave them a stock of trees from

which they acquired lumber for the project.

In 1897 the

first building was constructed on the site of the current

church, on Holly Grove Church Road in what is now

southern Peachtree City.

1940s the structure became old and unsafe and it the

congregation decided to rebuild. The new structure stood

until 1943 when a tornado completely demolished it,

leaving only a Bible and a chair untouched.

Again the

congregation began a rebuilding project and in 1944

another new building was in place.

In 1957

this building was remodeled inside and out and by 1969,

the congregation was really progressing, both financially

and spiritually. Many who had drifted away returned and

in the mid 1970s the current structure was built.

The senior

pastor is the Rev. David Morrow and the associate pastor

is the Rev. Frances McAlpin. They came to the church in

June 1997.

Morrow was

born and reared in Palmetto, Ga. He had worked for the

Sears Company for over 20 years, when he felt the call

into ministry.

He is

currently enrolled at the International Theological

Center, Atlanta.

He lives in

Atlanta with his wife, Mamie, and they are the parents of

four children - David, Delethia, Devon and Darren

- and the grandparents of three - Joslyn,

Deshawna and Deanthony.

Sunday

School is each Sunday at 10 a.m. with the worship service

at 11 a.m. There is an evening prayer service each

Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Bible study follows at 7 p.m.

The church

is at 400 Holly Grove Church Road, which runs off both

Redwine Road and Robinson Road. The church can be reached

at 770-631-7650.

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