In 1896,

Washington Arnold moved into Fayette County and, not

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

first under a brush arbor and then in an old abandoned

house.

It was very

important to them that their families be in church on

Sunday and what became the Holly Grove African Methodist

Episcopal Church was formed.

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, Fleming Arnall, 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 was

decided to rebuild. The new structure stood until 1943

when a tornado completely demolished it. Only a Holy

Bible and a chair were left.

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 church

has approximately 150 active members. 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 phone number is

770-631-7650 and the pastor, the Rev. David Morrow,

can be reached at 404-627-7711.

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