If you turn to the Bible, Isaiah

32:2 (RSV), you will see the words, "Each (man) will be like a hiding

place from the wind, a covert from the tempest, like streams of water

in a dry place, like the shade

of a great rock in a weary land."

Thus came the name of Flat

Rock African Methodist Episcopal Church, celebrating its 147th year.

In 1854 it was on the Spears'

plantation and was called Scufflefield at that time. It is believed that

the present Ebenezer United Methodist Church now sits on that site. It

served the blacks in the community that lived nearby, as there was no

other black church.

Officers recorded at that time

were Coot Ware, Bill Elder, Anthony Bennett, Henry Arthur Arnold, and

Jack Ware.

Ebenezer United Methodist and

Scufflefield agreed to exchange land and after relocation, the black church

changed its name to Flat Rock AME. It sits near the rear of the newly

built post office building.

The first building was built

were taught there until the schools in the county were consolidated. At

one time it accommodated as many as 100 pupils and Irene Glover Curry

was the teacher for many years.

The land it sits on was originally

in the John Wiley Adams family and donated for a church. Many of the Adams

family worshipped here in its early years.

Though destroyed by fire in

1917, it was rebuilt under the auspices of Brothers John Arnold, Sam Williams,

Levi Miles and others.

Several black churches developed

from Flat Rock, including Edgefield Baptist Church, Fayetteville; Little

Vine Baptist Church, Tyrone; and Piney Grove Baptist (now Wilkes Grove

Baptist Church), Peachtree City.

Remodeled in 1953, it was made

smaller and restrooms were added, along with a choir loft. Nathaniel Glover,

Booker Ware, Willie Glass and Elmore Swanson oversaw the project, with

Daniel Glover creating the floor plans and doing the carpentry work.

In 1978 a new facility was

built and is still home to a current membership that can trace membership

back several generations. Air conditioning was added in the late 1980s.

The senior pastor is the Rev.

Charles Atkins Jr. with the Rev. Richard Shaw as the associate pastor.

They conducted an anniversary

celebration this past Sunday complete with dinner on the grounds.

They were joined in the afternoon

service by members of Rising Star Baptist Church, its choir, and its pastor,

the Rev. Milton Reeves, delivered the sermon.

A poem written by Flat Rock

member Marie Glover Stinchcomb tells it all: "We too are striving,

still to do our best, Faith too in God to keep us strong, And pray that

Flat Rock AME Church Will still Continue on. For it has been and always

will be, A great Rock in a weary land."

The worship hours are at 11

a.m. each Sunday.

It is at 148 Old Chapel Road,

just south of Ga. Highway 54 west, and can be reached at 770-461-0283.

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