Central Baptist Church


South Prairieville & College Streets

The Central Baptish Church, located at South Prairieville and College Streets, completed remodeling of the church auditorium early in August of this year.  Remodeling included fresh paint and paneling for the walls, new carpets and refinishing of the pews.  A brick planter containing greenery was also added to the 600 seat auditorium.  The church, which the present pastor, the Rev. Bill Slayton, describes as an "evangelistic, premillenntal, missionary Baptist Church," was established on Aug. 13, 1939, at the end of a two-week revival campaign.  Eighty-nine person were charter members of the church which now has approximatley 700 active members.  The first meeting place was at their present location on South Prairieville across from the Post Office.  Construction of the first brick building was slowd by the war production board but the building was dedicated in 1944.  Two building programs in the years following added a two-story front to the brick building, housing the young people's department, the nursery for bed babies, and offices.  Another wing was added to the southwest protion of the orginial building.  Rev. Slayton has served as pastor of Central Baptist Church since December 1962.  He resides at the parsonage located at 628 Maryland.  The church is now considering the possibility of adding more educational facilities to the church plant.  A highlight of the year was the annual Summer Bible Conference held at Central Baptist Church Aug. 11-13 this year.  Central Baptist Church has seven deacons, including Homer Different, Henry Harris, Johnny Hodge, Ira Kensey, Billy Albright, Bobby Godwin, and Ernest Gillert.  Trustees are Pete Scruggs, Loy Voyles, David Hall, Brodie Sims, and Paul Chaney.  Kenneth Bledsoe serves as church clerk and Pete Stockard is church treasurer.  Mrs. Norris Nance is church secretary.  Norris Nance serves as music director for the church.  Serving her church as pianist is Mrs. Jimmy McRae.

Source:  Athens Weekly Review, September 1965  

Submitted by Peggy Trammell Allen, 2004. 

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