The building was brick with a balcony in the back and down both sides. It is said that the balcony was for the slaves. General Sherman used the church as a hospital. He burned the Baptist church, but left the Methodist structure standing because of the Masonic Hall located above the church (Sherman was a Mason).The building stood until 1930.
ACQUIRING THE HILL:
The downtown church had only street parking and was also quite close to the railroad tracks, which was a frequent distraction. There was a need to relocate. Julia Harrison loved the hill overlooking both Acworth and Allatoona lakes that this church is now located on, and expressed herself during the pastorate of Rev. Lewis Davis 1954-1958.This property belonged to the U.S. Government, having been acquired by the Corps of Engineer for the creation in 1950 of the lakes and a recreation area, according to a 50-year master plan. A Congressional Act was required before the 7.423 acres could be purchased from the Federal Government as surplus land. We are indebted to Congressman Henderson Lanham who introduced the bill and obtained support for its passage. He enjoined Senators Richard Russell and Herman Talmadge to use their influence in the Senate. On May 23, 1957, the 85th Congress authorized the sale, and the purchase was made in September of the same year. It was appraised and sold for the fair market value of $2,475. The deed was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and turned over to the North Georgia Conference, where it is held today. Mr. W.P. Sprayberry named the site "The Hill of the Lord." A Building Committee was appointed and the master plan developed during the pastorate of Rev. Hunter Bassett 1958-1960.
1961-THIRD SANCTUARY:
The first structures to be erected on the present site were an Education Building and Fellowship Hall, built and occupied during the pastorate of W.M. Tribble Jr. 1960-1966.The cost of the building, which now houses our offices and Sunday School classrooms, was $68,000, and it was consecrated in June 1961. Children led the first service in the congregation's third sanctuary/Fellowship Hall (the area containing the church offices today). Ronnie McCollum, age 12, preached the sermon. Later, Ronnie and two other young men, Sam Matthews and J.R. McAliley, were called into the ministry. The 1905 building was bought by Acworth Church of Christ and later sold for businesses.
PARSONAGE:
It was necessary, because of the expansion of the Post Office, to relocate the parsonage shortly after the church building was completed. The U.S. government paid the church $10,000 for the parsonage lot, and the North Georgia Conference gave the church $14,000 so that another parsonage could be built. The parsonage that stood at Morningside and Carnes was sold to Mars Hill Presbyterian for $1, and they moved it. A new Acworth parsonage was built where the lower parking lot now exists, and was completed and occupied in 1964. That parsonage was sold in 1994 and moved off the property because additional parking for the planned sanctuary was a necessity. The current parsonage was purchased in August 1994 and is located in the Blue Springs subdivision off Highway 41.
1968-FOURTH SANCTUARY:
In 1968 the debt was reduced enough to begin building a sanctuary. The sanctuary was completed and consecrated for God's worship in October on December 15, 1968, and served as the Acworth UMC place of worship through early 1996. The total debt for this sanctuary was $167,000 and the note was burned in the early 1980s. Soon after that, the Family Life Center was built; later the Shepherd House was acquired and used for additional classrooms. After the present sanctuary came into use, the “old” sanctuary was renamed and continues to be a place of worship for the 8:30 Sunday morning service and for other special services. “The McClure family has given countless hours of dedicated service to Christ's church at Acworth United Methodist Church since 1923. They have taught us the Holy Scripture by word and example. Their many acts of kindness and leadership are an inspiration to all. With deepest gratitude, we the congregation of Acworth United Methodist Church do hereby name this sanctuary, that has been dedicated to the glory of God, in honor and memory of the McClure family on this day, the 21st of September 1997. Praise be to God. Amen.”
1996-FIFTH SANCTUARY:
The dream for the present sanctuary began
in the 1980s while Dr. James H. Lowry was pastor. On September 18, 1994, groundbreaking for a new sanctuary marked the faith of the congregation that God was calling this church to serve a four-county region. Dr. Terry E. Walton, pastor, and Dr. Herchel Sheets, district superintendent, were present to consecrate the ground as the journey continued for this congregation. Rev. Max C. Caylor came to serve the church as pastor in June 1995, just as the new sanctuary emerged from the ground. Construction delays occurred due to rainy weather and a steel shortage as Atlanta prepared for the1996 Olympics. On December 10, 1995 members toured the new building and held a moving first worship service at 6 pm in the unheated and unfinished sanctuary to praise the Lord and to ask God blessings on this house of worship. Hearts were warmed as 250 persons stood in God's presence on holy ground. A Service of Consecration was held on Sunday, March 17, 1996, at 11 a.m. as the people of Acworth United Methodist Church joyfully moved into their fifth sanctuary. The lower level of the building was completed that summer, in time for the promotion of classes in the new Sunday School year and for the fall session of preschool.
Praise to the Lord from whom all blessings flow! |
