| CHURCH HISTORY |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Original Church Building |
| About 1955 |
| The church today established in 1998... |
| ***If you have additional history about Tallapoosa East Baptist Church in Buchanan please email tebcnews@yahoo.com |
Click on picture to enlarge.
Many churches have sprung up around Buchanan and Haralson County over the past one
hundred and eighty years. Some have since wasted away while others still thrive. Before
1940, many social events centered around the organized church. Before the electrical age,
the role of the church was extremely important to citizens of rural Haralson County. It served
spiritual and social functions. The services held once a month in the late 1800s and early
1900s were a joyous event to all who attended. Attendees would prepare to stay at church
Saturday and, many times, Sunday. Southern Gospel Meetings consisted of spiritual
singing, hand clapping, heart-warming music, and soul stirring preaching . Summer
revivals were held yearly and usually lasted one week with services being held in the
morning and evening. Residents of each community would often attend the services of
other local churches in their community in order to gain as much church time as possible for
their spiritual needs. With the average family going to town only once a month, times were
hard and going to church was a great task. Many times the roads were muddy and making
it to service was a task in itself. Even with all the hardships, families of Haralson County
managed to make it to services on Sunday. Three of the oldest Baptist churches in
Buchanan, Bremen, and Tallapoosa are Tallapoosa East Baptist Church, Bremen First
Baptist Church, and Bethany Baptist Church, respectively.
Very few of the senior members witnessed the transformation of Tallapoosa East Baptist
Church in Buchanan over the past sixty or seventy years from a one room building to a
brand new, half million dollar facility. The original one room structure was built in 1850, the
year the church was founded. There were seven charter members and the first pastor was
Rev. Billie Johnson. During the 158 years of its history there have been 21 pastors, with
one, Rev. S.T. Sims, serving for 40 years.
A long-time member and deacon, Durell McDowell said,"The old building contained hand
built pews and a pot-bellied stove that gave comfort to the country folks who gathered
together on Saturday to enjoy an afternoon of preaching and singing" One of the earliest
pastors at Tallapoosa East Baptist Church would travel from Rockmart in a horse drawn
buggy once a month. The people could not afford to pay him a salary, so a cotton field was
planted just north of the church property. Members would work the field and the harvest
money was given to him as a salary.
A day of worship would begin very early in the morning. Livestock would have to be fed.
Cows had to be milked. Stoves were fired up and breakfast was cooked from scratch.
Water was drawn from a well and heated on the pot-bellied stove. Mules had to be fed,
watered, and harnessed. After all these chores were complete, the family loaded into a
wagon for a long, slow, rough ride to church. Once at church, someone would have to start
a fire in the pot-bellied stove if heat was needed, or open a window if "air conditioning" was
needed. Everyone shared the same dipper if communion was offered and the juice was
shared from two glasses. The unleavened bread of communion was baked by a lady in the
church. In services, men sat on one side and women sat on the other. Children were
expected to behave or "dad would cut a switch from a nearby bush and a 'discussion' would
take place behind the church”.
World War II brought many changes to the rural South of Haralson County. The one room
church building needed replacing so members not involved in the war began a salvage and
rebuilding project. Wood that was reusable was saved as the building was dismantled.
Because of World War II, nails were in short supply. Young boys pulled and straightened all
the nails they could salvage. The wood and saved nails were combined with new materials
to construct a new sanctuary, which still stands today. The sanctuary, built in the days of
World War II, was expanded over the years and now serves as the education building and
fellowship hall .
Before the 1950s when electricity was added to the church, light was provided by pump up
gas lanterns. Propane space heaters warmed the sanctuary, while "air conditioning was
provided by Hightower Funeral Home fans with a pretty picture on one side and whatever
breeze came through the windows". In 1957 the church was remodeled with all modern
conveniences installed, two more Sunday School rooms being added and the basement
being completed. A central heating system was installed, the pews refinished and a well
drilled for adequate water supply.
As the congregation grew during the 1980s and 1990s, a building fund was started for a
new sanctuary. In 1994, Thomas Ward was selected as the new pastor, and he presented
plans for a new sanctuary. Under his leadership and direction, work on the new sanctuary
began in 1997. The sanctuary was completed in 1998 with 95 percent of the structure
being built by volunteers.
The current deacon board lead by chairman, Bernard Whitton, consists of Coyal Agan,
Bobby Boalch, Ralph Carter, Chip Couch, Lenn Dennis, Raymond Eaves, Harold Philpot,
Ronnie Williams, and Roy Williams. June 1 of 2008, the church welcomed Dr. Ronnie
Holmes as its pastor. As the county continues to grow so does the church. We look forward
to many years of Dr. Holmes as our leader and spiritual adviser. Tallapoosa East has gone
through many trying times, but it has remained a vital part of our county’s heritage for over
150 years.
-originally written by Abby Whitton Tanton
Charter Members of Tallapoosa East Baptist Church 1850
Rev. Billie Johnson - first pastor
Mr. Allen Philpot
Mrs. Elizabeth Philpot
Mr. and Nathan Gann
Mrs. Ann Philpot Dean
Mrs. Viola Westbrooks
Mr. Wilkerson
Pastors of Tallapoosa East Baptist Church
~some of the earlier dates are estimates, church records are lost~
Rev. Billie Johnson 1850-1855
Rev. S.T Sims 1855-1895
Rev. Bud Brown 1895-1900
Rev. H.P. Till Brown 1900-1913
Rev. N.T. Marks (June-October) 1914
Rev. H.P. Brown 1914-1916
Rev. C.W. Mosley 1916-1923
Rev. G.W. Sanders 1923-1924
Rev. Marks 1924-1926
Rev. J.A. Dean 1926-1930
Rev. C.D. Adams (assistant to Rev. Dean)
Rev. Emory Head 1930-1951
Rev. W.L. Ballium 1951-1955
Rev. Dewey Robinson 1955-1958
Rev. James Teems 1958-1964
Rev. Roscoe Hayes 1964-1968
Rev. W. A Ivie 1968-1978
Rev. Jimmy Burdette 1978-1980
Rev. Allen Wilburn 1980-1989
Rev. Sidney Garner 1989-1993
Rev. Thomas Ward 1994-2007
Rev. Ronnie Holmes 2008-
Church Clerks
Thomas Philpot 1879
W.R. Dean 1894
W.A. Philpot - June 1914-July 1923
H.L. Brown - 1923-1926
T.C. Rowell - 1926-Sept 1956
Durell McDowell - 1956-1959
Otis Payton - 1959 -1984
Bobby Boalch 1984 -
hundred and eighty years. Some have since wasted away while others still thrive. Before
1940, many social events centered around the organized church. Before the electrical age,
the role of the church was extremely important to citizens of rural Haralson County. It served
spiritual and social functions. The services held once a month in the late 1800s and early
1900s were a joyous event to all who attended. Attendees would prepare to stay at church
Saturday and, many times, Sunday. Southern Gospel Meetings consisted of spiritual
singing, hand clapping, heart-warming music, and soul stirring preaching . Summer
revivals were held yearly and usually lasted one week with services being held in the
morning and evening. Residents of each community would often attend the services of
other local churches in their community in order to gain as much church time as possible for
their spiritual needs. With the average family going to town only once a month, times were
hard and going to church was a great task. Many times the roads were muddy and making
it to service was a task in itself. Even with all the hardships, families of Haralson County
managed to make it to services on Sunday. Three of the oldest Baptist churches in
Buchanan, Bremen, and Tallapoosa are Tallapoosa East Baptist Church, Bremen First
Baptist Church, and Bethany Baptist Church, respectively.
Very few of the senior members witnessed the transformation of Tallapoosa East Baptist
Church in Buchanan over the past sixty or seventy years from a one room building to a
brand new, half million dollar facility. The original one room structure was built in 1850, the
year the church was founded. There were seven charter members and the first pastor was
Rev. Billie Johnson. During the 158 years of its history there have been 21 pastors, with
one, Rev. S.T. Sims, serving for 40 years.
A long-time member and deacon, Durell McDowell said,"The old building contained hand
built pews and a pot-bellied stove that gave comfort to the country folks who gathered
together on Saturday to enjoy an afternoon of preaching and singing" One of the earliest
pastors at Tallapoosa East Baptist Church would travel from Rockmart in a horse drawn
buggy once a month. The people could not afford to pay him a salary, so a cotton field was
planted just north of the church property. Members would work the field and the harvest
money was given to him as a salary.
A day of worship would begin very early in the morning. Livestock would have to be fed.
Cows had to be milked. Stoves were fired up and breakfast was cooked from scratch.
Water was drawn from a well and heated on the pot-bellied stove. Mules had to be fed,
watered, and harnessed. After all these chores were complete, the family loaded into a
wagon for a long, slow, rough ride to church. Once at church, someone would have to start
a fire in the pot-bellied stove if heat was needed, or open a window if "air conditioning" was
needed. Everyone shared the same dipper if communion was offered and the juice was
shared from two glasses. The unleavened bread of communion was baked by a lady in the
church. In services, men sat on one side and women sat on the other. Children were
expected to behave or "dad would cut a switch from a nearby bush and a 'discussion' would
take place behind the church”.
World War II brought many changes to the rural South of Haralson County. The one room
church building needed replacing so members not involved in the war began a salvage and
rebuilding project. Wood that was reusable was saved as the building was dismantled.
Because of World War II, nails were in short supply. Young boys pulled and straightened all
the nails they could salvage. The wood and saved nails were combined with new materials
to construct a new sanctuary, which still stands today. The sanctuary, built in the days of
World War II, was expanded over the years and now serves as the education building and
fellowship hall .
Before the 1950s when electricity was added to the church, light was provided by pump up
gas lanterns. Propane space heaters warmed the sanctuary, while "air conditioning was
provided by Hightower Funeral Home fans with a pretty picture on one side and whatever
breeze came through the windows". In 1957 the church was remodeled with all modern
conveniences installed, two more Sunday School rooms being added and the basement
being completed. A central heating system was installed, the pews refinished and a well
drilled for adequate water supply.
As the congregation grew during the 1980s and 1990s, a building fund was started for a
new sanctuary. In 1994, Thomas Ward was selected as the new pastor, and he presented
plans for a new sanctuary. Under his leadership and direction, work on the new sanctuary
began in 1997. The sanctuary was completed in 1998 with 95 percent of the structure
being built by volunteers.
The current deacon board lead by chairman, Bernard Whitton, consists of Coyal Agan,
Bobby Boalch, Ralph Carter, Chip Couch, Lenn Dennis, Raymond Eaves, Harold Philpot,
Ronnie Williams, and Roy Williams. June 1 of 2008, the church welcomed Dr. Ronnie
Holmes as its pastor. As the county continues to grow so does the church. We look forward
to many years of Dr. Holmes as our leader and spiritual adviser. Tallapoosa East has gone
through many trying times, but it has remained a vital part of our county’s heritage for over
150 years.
-originally written by Abby Whitton Tanton
Charter Members of Tallapoosa East Baptist Church 1850
Rev. Billie Johnson - first pastor
Mr. Allen Philpot
Mrs. Elizabeth Philpot
Mr. and Nathan Gann
Mrs. Ann Philpot Dean
Mrs. Viola Westbrooks
Mr. Wilkerson
Pastors of Tallapoosa East Baptist Church
~some of the earlier dates are estimates, church records are lost~
Rev. Billie Johnson 1850-1855
Rev. S.T Sims 1855-1895
Rev. Bud Brown 1895-1900
Rev. H.P. Till Brown 1900-1913
Rev. N.T. Marks (June-October) 1914
Rev. H.P. Brown 1914-1916
Rev. C.W. Mosley 1916-1923
Rev. G.W. Sanders 1923-1924
Rev. Marks 1924-1926
Rev. J.A. Dean 1926-1930
Rev. C.D. Adams (assistant to Rev. Dean)
Rev. Emory Head 1930-1951
Rev. W.L. Ballium 1951-1955
Rev. Dewey Robinson 1955-1958
Rev. James Teems 1958-1964
Rev. Roscoe Hayes 1964-1968
Rev. W. A Ivie 1968-1978
Rev. Jimmy Burdette 1978-1980
Rev. Allen Wilburn 1980-1989
Rev. Sidney Garner 1989-1993
Rev. Thomas Ward 1994-2007
Rev. Ronnie Holmes 2008-
Church Clerks
Thomas Philpot 1879
W.R. Dean 1894
W.A. Philpot - June 1914-July 1923
H.L. Brown - 1923-1926
T.C. Rowell - 1926-Sept 1956
Durell McDowell - 1956-1959
Otis Payton - 1959 -1984
Bobby Boalch 1984 -
