Midway Congregational Church 1872 - Present
Dorchester Academy
The Old Midway Congregational Church, two
miles east on U.S. Highway 17, was formed
by whites (Puritans & Congregationalists )
when they settled in Liberty County. They
were driven to church by their black slaves
who were allowed to sit in the church balcony
during worship. Eventually, these slaves
became members and certain slaves, such as
William A. Golden (Golding) became Selectmen.
When slavery ended, white members abandoned
the Old Midway Church Building. The Church's
governing body leased the building to the more
than 500 newly freed slaves. This lasted two or
three years until two influential former
slaveholders said they would rather see the
Old Midway Church burned to the ground
rather than to have the former slaves use it.
Thus, between 1867-1868, William A. Golding
offered land, on which he and the members
fashioned a "Brush Arbor" church by placing
posts in the ground with poles on the sides
and brushes on top. This place became known
as "Golding's Grove ".
William A. Golding, as the pioneering
Congregationalist Pastor and one of two
freedman serving in the Georgia Legislature,
petitioned the American Missionary
Association (A.M.A.) to send a preacher to
pastor the church and a teacher to lead a
school. The A.M.A. responsively helped
establish Midway Congregational Church
and its Mission School at McIntosh.
In 1872, Midway Congregational Church
was formally organized by the Reverend
Floyd Snelson, the first graduate of
Atlanta Theological Seminary.
The first church building was completed
and dedicated in 1874 largely with funds
from the A.M.A. and the local church body.
The school, named Dorchester Academy in
1877, was formally created by the A.M.A. (Congregationalists ) The new church building served as the Worship Center for the Academy and all assemblies, graduations, Vespers and special events occurred in church.
In March, 1877, The Church Bell was erected, purchased with the funds raised by "New England Friends."
The initial church building was torn down in 1956 and Midway Congregational Church held
Worship Services in the Dorchester Academy Center. The present Church Building was constructed in 1962 and dedicated in 1963.
On April 4, 1968, the A.M.A. ceded its authority to the newly formed Dorchester Improvement Association. Inc. The founders were: 1,*James A. Lewis, President; 2. Rev. Charles A. Maxell, Vice- Pres.; 3.* Herbert M. Turner, Chaplain, Ft. Stewart; 4. * Milton P. Crenshaw; 5. Clarence Williams; 6. Jessie A. Stevens; 7. Alfreta L. Adams; 8.* Lillie W. Gillard; 9*. William M. Walthour,Sr.; and 10.* Alberta S. Mullins ( * denotes members of Midway Congregational Church.) Mrs. Gillard was the longest serving member of the D.I.A. Inc. Board.
Midway Congregational United Church of Christ remains the only existing link between this community and the A.M.A.; the first historical integrated abolitionist organization.
Marker can be reached from East Oglethorpe Highway (U.S. 84) near Lewis Frasier Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
