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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND METRO DIST CHURCH Route 2, Lithonia, Georgia

DECA'IUR-OXFORD DISTRICT REMN-ROCK CHAPEL CHARGE

In the year 1891, the ~ rend Reynolds was living at Conyers, Ga. On Sunday afternoons he would yiLsit in the home of Mrs. M. F. Brantly, who lived in the small settlement of Arabia. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Conyers. Brother Reynolds would have prayer in her home and conduct a short devotional service. Usually before he came he would notify her of his coming and she in turn would notify her friends and neighbors·. In a short time the crowds became so large that these good ladies decided to build a brush arbor.

Mrs. Ellen New, Mrs. Tali.thia New, Mrs. Frank Sills and some others met to decide on a location for the arbor. They received permission from Mr. James Jenkins to build an arbor anywhere on his property that would be suitable. A site just across the road from where the church now stands was chosen, ana with the help of their children these great pioneering souls ¥cmtri began work on the brush arbor.

In the evenines as the quarry hands 'VIere returning home from Hark they \.lOuld stop and help. These men cut and carried in four large logs across which they nailed saw-mille- slabs. This crude equipment served as seats. A stake was then driven into the ground and across the top of it there WS.R nailed a small plank which served for a pulpit.

The first sermon in the brush arbor was preached by Brother Jim McClelland in the summer of 1891, and the Reverend Mr. Shay continued the services. Interest and attendance increased so rapidly that after a short time Dr. Bonds and }tr. Alec Almand suggested that a tent be purchased. Money was raised among the people ana with it a tent was bought at Dillians Store in Stone Mountain, Ga. The tent was set up about 200 yards from the brush arbor.

Preache~s from Conyers, Lithonia and the neighboring communities and churches came to offer their services. From all the surrounding countryside people came and from the efforts of all who had a part there burst forth a great spiritual revival.

The Lithonia Granite Company would bring its 10comotive in each evening with the flat cars loaded with people. The railroad ended only a short distance from the tent.

The great meeting lasted for about three weeks and on the closing Sunday Dr. Bonds proposed that a church be built. A collection was taken up and the name of Rockland Church was decided upon. Money was given from many different denominations and by people who had never belonged to any church.

After construction of the church was completed, several men borrowed money with which to build the pews. This money was paid back within twelve or eighteen months.

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Rockland Church was officially organized in the SUJ1'1mer of 1292. The building committee, and later the first trustees yore: Dr. Bonds, A. J. Almand, L. G. Brantley and Bud Phitee

The church was put on the Lithonia Charge as a mission church 1n the same year it was organized. On November 29, 1892 , the Reverend F. JJ. Mirshburn was appoirted the first pastor.

Below are listed the tlilelve chart.er members of "Lhe church:

W. M. Williams Mrs. A. E. Rogers J. M. Williams Mr-s. H. A. Hubert Mrs. M. F. Brantly Miss Esther Caldwell L. G. Brantly Mrs. Amanda vlood Mrs. L. G. Brantly Miss Rona l,.Iood W. M. Plunkett Mrs. Fannie Reagin

In 1893 three more members were added to the church by transfer of certificates and one on profession of faith or conversion.

.. , _ Pastors, Elders and Bishops of Rockland Methodist Church / °6

Conference year Pastor Pres iding Elder Bishop 1892-93 F. J. Mashburn W.D.Anderson Fitzgerald1893-94 Charles L. Patillo Louis Haygood1894-95 Charles L. Patillo Louis Haygood 1895-96 J.J. Snead Louis Keener 1896-97 Marion Eaks Louis Wilson 1897-98 J.P. Lowe Louis Galloway 1898-99 Robert P. Martin J. S. Bryan Duncan 1899-1900 A. M. Strozier J.S. Bryan Ilendrix 1900-01 A. M. Strozier J.S. Bryan Hendrix 1901-02 J.S. Sappington J.S. Bryan GalloWfY 1902-03 J.S. Sappington Unknovffi Candler 1903-04 J.A. Quillian Unknovm Key1904-0$ W. P. King W.R. Foote Duncan 1905-06 W. P. King \IJ. R. Foote Duncan 1906-07 W. P. King W.R. Foote Ward 1907-08 W. P. King W.R. Foote Ward 1908-09 J. M. Sewell J.W. Heidt Hoss 1909-10 J. M. Sewell J •\'1. Heidt Hendrix 1910-11 J.A. Pharr J .W. Heidt Wilson 1911-12 W.R. Brannan J.W. Heidt Wilson 1912-13 W.R. Brannan Unknovm McCoy1913-14 W.R. Brannan Unknovm Denny1914-15 C. Guy \Vhite Unknovm Denny1915-16 Lucius Rpper Unknov/ll Denny1916-17 B. Pastel Reid Unknown Candler 1917-18 B. Pastel Reid B. F. Frazier Candler 1918-19 B. Pastel Reid B.F. Brazier Candler 1919-g0 D.A. McBreyer B.F. Frazier Candler 1920-21 D.A. McBreyer B.F. Frazier Candler 1921-22 B.C. Ma tteson H. B. Hays Candler 1922-23 B.C. Matteson H. B. Hays Murrah 1923-24 F. A. Ragsdale W. G. Crawley Darlington1924-25 Feank Pippin W.D. Beacham Darlington1925-26 Frank Pippin Elam F. Dempsey Darlington1926-27 W. A. Langley Elam F. Dempsey Beauchamp1927-28 Tom Marston Elam F. Dempsey Beauchamp1928-29 J. D. Milton Elam F. Dempsey Beauchamp1929-30 J. D. Milton Na th Thomps on Beauchamp

and Y.A. Oliver 1930-31 N.H. Davis Nath Thompson J. M. Moore 1931-32 N.H. Davis Nath Thompson J.M.Moore 1932-33 W. Rhembert Sisson Nath Thompson J. M.Moore 1933-34 L.M. Davison R.Z. Tyler J. M.Moore 1934-35 Neil McKinnon Wallace Rogers Ainsworth 1935-36 Fred Gwin Wallace Rogers Ainsworth 1936-37 Fred Gwin Wallace Rogers Ainsworth 1937-38 J. L. Peck T.M. Sullivan Ainsworth 1938-39 R. Edward Elliott T. M. Sullivan n~ceilia - '.' 1939-40 M.S. Robinson T. M. Sullivan Decell 940-41 Z.V. Hawks T. M. Sijllivan A.J .MQore

1941-42 Z.V. Hawks H. H. Jones A.J. Moore 1942-4-3 Z.V. Hawks H.H. Jones A.J. Moore 1943-44 W.C. Strickland H.H. Jones A.J. Moore 1944-45 Allen Montgomery H.H. Jones A.J. Moore "945-46 Allen Montgomery C.L. Middlebrooks A.J. Moore 1947-47 M.C. p.hiI11§§e,Jr. C.L. Middlebrooks A.J. Moore

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,. f / Of 1~i-4g Paul F.Wohlgemuth C.L.Middlebrooks A.J. Moore 1948-49 Paul F. Wohlg~muth C.L. Middlebrooks A.J. Moore 1949-50 Paul F. Wohlgemuth C.L. Middlebrooks A.J. Moore 1950-51 Hunter J. Bassett Edward G. Mackay A.J. Moore 1951-52 Hunter J. Bassett Edward G. Mackay A.J. Moore 1953-53 Hunter J. Bassett Edward G. Mackay A.J. Moore 1953- Sam A. Dailey Edward G. Mackay A. J. Moore