Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church. Est. 1840. , In 1839, the Reverend Levi Bedenbaugh and a number of Lutheran families began migrating to Coweta Co. GA from the Dutch Fork Region of SC. Reverend Edenbaugh led in the establishment of the Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran congregation in 1840 and they worshipped with the Baptists in a structure near the Neriah Church Cemetery on Magnolia Rd. which is now known as Haralson Baptist Church. Early members included the families of Jacob Rawls, Benjamin Glover, William Taylor, Elijah Elmore, Jacob Addy, George Caldwell and Peter and Benjamin Kempson. Lutheran families arriving later were David Gable, Daniel Lightner, Shadrack Vansant, John Zeno Sywgert and Samuel Nixon. In 1846 Jacob Rawls deeded to the church two acres of land and the first church building named Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church was constructed. That property is now Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Cemetery on Gordon Road. In 1891, under the pastorate of Rev. Henry P. Counts. A wooden structure was constructed on GA Hwy 85 at Line Creek Rd. it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground about 1924. The church was rebuilt and dedicated in 1927. Mt. Pilgrim has nurtured several young men to ministry: Jacob S. Elmore, Muller R. Wingard, Austin Gray, Paul M. Counts, Fulton B. Counts and his sons, Paul and Edward. Mt. Pilgrim, he oldest Lutheran congregation in GA north of Macon, has helped plant seeds for several Lutheran congregations: St. Philips in Senoia, GA. St. Johns in Spalding Co. GA, Sunnyside in Henry Co. GA, Lovejoy in Clayton Co. GA, Flat Rock in Douglas Co. GA, St. Michael's in Muscadine, AL, Beth Eden in Carroll Co. GA and most notably in 1903, the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, GA., "We proudly stand on the shoulders of many faithful souls." , Robin Thompson Parker, historian , Memorial donated by the James Pickens Taylor, Jr. family.