Midway in Liberty County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Midway Congregational Church 1872 - Present
Dorchester Academy
— Museum Of African American History —
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2008
1. Dorchester Academy Marker, Midway Congregational Church 1872- Present
Inscription.
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 and 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.
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
Click or scan to see this page online
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
Photographed By Dorchester Academy Marker, 2008
2. Dorchester Academy Marker
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.
Location. 31° 48.097′ N, 81° 27.879′ W. Marker is in Midway, Georgia, in Liberty County. Marker can be reached from East Oglethorpe Highway (U.S. 84) near Lewis Frasier Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8787 East Oglethorpe Highway, Midway GA 31320, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Midway Congregational Church 1872 - Present Marker
Present state of the marker. Text is completely illegible.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,173 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on April 15, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Christopher Busta-Peck was the editor who published this page.