History

Bogart First Baptist Church was built and established on September 09, 1878 and was originally known as Osceola Baptist Church. There were 17 charter members of the church. The church was established in a very difficult time in history-only 13 years after the surrender of the Confederacy at Appamatox Courthouse. Tradition has it that the church was constituted in a Brush Arbor, but it has not been substantiated in the records.

On October 16, 1897, Brother J. E. Wall deeded the land to the Church for a sanctuary and cemetery. Shortly thereafter, in 1898, Brother Daniel W. Locklin offered to pay for one-half of the cost of construction of a Sanctuary. The name of the Church was changed from Osceola to Bogart Baptist Church on March 18, 1899. The dedication sermon was preached by Brother W. M. Coil on September 15, 1901.

In 1938, heavy wires were strung overhead supporting burlap curtains which divided the main church into six Sunday School rooms heated by two coal burning stoves. In 1954 the Church built four additional Sunday School rooms at the back of the church.

On November 5, 1961, the Church voted unanimously to adopt a new Constitution and By-Laws. This was the first revision known to have been made to the original Covenant and Articles of Faith since the inception of the Church.

In November 1959, the Brotherhood sponsored construction of a building for recreation and fellowship on the church property. On July 14, 1968, the church voted to approve the plans for a new Education Building. The new building was dedicated in May 1969.

On June 5, 1960, Brother Homer McLeroy offered to give the church a lot for a pastorium in the new subdivision known as Westwood. Brother McLeroy offered this lot free of all stipulations except he wished construction of the Pastorium to begin not later than August 1, 1960. The Church accepted his offer with gratitude. Brother Robert L. Ables and his wife, Mildred, and their three young children were the first family to occupy it.

On April 9, 1972, the name of the church was changed to Bogart First Baptist Church and in 2003, the church voted to incorporate. Our new name is Bogart First Baptist, Inc.

Our early church was made up primarily of farmers and men in related occupations, but we now have a wide diversity of occupations represented in our congregation. Once Bogart supported a bank, a newspaper, and a cotton gin, all of which have long since disappeared. Our pleasant little village has turned with the changing times into a “bedroom community” with most of the people working in Athens or Atlanta. One hundred years ago it was almost unheard of for women to work outside their homes. Now most are employed in occupations requiring skill and higher education.

We number in our congregation families with ties to charter members and families with long standing memberships like the McElroys, Nunnally, Patats, Crowe’s, and there are probably others whose names are different from their ancestors.

We have a strong bond with one another spiritually and socially and it is our prayer and hope that the next one hundred and twenty five years will find us doing as well as our forbears.