Located
on Duluth Highway at corner of Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.
In spite of the heavy traffic on Duluth Highway and
Lawrenceville Suwanee Road, this lovely church on the hill remains a
landmark in this area. I wish the sun had not ducked behind the
clouds, because the day I took these photographs was a perfect sunny,
cool day (especially for August!). I don't think you could
get closer to Heaven than in this cemetery. It is just beautiful, and
maintained better than most. As far as I know, no transcriptions
of this cemetery are available for free access online. If you
have any actual transcriptions of your family members' tombstones,
please consider sharing them here.
Early History of Fairview
Presbyterian Church
Used with permission of Fairview Presybyterian Church (Anthony
Grimsley), August 22, 2005. See
LINK
below to the official web site of Fairview Presbyterian Church.
Fairview
Presbyterian Church of Gwinnett County, Georgia was organized on the
9th day of August in the year 1823. It was organized by the Reverend
Remembrance Chamberlain. Thomas Beattie, Samuel Reid, and William
Montgomery were set apart to the exercise of their office on the 28th of September,1823,
agreeable to our book of discipline. Thomas
Beattie having been a ruling elder in the congregation of Goodhope, South Carolina.
How the name "Fairview"
came to be
Fairview Down one of Ireland's greenest of
green lanes, bordered on either side with neatly clipped hedges of hawthorne, white with blossom, carpeted with
velvet sward, studded with ox-eyed daisies; overhead floated soft,
fleecy clouds in a sea of blue ether; no sound save the droning of bees
among the flowers; the cawing of a colony of rooks in the castle woods;
distant lowing of cattle. A study fair of white,
blue, gray, and green. A calm Sabbath in
May, in the year 1750. The sound of voices, and lo, a long
procession of men, women, and little children, following like sheep an
old, old man whose long silvery locks fell in rippling curls on the
stooping shoulders. He walked very slowly, aided by a shepard's crook.
The lane ended at the foot of a knoll on
whose summit stood and perhaps still stands, a gray stone church
overgrown with ivy, which grows more luxuriantly in Ireland than
elsewhere, because tradition as well as history tells us that Ireland
was once one vast scape of hill and dale;
a wide stretch of country, grim, old castles in ruins, farm houses
nestling in the midst of smiling farms, with here and there a native
hovel to mar the beauty of the scene. In the distance flashed the
silver waters of the Lough in their basin
of emerald and gray stone. The exiled Scots loved this fair spot where
they had found a brief refuge from persecution and had named their
church Fairview.
The Pedens
of America, The Flitting, page 17, 1961,Hiott
Press, Greenville, S.C.
The Original Pioneers
Thos. Beattie, Sam'l
Reid, W.J.Russell, James C. Reed, M.Montgomery, James M. Gresham, Geo. M.Gresham, Phillip Isley,
Cath. Montgomery, Isabel Jackson,
Mary Reid, Margaret Beattie, Mary A.Isley.
These people took a covenant together to start this church.
The History of the Churches 1823-1911
The history naturally falls into two
periods-before and after the war. Before the war the church enjoyed her
greatest prosperity, having on her rolls over 250 names, and being the
leading church for miles around. She enjoyed the ministerial services
of Rev.John S.Wilson
and Rev.James C. Patterson, men of the
highest ability, for a period of thirty one years. These men, while
preaching at Fairview,
also taught in the Lawrenceville
Academy. Something of
the ability of these two faithful preachers may be seen from the fact
that when they were called away from Fairview the Rev. Mr. Wilson went
to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church in Decatur, and the Rev.
Mr. Patterson to the presidency of the Synodical
Female College at Griffin, Ga.
Dr. Wilson was a strong advocate of temperance, and made temperance
speeches in this part of the state. He was a leading minister in the
Presbyterian church, and was a member of
eleven general assemblies. Besides being pastor of the Decatur
church he was principal of the Hannah Moore Institute at that place. He
moved from Decatur to Atlanta,
and was pastor of the First Presbyterian church until the day of his
death. He was regarded as one of the strongest preachers in Georgia.
He preached long sermons, but was listened to with attention. On July 12, 1831, near the
close of his faithful ministry, twenty members were dismissed to in
forming the new church of Goshen,
now the Norcross Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Patterson was also proprietor of the
Laboring School Farm, located between Fairview
and the public road which passed the residence of Mr. Sam. Craig. This
school had quite a reputation among Presbyterians all over the state.
Dr. Patterson had the reputation of a man who controls bad boys, and
was able to accomplish a great work in his school. His work in Griffin
was of the highest order. He did not live long after moving there.
Just prior to the war the church grew
weaker, owing to the removal of many members to other parts, and to the
general unsettled condition. Services were maintained without a break
up to and through the year '61, though in '62 there seems to have been
no regular pastor. All during the rest of the war services were
maintained. At its close things were so demoralized that there are no
records at all for the larger part of 1865 and 1866.
The first record thereafter reads thus:
"The war having thrown everything into a state of derangement, no
regular record was made of the meetings of the session from April 1865,
till June 1866, at which time the session engaged the ministerial
services of Rev. J.Wilson as stated supply
till January, 1867."
This entry is made by the Rev. J.Wilson.
Mr. Wm. H.Mayne was clerk of session
during the war, and there is an unfinished entry made by him in the
book, dated April, 1865. From this time he disappears entirely from the
records.
The history of the church immediately after
the war is largely the history of the reconstruction period. Beginning
with the first pastorate of the beloved Rev.J.L.King
in 1869 things began to brighten a bit and during his eleven years of
devoted and faithful service in one of the most trying periods of our
Southland's history, marked gains were made and much good accomplished.
During the next pastorate, 1881-1885, that of the Rev.J.F.McClelland,
some of the seed sown in the previous pastorate ripened and was
gathered. Following are some of the names added to the roll at this
time: Geo. W.F.Craig, Jno.E.
Craig,Jr.,
Nancy J. Craig, Mrs.R.A.L. Williams, Misses Kate and Lizzie Williams, T.R. Powell
by letter, Donald Williams, Mrs. L.A. Woodward, Mrs. Sally Williams,
Thomas S. Byrd, Wm. T. Craig, and John W.N. Williams, names familiar to
us all.
Bro.McClelland served the church well
and faithfully for nearly five years, winning his way into the hearts
of all, and then "fell asleep in Jesus." Beautiful resolutions were
prepared by C.H. Brand, J.W. Wilson, and T.R. Powell, and were adopted
by the church and spread on page of session book.
The Rev. Mr. McClelland was followed by the
Rev. Sam Scott, who seems to have served the church acceptably for
something over a year. Among the names added to the roll at this time
are; Messers, Sam, Craig, J.C. Williams,
I.A. Corbin, Robt.T.Craig, R.Roland Williams, and Misses Annie Winn and
Mary Hutchins.
From 1886 the church was served by three
ministers till 1891, when the Rev. J.L.King
returned and served again for ten years, his two pastorates, totaling
21 years, the longest in the history of the church. Bro. King's second
pastorate was not nearly so successful at his first, owing largely to
the fact that a goodly portion of the strength of Fairview, consisting
of 26 members, was by act of session, April 12, 1891, dismissed to form
the Lawrenceville Presbytery church. Four elders and three deacons were
among the 26 members dismissed, leaving the old church with but two
elders and one deacon, viz: Elder James R.
Noel, now residing in Texas,
W.D.Byrd, residing in Atlanta,
and Deacon J.B. Davis.
On May
9, 1891, the congregation elected Mr.J.B.Davis
and Mr. Corbin elders, and Mr.Wm.Craig, a
deacon. On May 10, 1891,
Bro. King ordained and installed Mr.Davis
as an elder and Mr.Craig as a deacon. On July 12, 1891, Elder Noel
was dismissed to join some church in Texas,
and at a congregational meeting, Mr.Donald
Williams was elected an elder. The following trustees were also
elected: Messers, John Williams, Donald
Williams, and Wm.Craig.
On May
8, 1892, Mr. A.T. Roberts was elected and he and Mr. Donald
Williams were ordained and installed as elders of Fairview
church. This made the official force of the church to consist of Elders
W.D.Byrd, J.B.Davis,
Donald S. Williams, and A.T. Roberts, and Deacon Wm.Craig.
Practically all the members who withdrew to form the church in
Lawrenceville were residents of the town, and it was the most sane and
logical thing to do, weakening as it was to the old church. Time has
shown the wisdom of the step, and in the present activity and
prosperous condition of both churches can be read the fact that the
wisdom of the all-wise Father has been leading in and through all.
During all the last years of Bro. King's
ministry his parishioners at Fairview
clung to him with a love and devotion only equalled
by the tenderness of his heart in return for them. He literally wore
out at Fairview and died
in harness. He often expressed the wish to be buried at Fairview,
where he has a little son sleeping now, whose grave is carefully tended
by our members. He still lives in the hearts of many at Fairview.
The church was vacant after Bro. King left in 1901, until about August,
1902, when the Rev.W.Lee Harrell became
the pastor. Bro. Harrell's pastorate covered the annual meetings in
August 1902-1903. Rev.W.P. Hemphill,
evangelist, was present during the August meeting of 1902. Among those
who joined at this time was our present treasurer, Mr.Frank
Y.Williams. From this time for
several years the church was without a pastor. In 1905 the Rev. W.P.
Hemphill returned and conducted the August meeting. This was a very
successful meeting and did much to revive the members and hold them
together. Among those joining at this time were G.P.Craig,
Precious Craig, John Baucham, W.D.Huston, Henry Craig, Evelin
Childers, and Lizzie Huston.
In 1906 the Rev.J.H.Dixon served as
pastor, and at the August meeting the following were enrolled as
members: Ruth Williams, Susie Williams, Nellie Williams, and Minnie
Craig.
In August, 1907,Evangelist
Frank D.Hunt, of the Atlanta
presbytery, came to Fairview
and succeeded in arousing a good deal of enthusiasm, firing the members
with faith in God and in themselves and with zeal for the work. The
following were received into the church at this time: Robert M.Kemp and his wife, Margaret S.Kemp, Mrs. Sam Craig, Mrs. Lola F. Brownlee,
Hattie E. Thompson, and Susie Quinn.
The following new officers were elected, ordained, and installed:
Elders- Samuel Craig, Claud G.Craig, J.C.Williams. Deacons-
Frank Y. Williams, W.D.Huston, and R.M.Kemp. At this time a building
committee was appointed to have charge of repairs on the church,
consisting of Samuel Craig, J.C.Williams,
and Claude G.Craig.
Rev.Fritz
Rauschenberg began serving the church as pastor in October, 1907,
preaching for the church once a month, coming
from the Seminary in Columbia, S.C.,
until May, 1908, when he was installed as pastor by a commission from Atlanta
presbytery. He found the congregation ripe for a forward movement,
thanks to the efforts of Bro.Hunt, the
sturdy strength of character of the leading elements in the church, and
withal the presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit of God, who has led
us to this good moment, and made all these blessings possible.
Mr. Rauschenberg resigned in the spring of
1911, and moved to College Park
in June, where he is pastor of the church.
Rev.J.M.Harris,
of North Carolina, was
next called to the pastorate of this church and entered upon his work
in July, 1911.
Officers 1823 - 1911
The following table gives a list of the
ministers, elders, clerks of session, and deacons who have served the
church. The list is as complete and accurate as possible from the data
at hand:
Ministers-
Rev.Remembrance
Chamberlain, 1823 to 1824;
John Simpson Wilson, 1825 to 1838;
James C.Patterson, 1838 to 1855;
Thos.B.Noel, 1855 to 1856;
W.C.Smith, 1857 to 1861;
J.G.Downing, 1863 to 1865;
James Wilson, 1867;
Mr. Wood, 1868;
J.L.King, 1869 to 1880;
J.F.McClelland, 1881 to 1885;
Sam Scott, 1886 to 1887;
W.H.A.Johnson, 1888 to 1889;
John E.Dubose, 1889 to 1890;
R.N.Abraham, 1891;
J.L.King, 1891 to 1901;
W.Lee Harrell, 1902 to 1903;
J.H.Dixon, 1905 to 1906;
Fritz Rauschenberg, 1907 to June 1911.
Elders-
Thomas Beattie, 1823-1826;
Samuel Reid, 1823 to 1850,
William Montgomery, 1823 to 1850;
Thos.W.Alexander, 1825 to 1827;
Geo. M.Gresham, 1825 to 1836;
Richard Saye, 1826;
Moses Liddell,1826 to 1857;
John Mills, 1830 to 1872;
John Conine, 1832 to 1844;
Miza Strickland, 1835 to 1882;
David L. Wardlaw, 1839 to 1850;
Ahel R.Smith,
1839 to 1852;
Azariah Noel, 1847 to 1877;
Hamilton Garmany, 1849 to 1853;
David L.Wardlaw, 1855 to 1867;
O.P. Strickland, 1855 to 1860;
Wm.H.Mayne, 1855 to 1865;
D.M. Byrd, 1869 to 1880;
Wm.Kemp, 1869;
W.D.Byrd, 1874 to 1906;
J.D.Hood, 1874 to 1891;
G.B.Atkinson, 1874 to 1875;
James W.Wilson, 1880 to 1891;
James R.Noel, 1880 to 1891;
T.R.Powell, 1882 to 1891;
A.M.Winn, 1885 to 1891;
J.B.Davis, 1891 to 1902;
Donald Williams, 1891 to 1907;
A.T.Roberts, 1892 to 1907;
Samuel Craig, 1907;
Claude G.Craig, 1907;
J.C.Williams, 1907.
Clerks of
Session-
(1) Geo. Gresham;
(2) Thomas W.Alexander;
(3) John Mills;
(4) Thomas W.Alexander;
(5) Abel R.Smith;
(6)Wm. H.Mayne;
(7) John Mills;
(8) D.M.Byrd;
(9) W.D.Byrd;
(10) T.R.Powell;
(11) W.D.Byrd;
(12) A.T.Roberts
(13) Claude G.Craig.
Deacons-
John N.Alexander,
1811;
James H.Alexander, 1811;
Geo. Anderson, 1811;
Samuel F.Alexander, 1811;
James R.Noel, 1875 to 1880;
J.B.Davis, 1875;
Geo.W.F.Craig, 1882 to 1885;
John W.N.Williams, 1882;
W.H.Harvey, 1890 to 1891;
Wm.Craig, 1891;
Levi C.Brand, 1895;
W.D.Huston, 1907;
Frank Y.Williams, 1907;
R.M.Kemp, 1907.
Membership, August, 1911:
J.P.Byrd, D.H.Byrd, Miss Cora Byrd, M.D.Baugheum,
John Baugheum, Mrs. Lola F.Brownlee, Miss Mary Byrd, Byrd Brownlee, John E.Craig, W.T. Craig, Miss Anna Craig, Miss Clara
Craig, Miss Elton Craig, Samuel Craig, Mrs. Samuel Craig, R.T. Craig,
Mrs. R.T.Craig, Miss Minnie Craig, Claude G.Craig, G.P.Craig,
Miss Maude Craig, Miss Precious Craig, Henry Craig, Miss Mary Craig, I.A.Corbin, Mrs.Evelin
Gowers, Mrs.M.A.Dobbins,
Mrs. Alice Dodds, Miss Bobbie Dodds, Noel Dodds, M.W.Dodds, W.D.Huston,
Miss Lizzie Huston Huff, Mrs.Mary Huston,
Mrs. Margaret Huston, Mrs. W.D.Huston,
Mrs. Robert Kemp, R.M.Kemp, Geo. W.Long, Sam P.Quinn,
Mrs. Sam P. Quinn, Mrs. Mary E.Roberts,
Mrs. Margaret Roberts, Mrs. Lee Thompson, Miss Hattie Thompson; Miss
Thompson, Mrs. D.S.Williams, Miss Mattie
Williams, Miss Mamie Williams, Miss Ruth
Williams, Miss Susie Williams, Miss Nellie Williams, Miss Lena
Williams, Mrs. R.A.Williams, Miss Kate
Williams, Miss Lizzie Williams, F.Y.Williams,
R.R.Williams, R.A.Williams,
J.C.Williams, W.H.Wilson,
Emmett Johnson, Claude Parks, Henry Mitchell, Grady Davis, Miss Ethel
Jones, Mrs. Quillion Bradford, Miss Zadie Jones, Miss Mary Kemp, Miss Annie Kemp,
Miss Cammie Dillard, Mrs. W.H.Britt.
More History
In 1823, James Wardlaw,
first clerk of the Inferior Court of Gwinnett County, sold and deeded
two acres of land to the officials of Fairview Presbyterian Church.
The church was organized August 9, 1823, by Rev.
Remembrance Chamberlain. Thomas Beattie, Samuel Reid, and William
Montgomery were set apart as elders on September 23, 1823, agreeable to the book of
discipline.
The covenant of the church was
signed by these charter members: Mary A.Isley,
Margaret Beattie, Mary Reid,Isabel
Jackson, Catherine Montgomery, Phillip Isley,
George M.Gresham, James M.Gresham, William Montgomery, James C.Reid, W.J.Russell,
Samuel Reid, and Thomas Beattie.
On August 6, 1825, the Presbytery of
Hopewell convened in this church. This was the first Presbytery meeting
west of the Ocmulgee
River.
Dr. John S.Wilson followed the Rev.Mr.Chamberlain
as pastor from 1825 to 1838. He also taught at the Lawrenceville
Academy.
In 1834 twenty members were
dismissed to assist in forming a new church at Goshen,
now the Norcross Presbyterian Church.
Dr.Wilson
was succeeded by Rev. James C.Patterson.
He was also proprietor of the Laboring School Farm between Fairview
and the Sam Craig place.
Before the War between
the states the church had 250 members and was the leading church
for miles around. Services have been held regularly except from April,
1865 to June, 1866.
On April 12, 1891, twenty-six members were dismissed
to form the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church.
In 1907, the Rev.Fritz
Rauschenberg came to the church as pastor. He inspired the people to
remodel the church building. He worked as hard as anyone in doing the
actual work. The basic structure was not changed. A new roof was put on
in 1949. Then in 1950 the Rev.James McNair
came to be our new pastor. During the first years of his pastorate
(about 1952-1953) the annex was built on the back, giving us three
class rooms, rest rooms, and a kitchen.
For many years the church only
had services once a month, then it increased to two services a month.
In 1954, we began having services each Sunday, the Pastor preaching at Fairview
at 10a.m., then going to
Lawrenceville at 11
Fairview
is the oldest Presbyterian church in the
area now comprising the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
The architect and builder of the
church was James S.Russell, one of its
first members. Remodeled in later years, the original timbers of the
basic structures are still intact.
History of Fairview
Church by Rev.Fritz Rauschenberg
Ninety years after General James
Oglethorpe's Colony of one hundred and twenty settled Savannah,
Fairview Presbyterian Church was founded and eighty-five years this
side of the founding of the church we are here present. Fifteen years
after the founding of Fairview, the last of the Indians were removed
from the state to Indian Territory and sixteen after her organization,
the first settlement was made on the present site of Atlanta; eight
years later the name "Atlanta" was given to the place. Long before
Atlanta saw the light of day, when the Indians were still a menace and
when farming was crude and laborious, the old hills of Gwinnett and
adjoining counties resounded with the hum and bustle of sturdy and
industrious men, bent on securing for themselves and their children
those inalienable rights of civil and religious liberty, so gloriously
contended for in the late War of the Revolution.
In the year 1823, a company of these men
gathered together for the purpose of organizing a church. Perhaps I can
best introduce them and their noble purposes to you by incorporating
herein from the original session book, the record of organization and
covenant assumed.
"The Presbyterian Church of
Fairview, Gwinnett County, Georgia,
was organized on the 9th of
August, 1823 by the Rev.Remembrance
Chamberlain. Thomas Beattie, Samuel Reid, and William Montgomery were
set apart to the exercise of their office on the 28th of September, 1823, agreeable
to our book of discipline. Thomas Beattie having
been a Ruling Elder in the congregation of Goodhope, South Carolina."
Covenant
We, the subscribers, having been regularly
admitted into the communion of the Presbyterian Church and being at the
time free from its censures, and desiring to enjoy the privileges and
discipline of a church as soon as possible, do hereby cheerfully and
solemnly pledge ourselves to each other and to the great Head of the
Church, to endeavor henceforth to walk in all the commandments of the
Lord blameless and to obey such Elders in the Lord as may be duly
appointed over us, and to place ourselves under the Hopewell Presbytery
and to take all regular steps to be supplied with the regular
ministrations of the Gospel of Christ.
Thomas Beattie
M.Montgomery
Isabel Jackson
Samuel Reid
James M.Gresham
Mary Reid
W.J.Russell
George M.Gresham
Margaret Beattie
James C.Reed
Catherine Montgomery
Mary A.Isley
Phillip Isley
Thus did these sturdy pioneers originate a movement which,
under God and his blessing, has continued down to the present time and
still lives teeming with opportunity and possibility. The history
naturally falls into two periods -before and after the Civil War.
Before the war, the church enjoyed her greatest prosperity; in her
palmist days, having on her rolls over 250 names and being the leading
church for miles around. She enjoyed the ministerial services of Rev.John S.Wilson,
and Rev.James C.Patterson,
men of the highest ability, for a period of thirty-one years. These
men, while preaching at Fairview,
taught in the Lawrenceville Academy.
Something of the ability of these two faithful preachers was seen from
the fact that when they were called away from Fairview
Church, Rev.Mr.Wilson was called to the pastorate of the
Presbyterian Church in Decatur
and Rev.Mr.Patterson to the Presidency of
the Synodical
Female College
at Griffin, Georgia.
Dr.Wilson was a strong advocate of
temperance and made temperance speeches in this part of the State. He
was a leading minister in the Presbyterian Church and was a member of
11 General Assemblies. Besides being Pastor of the Decatur
Church, he was
Principal (Rector) of the Hannah Moore Institute of that place. He
moved from Decatur to Atlanta
and was Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church until the day of his
death. He was regarded as one of the strongest preachers in Georgia.
He preached long sermons but was listened to with attention. On July 12, 1834, near the
close of his faithful ministry, 20 members were dismissed to assist in
forming the new Church of Goshen,
now the Norcross Presbyterian Church.
Dr.Patterson was also proprietor
of the Laboring School Farm, located between Fairview
and the public road which passes the residence of Mr. Sam Craig. This
school had a reputation among the Presbyterians all over the state. Dr.Patterson had the reputation of a man who
controls bad boys and was able to accomplish a great work in his
school. His work in Griffin
was of the highest order. He did not live long after he moved here.
Just prior to the War the church grew weaker, owing to the
removal of many members and to the generally unsettled condition.
Services were maintained without a break up to and through the year
1861; in the year 1862 there seems to have been no regular pastor; all
during the rest of the War services were maintained. At the close of
the War things were so utterly demoralized that there were no records
at all for the larger part of 1865; the first record thereafter reads
thus:
"The War having thrown every thing into such a state of
derangement, no regular record was made of the meetings of the session
from April, 1865 until June, 1866, at which time the session engaged
the services of Rev.J.Wilson, as Stated
Supply, until Jan., 1867."
This entry is made by the Rev.J.Wilson.
Mr. William M.Mayne was the Clerk of the
Session during the War and there is an unfinished entry made by him in
the book dated April, 1865. From this time he disappears entirely from
the records.
The history of the church immediately after the War is largely
the history of the Reconstruction Period. Beginning with the pastorate
of the beloved Rev.J.L.King in 1869 things
began to brighten up a bit and during his eleven years of devoted and
faithful service in one of the most trying periods of our Southland's
History, marked gains were made and much good accomplished.
During the next pastorate, 1881-1885, that of Rev.J.F.McClelland, some of the seed sown in the
previous pastorate ripened and was gathered. Following are some of the
names added to the roll at this time:
George W.F.Craig
T.R.Powell by letter
John E.Craig, Jr.
Donald S.Williams
Nancy J.Craig
Mrs. L.A.Woodward
Mrs. R.A.L.Williams
Mrs. Sally Williams
Miss Kate Williams
Miss Lizzie Williams
Mrs.L.A.Woodward
William T.Craig
Mrs.Sallie Williams
John W.N.Williams
Thomas S.Byrd
These names are all familiar to the church.
Brother McClelland served the church well and faithfully for
nearly five years, winning his way into the hearts of all and then
"fell asleep in Jesus." Beautiful resolutions were prepared by C.H.Brand, J.W.Wilson,
and T.R.Powell; these were adopted by the
church and spread on the minutes. The Rev.Mr.McClelland
was followed by Rev.Samuel Scott, who
seems to have served the church acceptably for something over a year.
Among the names added to the roll at this time are:
Mr.Sam Craig
J.C.Williams
L.A.Corbin
Robert T.Craig
R.R.Williams
Miss Annie Winn
Miss Mary Hutchins
From 1886, the church was served by three ministers until
1889, when the Rev.J.L.King returned again
and served for ten years, his two pastorates totaling 21 years,the longest in
the History of the church. Bro.King's
second pastorate was not nearly so successful as his first, owing
largely to the fact that a goodly portion of the strength of Fairview,
consisting of 26 members were by an act of the Session on April 12,
1891, dismissed to form the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church. Four
Elders and three Deacons were among the 26 who were dismissed leaving
only two Elders; James R.Noel now in Texas
and W.D.Byrd of Atlanta
and Deacon J.B.Davis in the old church. On
May 9,1891
the congregation elected an Elder . The following Trustees were also
elected: Messers, John Williams, Donald
Williams, and William Craig. On May
8,1892, Mr. A.T.Roberts
was elected and he and Mr. Donald Williams were ordained and installed
as Elders in Fairview Church.
This made the official force of the church to consist of Elders: W.D.Byrd, J.B.Davis,
Donald S.Williams, and A.T.Roberts and Deacon William Craig.
Practically all the members who withdrew to form the church at
Lawrenceville were residents of the town and it was the most sane and
logical thing to do, weakening as it was to the old church. Time has
shown the wisdom of this step and in the present activity and
prosperity of both churches can be read the fact that the wisdom of the
all-wise Father has been leading in and through all. During the last
years of Brother King's ministry, his parishoners
at Fairview clung to him
with a love and devotion only equaled by the tenderness of his heart
for them. He literally wore out at Fairview
and died in harness. He often expressed the wish to be buried at Fairview
where he had a little son buried; his grave is tenderly cared for by
our members and he still lives in the hearts of many at Fairview.
The church was left vacant after Brother King departed until
August, 1902 when Rev.W.Lee Harrell became
Pastor; his pastorate covered the annual meetings in August 1902-1903. Rev.W.P.Hemphill, evangelist, was present during
the August meeting 1902; among those who joined at this time was our
present Treasurer, Mr.Frank Y.Williams. From this time for several years the
church was without a pastor. In 1905, the Rev.W.P.Hemphill
returned and conducted the August meeting. This was a very successful
meeting and did much to revive the members and hold them together.
Among those joining at this time were G.P.Craig,
Precious Craig, John Beaucham, W.D.Huston, Henry Craig, Evelyn Childers, and
Lizzie Huston.
In 1906, the Rev.J.H.Dixon served
as Pastor; at the August meeting the following were enrolled as
members: Ruth Williams, Susie Williams, Nellie Williams, and Minnie
Craig.
In August 1907, Evangelist, Frank D.Hunt
of Atlanta Presbytery came to Fairview and succeeded in arousing a good
deal of enthusiasm; firing the members with faith in God and in
themselves and with zeal for the work. The Following were received into
the church at this time: Robert M.Kemp,
his wife Margaret S.Kemp, Mrs. Sam Craig,
Mrs. Lola F.Brownlee, Hattie F.Thompson, and Susie Quinn.
The following officers were elected, ordained, and installed:
Elders
Samuel Craig
Claude G.Craig
J.C.Williams
Deacons
Frank Y.Williams
W.D.Huston
R.M.Kemp
At this time a building committee was appointed to have charge
of the repairs of the church, consisting of Samuel Craig, J.C.Williams, and Claude G.Craig.
The present Pastor of the church (Rev.Fritz
Rauschenberg) began serving in October, 1907; preaching for the church
once a month, coming from the Seminary in Columbia,
S.C. until May, 1908, when he
was installed as Pastor by a commission from the Atlanta Presbytery. He
found the congregation ready for a foward
movement; thanks to the efforts of Rev.Frank
D.Hunt, the sturdy strength of
character of the leading element of the church and withal the presence
and blessing of Holy Spirit of God who has lead us to this good moment
and made all these blessings possible. The periods of depression in the
History of the Church are not as discouraging as might appear, for the
Church has kept pace with the State; prospering when she prospered and
suffering when she suffered. For example, Georgia
ranked 13th among the States of the Union in
1790; 12th in 1800; 10th in 1810; and in 1820. Fairview organized in
1823; Fairview growing fast was 10th in 1830; 9th in 1840 and 1850 her palmiest days; 11th in 1860, going down;12th in
1870, just holding her own; 13th in 1880, at a standstill; 12th in
1890; 11th in 1900, again prosperous. In 1908 the
State, prospering as never before. May we not hope that all the
prosperity of the beloved Church to-day is but the forerunner of a
lasting era of power and usefulness. I
desire to give here a list of those who have contributed of their means
to this work and will state that many of them place it on this basis:
To erect a suitable building to the memory of those gone before, many
of whom sleep hard by in our city of the dead; to have a decent and
comfortable to be for present use; and to build for our children, even
as we have inherited from the past and to glorify God in it all. With
such worthy motives is it any wonder that God has so blessed this
effort?
Yea, he will bless us yet more.
