History
Bethlehem Baptist Church is located in the Southeast portion of land lot 141 of the Second Land District of Coweta County, Georgia. This church has evolved from several locations, hundreds of people and more than 160 years.
According to oral history passed down through generations, the first Bethlehem Church was started by settlers who came to Coweta County from Wilkes County, Ga., in the latter part of the 17th century. They built a crude one room log house that they met in and organized Bethlehem Church. These events were to have occurred in 1840. The man who reported to have been one of the founders of the church was John Gilmore Fry, an early settler of the Second District of Coweta County, migrating here after spending several years in Alabama.
The first recorded deed is dated September 19th, 1845. The land was located in the Second District of Coweta County and part of lot 100. This land was purchased for $15.00 and contained three acres. According to the Coweta County Chronicles in 1845, Bethlehem Baptist Church was located 5 miles southeast of Newnan, near Giles Pitts' home. The present Pitts' Cemetery contains graves of some of our forefathers.
The Next big event in our history took place on August 16th, 1858, when land was sold by James Cureton to a committee appointed by Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. On this land, which the exact location is unknown, our next church building was located. Information obtained leads us to believe that it was located on New Corinth Road approximately 1/4 mile past Stephens Circle on the right hand side of the road.
The church building was moved to its present location in 1886 according to a handwritten history by Mr. Burl Cates. There is no deed on record for this property untill 1971 when it was surveyed by T.Y. Mattox.
In January of 1836, Reuben Phillips of Coweta County sold to Augustus Stokes of Morgan County, "1429 1/2 acres containing land lot 141 except the meeting house situation and spring and five acres for the use of the public on lot 141 in the Southeast corner of this lot." This is where the present building and property is located. On January 1st, 1887 the present church was dedicated. There were two Bethlehem Schools, the second one being located on the south side of the present church building. The school was recorded to have been disbanded in 1927 or 1928.
Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church was one of the first established Baptist churches in Coweta County. Over the past 160 years we have stood through Wars, the Great Depression, numerous congregational splits and at least three locations. During the year 1884, we helped to support a missionary to the Choctaw Indians in Coweta County. Our church has always been very active in missions and associational work.
