SHADY DALE, JASPER COUNTY, GEORGIA
The following excerpt is from a program dated November 29, 1953, for the Homecoming and
Dedication of the Lillian Davidson Bromley Memorial Bells at the Calvary Methodist Church
(Transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net), based upon information
provided by Benny Hawthorne)
History of Calvary Methodist Church
Calvary Church was organized in the early 1800's. The first church building in which the congregation worshiped was about two miles north of the present site, near Wynn's Crossing. There is still an old cemetery there, with the graves of the Geigers, Spearmans and other of the church founders. The land where the present church stands was given by the late Matthew Whitfield, a noted planter of this area.
The present building was erected shortly before the War Between the States, about 1857. It stands as it was originally built with the same hand carving over the windows and the heavy hand made pews. A vestibule was added and some improvements made on the interior about the turn of the century.
The church takes pride in the fact that the great Sam Jones occupied the pulpit at times while he was pastor of the neighboring Monticello Charge in the late seventies.
The Carillonic Bells in this Church Are Dedicated to the Glory of God
and in Memory of
LILLIAN DAVIDSON BROMLEY
by her son,
Francis F. Davidson
A. D. 1953
Mrs. Lillian Davidson Bromley whose memory is honored by the gift of the bells was a life-long member of Calvary Church. Hers was a busy life, but always a joyous one, filled with sunshine and laughter, beauty and blessing. Her love of life is most fittingly memorialized in the music of the bells. The church has a deep sense of appreciation of the gift and of the life that prompted the gift.
Other Gifts and Memorials in the Church
Front two memorial windows given by Mr. W. J. Tucker, 1942
Furnishing within the chancel given by Mrs. Anne Elizabeth Tucker Cotton, 1951
Two side windows given by Mrs. W. J. Tucker, 1953
Hand rail on the front steps given by Mr. E. F. Perry, 1953
The Pulpit Bible given by the Woman's Society of Christian Service, 1950
The Alter picture given by the W.S.C.S. 1953
The following is an excerpt from an article in a newspaper entitled "The Multi County Newspaper", apparently published
in Covington, Georgia
"Historic Calvary Plans Homecoming"
by Alice Queen (News editor)
On April 30, 1859, Jasper County resident Matthew Whitfield, for the sum of $20, conveyed a two acres tract of land on the Monticello-Madison road to a group of Shady Dale settlers for the purpose of building a church and cemetery.
The church built there was called Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church South and still stands, known today as Calvary United Methodist, one of five churches on the Shady Dale Circuit.
Calvary Methodist was first established 155 years ago in 1857 in an area on the Madison Road about two miles north of Shady Dale. At that time, the church was called Mt. Zion. In the early 1850's the congregation moved the church across the road from the original site, and, a few years afterward, turned the building over to members of the black community for use as a church. Members of Mt. Zion's congregation relocated their church under a new name at its present site.
This Sunday, Calvary's congregation will celebrate more than a century and a half of the church's existence with a homecoming, singing, and dinner on the grounds. Pastor Ricky Bishop will bring the message at 10:30 a.m. Dinner will be held at noon at the Community House in Shady Dale, and the singing will follow that afternoon at 2 p.m. at the church. Everyone is encouraged to bring a covered dish for the dinner.
In addition to the activities on Sunday, revival services continue through Friday at 7:30 each night.
The Calvary Methodist Church building survived the Civil War, and other than some cosmetic changes, remains virtually unchanged from its original design. The original handmade pews, hand carving over the windows and pegged foundation timbers are all intact. Some time around the turn of the century a vestibule was added to the front of the church and some interior improvements were made. Other additions of note include two stained glass memorial windows given to the church in 1941 by Mr. W. J. Tucker, two side stained glass windows given in 1953 by Mrs. W. J. Tucker and the handrail on the front steps, given by Mr. E. F. Perry in 1953. In 1951 the chancel furnishing were given by Mrs. Anne Elizabeth Tucker Cotton. Throughout the years, the Calvary Methodist Church building has always been used as a house of worship.
Other churches in the Shady Dale Circuit are Hillsboro United Methodist in Jasper County, Godfrey United Methodist in Putnam County, Liberty United Methodist in Jasper County, and New Hope United Methodist in Jasper County. Hillsboro is believed to be the oldest in the circuit in Jasper County and was probably established in 1818. Andrew United Methodist Church was closed in 1968 and Talmadge United Methodist was closed in 1975.