[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1510-E1511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF WASHINGTON AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH'S 180TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2018

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my sincere congratulations to the membership and leadership of 
Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church in Macon, Georgia for 180 years 
of remarkable service. The congregation of Washington Avenue 
Presbyterian Church commemorated this milestone with a celebration on 
Sunday, November 11, 2018.
  Tracing its roots back to the pre-Civil War era, the Church was 
organized around 1838 when Pastor Samuel Cassels was instructed to 
preach and minister to the slaves of the members of the 1st 
Presbyterian Church's congregation. The ``African Chapel,'' a separate 
facility, was built on Fourth Street (now M.L. King Drive) but remained 
associated with the 1st Presbyterian Church. With a request for full 
independence by ``African Chapel'' members that was granted on May 5, 
1866, the present Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church was formed. 
Joseph Williams, David Laney, and Robert Carter were the first 
Ministers ordained to serve the church following its formal 
establishment.
  The Church had humble origins due to racial and social stratification 
in the post-Civil War South. With the end of the Civil War, the

[[Page E1511]]

bells of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church rang to celebrate 
emancipation. Under the pastorate of David Laney, most notably, the 
distinguished Gothic Revival structure of the Church was constructed. 
The Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church is not only the o19est 
African-American congregation in the state of Georgia, but also bears 
the distinct honor of being one of the oldest minority congregations in 
the country. Named for the street on which it is located, the Church 
has become the primary place of worship for many generations of the 
most prominent black families in Macon. It also enjoys the privilege of 
being listed in the National Register of Historic Places in America, 
another indication of its importance in the local, state, and national 
communities.
  The story of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church, which began as a 
small group of slaves worshipping in a small `` African Chapel'' and 
has grown into an expansive and successful church, is truly an 
inspiring one of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful 
congregation of people who put all their love and trust in the Lord.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in paying 
tribute to the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church in Macon, Georgia 
for its congregation's enduring commitment despite adversity, to each 
other and to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for over 180 years. May 
their actions continue to inspire the community in courage, in 
dedication, and in faith.

                          ____________________