[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17213-17214]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF WASHINGTON AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH'S 175TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2013

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of Washington 
Avenue Presbyterian Church in Macon, Georgia, as the membership and 
leadership of the church celebrates a remarkable 175 years. The 
congregation of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church will commemorate 
this milestone with a Celebration on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 3:00 
pm at Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church in Macon.
  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 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 oldest 
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, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute 
to the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church in Macon, GA for their 
long history of coming together through the good and difficult times to 
praise and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[[Page 17214]]



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