Mt. Vernon Baptist Church

Photo courtesy of J. W. Henson

Mt. Vernon Baptist Church

Located in Northeastern Catoosa County, Georgia

Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was organized in 1895 with 18 charter members. The church was originally known as “The Baptist Church of Christ at Mt. Vernon". Prior to 1895 a non-denominational group was worshiping in the Liberty Hill School House, and from there the church was organized. In December 1936 the church burned and a new building was begun within three months. Standing trees were donated by the members for the purpose of building. In 1949 the building was raised and a basement added for Sunday School classes. 1956 saw the completion of a six room pastorium next to the church, and around 1960 the sanctuary was remodeled. The first section of the education building was completed in 1970 under the direction of Pastor E. Don Laird. During the pastorate of Tom Crews the second sanctuary was built, the second part of the educational building was erected, and the parking lot paved.

Pastors of the church with the year they came to the pulpit: From 1895 to 1902 Isaac Watkins, and John London; G.J. Lewis 1902; W.E. Dawn 1903; W.C. Tallant 1904; W.B. Watkins 1908; J.T. Nichols 1912; W.J. Darnell 1914; J.W. Curtis 1920; H.A. Winstead 1922; Rev. Wilhoit 1929; I.W. Smith 1930; J.D. Bethune 1932; W.H. Stewart 1932; Cecil Clonts 1933; Rev. Huffaker 1936; W.H. Stewart 1938; Jake Barton 1939; A.M. Thomas 1942; M.F. Caldwell 1945; Ben Dawn 1949; Duane Highlander 1951; Claude Thomas 1953; James Brock 1956; J.B. Keith 1959; Clay Boss 1963; C.E. Reese 1964; E. Don Laird 1969; Jack Price 1971; Tom Crews 1972; E. Don Laird 1987 to present (1997).

Submitted by John W. Henson III
henson3@chattanooga.net