Our Rich History

Pleasant Hill has been in existence longer than the dollar bill! In November of 2017 Pleasant Hill celebrated 170 years of service to the Roswell community! Below you will find the rich heritage Pleasant Hill Church embodies! Enjoy!

OUR HISTORY

The history of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church also known as Pleasant Hill Church is one filled with unparalleled richness and beaming pride. It’s humble beginnings can be traced back to the early 1800s when faithful servants, given the earthly title of slaves, gathered “under the trees” to form Pleasant Hill Church. Prior to this time, the founders of Pleasant Hill Church worshipped with white congregants of Lebanon Baptist Church and Roswell Presbyterian Church. These services were observed from church balconies on benches made from logs and scraps of wood. One of these benches still exist today and is currently displayed at Lebanon Church located on Crabapple Road in Roswell, Georgia.

In the 1830s, slaves worshipped separately from their owners and congregated as families in their own quarters. Lebanon Baptist Church records state that in 1847, Burl Hembree, a Negro slave, was ordained to preach, and his brother Alec, was ordained as deacon.” From this information, it is believed that Reverend Burl Hembree was Pleasant Hill Church’s first pastor and his brother Alec was the first deacon. The members of this church body included the Hembree, Grogan and Smith families.

Lebanon Baptist Church records further reveal that in 1855, land was secured for a cemetery and church for the slaves of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. The church edifice was located a few miles from Lebanon on Rock Mill Road and both were given the name Pleasant Hill as it was on a pleasant hill far removed from the main road. Today, this site can be found behind the Roswell Town Center shopping center. Members of both Pleasant Hill and Zion Baptist churches are buried at the Pleasant Hill Historical Cemetery.

It is said that the establishment of the new church led to an increase in members and the people worshipped there for many years. Unfortunately, by this time most of the original members had passed away and the majority of the surviving members had moved to the Roswell area, largely due to numerous job opportunities. As the Roswell area blossomed and the desire for better trades heightened, members of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, located in Lebanon, found transportation to be a problem. Although the exact date is unknown, the members consented to leave the Lebanon location and transfer to Roswell as two Baptist churches: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and Zion Baptist Church. Both churches acknowledge the first church as their own.

Having no place to worship, members of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church adopted Dorris Place, a building owned by a small number of Methodists, for worship services. On January 5, 1922, a lot was purchased from Brother Murrell Nuckles and construction for a new place of worship began later that year on August 5. A great majority of the construction activities were conducted by the Reverend D.H. Marshall, who served as pastor and carpenter. The lumber for the new church came from the original church building and buildings being demolished at Camp Gordon, a nearby army post.

Upon completion, there stood a wooden one room building whose door faced Pleasant Hill Street. The congregation held Sunday school every Sunday and services on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Although the members struggled during the depression years, they never gave up and there was never a time when religious training was not provided for all ages. The church was blessed, and membership continued to grow.

On March 15, 1954, Reverend J.J. Grogan began serving as pastor. Under his leadership, the present church building was constructed on November 29, 1962. On June 30, 1963, the new sanctuary was dedicated by the Reverend B. Joseph Johnson who served as the senior pastor of the Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church. During the dedication, Reverend Johnson delivered the Entrance Day sermon entitled, “God’s Call to Consecration”, which was based on 1 Chronicles 29:1-5.

On September 9, 1973, the property adjoining the church was purchased for a parking lot and later graveled in 1978. In 1997, Pleasant Hill Church underwent a change in leadership by installing Sabin P. Strickland as pastor. Pleasant Hill Church continues to cultivate its mission under the spiritual guidance of Pastor Strickland today. Blessed through the years with growth in membership and emphasis on positively impacting the Roswell Community, the Pleasant Hill Community Center was constructed in 2005.

As we reflect on 171 years of steadfast service, we reaffirm our commitment to the Roswell Community. Locations have changed, members have come and gone, but the sweet and genuine spirit that surrounds this place has always remained. Because of this spirit, we are recognized as a pillar in the Roswell Community and do not take this role lightly. We will continue to positively impact our community by planting seeds of greatness and nurturing their growth.

As we celebrate the rich legacy of our past, we look forward to the greater richness that our future holds.