OUR HISTORY
It Starts In 1859….
Camp Hope African Methodist Episcopal church was founded in the early 1859. The Church, formally organized during the Civil War in America, served as the central venue for blacks residing in the area to pursue the ideals of religious freedom and civic dignity. According to information transmitted both in the oral and written tradition, the church is situated on land known historically as the battle grounds on which the Creek War was fought (1812-1814). Hence, the general areas name, “Camp Hope”, is maintained this difficult epoch.
Following The Civil War…
many blacks settled the Camp Hope area, including Mr. and Mrs. Perry East, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gilmore, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tharpe, “Father” Jordan Dukes. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Brodus, Mr. and Mrs. Saul Dorsey, and Mr. and Mrs. Tobie Stewart, Sr. The women in this settled community (Julia Deann East, Georgia Tharpe, Charlotte Lather, Betsy Thompson and others) began a “prayer band”, wherein they met in the home of various members for spiritual fellowship. However, they soon recognized the need for a centralized place of worship. Thus, the men of the settlement, assisted by the women, built a “Bush Harbor”. It is purported that they tied trees together to form the walls of the sanctuary. Later, however, they fashioned trees into crudely made benches. During this time, Brother Perry East and Brother Tobie Stewart, Sr. served as local preachers of the newly formed congregation.
In 1863,
a larger meeting place was needed. And so on the site historically known as “Squatters Ground”, a wooden-frame church was erected to provide space for the growing congregation. It was during this time that education became a key component in the Church’s mission, and a school was founded in 1869. Many persons, both black and white, worked conscientiously on behalf of the school. The Rev. Sissum, a Methodist Episcopal preacher who was instrumental in acquiring land for building the church, lead in the formation of the school.
In 1870, Mr. Henry Champion,
a white landowner, gave two acres of land to the church under the trusteeship of Perry Ease, Willis Price and Jordan Dukes. Mr. Champion stipulated that one acre was to be used for the construction of a church and school, and the remaining acre was to be used for a cemetery. Further, Mr. Champion requested that he be buried in the cemetery and that the community be responsible for the upkeep of his grave.
The contract was agreed upon and the church/school was built.
There was mass support of this effort in the community. In 1874, the magnificent edifice was completed and dedicated. During this time, Henry McNeal Turner, the formidable A.M.E. preacher, enjoyed fellowship with Camp Hope AME Church. He walked the dusty roads from Clinton, Georgia to Camp Hope to render services to the church. Many devoted Christians were added to ranks of Camp Hope A.M.E Church’s membership. Subsequently, to Turner’s stint, Rev. I. M. Fitzpatrick became the first ordained pastor to serve at Camp Hope A.M.E. Church. This began a long line of illustrious pastors, including but not limited to Rev. Albert Smith, Rev. J. D. Guest, Rev. Joseph Curry, Rev. Horace Banks; Rev. Charles Osborne, Rev. Rosa Watson, Rev. Samuel Easley, Rev. I. N. Fitzpatrick; Rev. A. B. Bell; Rev. C E. Wells, Sr.; Rev. R. L. Brown; Rev. Cornelius Scott; Rev. James Collier; Rev. L. C. Dixon; Rev. Philemon Nelson; Rev. Kenneth Moye; Rev. Charles Dumas, Jr.; Rev. Emory Lightfoot, Jr.; Rev. Timothy Sands; Rev. Stevie Ward and now presiding is Pastor:
Reverend Doctor Michael L. Martin
