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Tallasseee in Pictures:
Churches

By Michael and Leigh Anne Butler

Some may say there are an abundance of churches in Tallassee, Alabama. ChurchFinder.com lists 41.

On the website ChurchAngel.com, a total of 45 churches are listed for Tallassee, 18 that of are Baptist denomination.

Tallassee's first churches were built in the 1800s.

First Baptist Church, originally named the Baptist Church of Christ in Tallassee, was the first known church established in the city in August of 1852. A one-room church was constructed in 1858 at the Corner of James and Dubois Streets.

Tallassee Methodist Church, now known as First Methodist of Tallassee, was started in 1855. There were 15 charter members that met in a room above the Old White Store in the downtown district. In 1902, the First Methodist Episcopal Church moved to King Street.

In 1897, two men were proposed to be the pastor at First Baptist, A. C. Swindle and J. M. Johnson. Swindle narrowly won the congregation vote.

According to Dr. David Bentley, a former First Baptist pastor himself, "the major opposing view concerned the Lord's Supper. The key issue was wine vs. grape."

The deacons of the church asked Johnson to consider a ministry on the east side of Tallassee, "since there were so many new homes," Bentley wrote. Later that year, East Tallassee Baptist Church was founded. Initially, members met in homes. A new white wooden chruch building was completed in 1904 at the corner of Central and Third.

The Mt. Zion Church began meeting in a building near the railroad tracks on the west banks of the Tallapoosa River in 1884.

All of Tallassee's earliest churches have moved from their original locations, although they are still active today in different settings.

1880 photo of Pastor J. H. Norton of First Baptist with his Singing School
Courtesy of First Baptist Church


1890s era First Baptist picture of the men's bible class, now known as the Baraca class
Courtesy of First Baptist Church


1915 Easter pic of the Baraca class
Courtesy of First Baptist Church


Baraca Class in 1955
Courtesy of First Baptist Church


Baraca Class in 1985
Courtesy of First Baptist Church


First Baptist youth choir in 1985
Courtesy of First Baptist Church


1920 picture of First Baptist, Tallassee
Courtesy of First Baptist Church

First Methodist in Centre, Ala. built in 1920 Courtesy of Tori Johnston


Rainy evening at First Baptist in the early 1990s
Photo by Suzannah Solomon Wilson


The first service at First Baptist Church on Friendship Road was in 2004


The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Tallassee on King Street
Watercolor by George Allen Harris Jr.


First Methodist Episcopal (far left) on King Street in the 1890s
Courtesy of Bennie Little/Bill Goss, "Images of America - Tallassee"


Members of the Tallassee Methodist Episcopal Church on King Street
Courtesy of the Tallassee Historical Preservation Society, Bill Goss "Images of America - Tallassee"


The Women's Society of Christian Service at First Methodist Episcopal in 1925
Courtesy of the Tallassee Historical Preservation Society, Bill Goss "Images of America - Tallassee"


1929 opening day picture at First Methodist of Tallassee on Jordan Avenue
Bilbrey Photograph


First Methodist Chancel Choir in 1976


1980s era First Methodist Cherub Choir
Courtesy of Camille Mason


First Methodist Church today


Easter at First Methodist


First Methodist Parsonage


Pipe Organ at First Methodist


1905 snapshot of East Tallassee Baptist Church
Courtesy of East Tallassee Baptist Church


East Tallassee Baptist in the early 1900s
Courtesy of East Tallassee Baptist Church


Homecoming at East Tallassee Baptist in the 1960s
Courtesy of East Tallassee Baptist Church


East Tallassee Baptist Church baseball team in the early 1900s
Courtesy of the Tallassee Historical Preservation Society, Bill Goss "Images of America - Tallassee


1959 picture of the East Tallassee Baptist Church choir directed by James Bush


East Tallassee Baptist Choir in the 1960s
Courtesy of East Tallassee Baptist Church


East Tallassee Baptist Church in 1982
Photo by Jimmy Ballentine


East Tallassee Baptist Church on Central Boulevard


Mt. Zion Church Choir in 1937
Courtesy of Suzannah Solomon Wilson


Mt. Zion Church on Log Circle


Stained Glass Windows
Bethlehem East Baptist (left), First Baptist (center), First Methodist (right)


St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church on Gilmer Avenue


St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church


Episcopal Church of the Epiphany on Gilmer Avenue


Episcopal Church of the Epiphany

Episcopal Church of the Epiphany


East Tallassee Church of Christ on Central Boulevard


First Assembly of God on Friendship Road

Carrville Baptist on Notasulga Road


First Presbyterian on Central Boulevard


Tallassee Church of Christ on Gilmer Avenue


East Tallassee United Methodist on Central Boulevard


Cross at East Tallassee United Methodist


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