Church History

After reviewing information obtained from some members of Mt. Pisgah Lee, some of which are now gone on to be with the Lord, we know that our church was in existence in the late 1800s.  This makes Mt. Pisgah Lee Free Will Baptist Church over 100 years old.

Most of our information was left behind by members such as Deacon B.D. Dalrymple, born August 28, 1888, Mother Meta Dalrymple (May 12, 1897-1995), Mother Lila Williams (September 6, 1888-1973), Mother Idell McLean (deceased) and Mother Gertha Chalmers (deceased).

Professor Kidd, who was a teacher in the community, and the one who started the first Memorial Day service over 75 years ago at Mt. Pisgah Lee Free Will Baptist Church also supplied information.  Some of the information supplied by Professor Kidd was written in a memorial speech, and read by Mother Idell McLean.  In this speech, he was quoted as having said, “Honoring the dead with flowers is an old custom.”  He also quoted General Logan as saying, “Let no ravage of time testify to coming generations, that we have forgotten our dead.”  These were just a few of the known things recorded by Professor Kidd.

It was said that our church began having service under a Brush Arbor, and later in a crude plank structure that had no chimney.  Two more structures were built after this one.  One building was destroyed by wind, and one was torn down to build what is now our present structure.

The land behind the church and also the land on which the church and cemetery now stands, was once owned by Reverend L.T. Rollins.  In later years it changed ownership.

Mt. Pisgah Lee was the first black Baptist church formed in this area and is therefore considered the Mother Church of Star of Hope and Mt. Zion Lee.  As Mother Chalmers informed us, there were people who had the desire to serve the Lord.  They walked from Jonesboro to Mt. Pisgah Lee to have church.  Reverend Lofton was the Pastor at this time and later went on be the Pastor at the newly formed church, Star of Hope Free Will Baptist Church.