HISTORY OF ST. ANDREW'S

     St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, located in Fort Valley, Georgia, one of the smallest in the Diocese of Atlanta, has for many years been both an inspiration and a great problem to its small, but loyal, band of members. 

     During the regime of Bishop Nelson (1892), an English cabinetmaker by the name of George H. Harrison, came with his family in Fort Valley, Georgia.  There were very few Episcopalians, but no church.  Mr. Harrison, being a loyal churchman with a great love for England, felt that he could not bring up his family outside the Church. 

     Accordingly, it was largely through his efforts that Bishop Nelson bought a lot on Central Avenue in Fort Valley, the present site of the church, and with Mr. Harrison in charge built the little chancel which for many years kept the small band of devote churchmen together.  The chancel was largely the work of Mr. Harrison's own hands and, though of simple construction, the old Englishman insisted upon the correct type of architecture and built it in the Gothic style, with the altar facing East as he believed it should be, for "did not all those in the old country have their altars facing East?" 

     In 1897, the church building was completed.  It was named St. Andrew's after the parish church in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England, where Mr. Harrison and his family had worshiped. 

     An interesting story is told about the first priest who served St. Andrew's.  This was The Reverend Edward Denniston who lived on a farm west of Phenix City, Alabama.  Indeed, he is said to have made his living by farming.  Having no conveyance, he walked from his home to St. Andrew's and back again, serving Zion Church in Talbotton while en route.  Since it was a long way and consumed so much time, it is not strange that these two churches received his ministrations but once a month. 

     St. Andrew's has never had a large membership.  Its members numbered as few as ten and rarely over twenty-five in its earlier history. 

     In 1893, it was decided that if the church should open every Sunday instead of only once a month, or maybe once in three months, it might make more progress.  Bishop Nelson approving, Mr. Charles T. Eberhardt was appointed lay-reader, and Mr. Eberhardt and Mr. Harrison alternated in reading the services.  It was largely through the faithfulness of these two men that St. Andrew's survives today. 

     Through the efforts of the Women's Auxiliary, pews, a new carpet, a lecturn, etc. were added bit by bit.  Finally, a new church was built in 1920.  The old altar made by hands that loved their work now stands as a simple memorial beneath the beautiful window placed above it by Mrs. Alice Shepard Crandall, in lasting memory of George and Emily Harrison. 

     St. Andrew's at this time had the ministrations of a priest one Sunday a month when there was a celebration of the Holy Communion and an evening service was also enjoyed.  On the other three Sundays, Morning Prayer was read by lay-readers.  Mr. Eberhardt was also Superintendent of the Sunday School which met every Sunday morning. 

     (Information from Miss Parmalee Cheves, of Fort Valley, Georgia)

     Many missionaries have served St. Andrew's, but up to 1942, only three resident priests served here.  The first was the Reverend E. J. Saywell, who came in 1924.  With his coming, the church took on new life and many improvements were made.  In 1926, he was succeeded by the Reverend Lawton Riley who remained only a few months.  From the time of his departure until 1942, St. Andrew's remained without a regular priest.  Served periodically by the priests of the various Macon, Georgia churches, it has been kept alive by the efforts of two men, Mr. Frank Harrison, son of the founder, and Mr. Billy Wood, who served as lay readers and whose loyalty and devotion should be especially commended. 

     In the spring of 1942, St. Andrew's took another step forward when it decided once more to have a resident priest.  The budget was increased with this in view, and shortly an adjoining lot was purchased and paid for, twelve stained glass windows in the church were installed, and the $1,500, remainder of a debt of twenty-three years standing, was wiped out completely.  With the erasure of this debt, the church was able to be consecrated on its fiftieth anniversary. 

     It was during the war years that nearby Warner Robins Air Base came into being, bringing many people from all denominations to this rapidly growing community.  Some worshipped at St. Andrew's, but soon it became apparent that a mission should be founded at Warner Robins.  St. Andrew's priest, the Reverend J.F.G. Hopper, organized this mission in 1943 and preached there each week, as did priests who followed him.  In 1956 the church there became so large another priest was assigned to the Warner Robins Church and it severed its connection with St. Andrew's in Fort Valley. 

     In the meantime, St. Andrew's had been growing.  In 1950 a fine brick rectory was erected on the lot adjoining the church and in 1954 the church plant was further enlarged by the building of a handsome brick Parish Hall, consisting of three classrooms, an assembly room and a kitchen.  This building stands directly back of the church with a delightful little garden separating it from the church edifice itself. 

     In December of 1956, a petition was signed and presented to the Reverend R. R. Claiborne, Bishop of Atlanta, asking that St. Andrew's become a full parish church.  So, the years between 1893 and 1956 have brought St. Andrew's to the placed dreamed of by its founders and at last attained by its present parishioners. 

          Written by Mrs. Low Smith, 1957

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