Banks Creek Primitive Baptist Church

     The Banks Creek Primitive Baptist Church is located near Portal, Georgia and is the oldest African American Baptist Church in Bulloch County. She is also recognized as the mother of the New Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Association and Bethel Primitive Baptist Church in Statesboro, Georgia. Two white elders and five African American members organized Banks Creek on May 16, 1879. The white elders were M.F. Stubbs and Matthew Donaldson of the Lower Canoochee Association. The five African American members were: Brother Aaron Munlin, Brother Martin Hodges, Brother Moses Parrish, Sister Lucinda Munlin, and Sister Dinah Hodges. Brother Mose Parrish was from the Oaky Grove Primitive Baptist Church in Emanuel County. The other four members were from the Nevils Creek Primitive Baptist Church. Brother Aaron Munlin, founder of the Banks Creek P.B. Church, was born January 31, 1948. He was born as a slave in Marion County, South Carolina. At a very young age, he became acquainted with pain and suffering. The worst of his troubles began when his slave master separated his parents. Brother Aaron worked in many places while being a slave. While working in Emanuel County in 1865, news came to him that he was a free man. A few years later, he married Lucinda Groover on October 25, 1868. To this marital union, nine children were born.

      Brother Aaron was a man of many visions and dreams. On July 23, 1870, he went to Nevils Creek P.B. Church to inform the members of his hopes and desires. He was received and later baptized. He was licensed by the Nevils Creek P.B. Church to preach and was later called by the Banks Creek P.B. Church to serve as her first pastor. On the fourth Saturday in February of 1880, Elder Munlin was ordained by order of the Banks Creek P.B. Church. He served 27 years, 10 months and 22 days.

 

Clergy and Sons:  The following is a list of succeeding pastors who served at Banks Creek: Elder Washington Hodges-four years, Elder Daniel Cook-seven years, Elder H.E. Smith-sixteen years, Elder A.J. Munlin-twenty five years, Elder James J. Grant-thirty five years, Elder Bobby Lanier(associate pastor)-eight years. Elder Joseph Mosley is presently serving as our pastor. Elder Joseph Mosley has been serving as our pastor for the past 16 years. The following provides information about the sons of the church: Elder Washington Hodges, Elder W.A. Munlin, Elder A.J. Munlin, Elder Tommie Thomas, Elder Rufus Saturday, Elder Bobby Lanier, and Elder Joseph Mosley.

 

Deacons:  Many deacons served at Banks Creek. They were as follows: Deacon Martin Hodges-seven years, Deacon Mose Parrish-thirty three years, Deacon Wesley Hodges-three years, Deacon Lloyd Donaldson-eleven years, Deacon Rollie Lee-fourteen years, Deacon Isador Swint-twenty two years, Deacon Darvin Riggs-two years, Deacon Collis Hall-five years, Deacon John Byrd-eighteen years, Deacon Dan Lee-32 years, Deacon Bobby Mosley-eleven years and Deacon James Stowbridge-8 years. Deacon Shelley Stowbridge, who was baptized on August 17, 1930, was ordained as a Deacon of Banks Creek on April 23, 1938. The following deacons are currently serving: Deacon Ray Mosley, Chair, Deacon James Green, , Deacon Gary Mosley and Deacon Brent Mosley.

 

Clerks:  Clerks of the church who have served were: Brother Martin Hodges, Brother Washington Hodges, Brother James Hall, Brother Zach Hodges, Brother James Bell, Brother Wesley Hodges, Brother Cleve Hall, Brother James Riggs, Brother S.J. Stowbridge, Sis. Essie Powell, Sis. Alice Lee, Sis. Hazel Lovett, Sis. Lannie Joe Scott, Sis. Jean Catron, Sis. Barbara Mosley, Sis. Ann Wilkerson, Sis. Bernice Mosley, Sis. Carrie Mosley, and Sis. Shirley Lewis. Banks Creek elected Bro. Shelley Stowbridge as assistant church clerk in November 1932. Bro. Shelley Stowbridge was later chosen as Senior Church Clerk. In 1996, the Banks Creek Church family designated Sister Bernice Mosley as Senior Clerk Emeritus. Sister Felecia Mosley is presently serving as Senior Church Clerk.

 

 

      Giving honor and thanks to God, we, the members of the Banks Creek Primitive Baptist Church family have been able to grow and make progress over the last 134 years. On April 25, 1980, we were blessed to move into a new church building. Under the leadership of Elder James J. Grant, the first meeting was a conference held on the fourth Friday night in 1980. Under the leadership of Elder Joseph Mosley we were blessed with new pulpit furniture, a new steeple, new windows, new pews and new audio equipment. As we continue to develop, we envision ourselves as the quote from an old hymn:

Giving honor and thanks to God, we, the members of the Banks Creek Primitive Baptist Church family have been able to grow and make progress over the last 134 years. On April 25, 1980, we were blessed to move into a new church building. Under the leadership of Elder James J. Grant, the first meeting was a conference held on the fourth Friday night in 1980. Under the leadership of Elder Joseph Mosley we were blessed with new pulpit furniture, a new steeple, new windows, new pews and new audio equipment. As we continue to develop, we envision ourselves as the quote from an old hymn:

 

 “We are a garden walled around,

Chosen and made on peculiar ground,

A little spot enclosed by grace, out of the world’s wild wilderness.”