Features Editor

If that old time religion was good enough for your mama and your papa, then it just might be good enough for you – at least one time a year.

Each year, the Sunday after Easter, a Gathering take places at Clay Hill Church near Pronto. The church is one of the oldest in the county and once had a active Methodist membership. However, the congregation dwindled, with members being lost to death and to other churches with larger congregations, more programs and modern conveniences.

Clay Hill Church is an old-time outreach ministry of Brundidge United Methodist Church. Several times a year, the Clay Hill Church Committee turns back the clock and hosts non-denominational services, not unlike those that were good enough for mama and papa.

"Old Christmas at Clay Hill on January 6 is one of the most inspiration and meaningful services of the Christmas season," said Jimmy Ramage, a member of the Clay Hill Committee. "The Gathering is becoming a popular service for many people because it is a chance to experience a worship service that is unique to us, but was the normal Sunday worship for our grandparents and great- grandparents."

The worship service begins at 11 a.m. but many come at 10:30 to enjoy some "string music" and singing the old hymns that everyone knows and loves.

"We have singing during the worship service, but so many people enjoy the music that we do try to get started with music and singing early," Ramage said. "Amy Persons-Parks will be our guest minister this year. She is with the Wesley Foundation at Troy State University and her grandfather was a Methodist minister. She has a long history in the church and I’m sure her message will be timely and meaningful. We look forward to having her with us."

Immediately following the worship service, everyone is invited to dinner-on-the ground.

"We ask everyone to join us for dinner and we also ask everyone to bring a dish to share," Ramage said. "We always have plenty of good food and everyone enjoys staying around and visiting. We realize that people have their own churches, but this is a special service and a special time. So, if you would like to experience the old time religion again, or for the first time, we invite you to Clay Hill Church Sunday."

Clay Hill Church is located across the railroad track on County Road 26 about three miles north of Brundidge on the Banks (93) Highway.