Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate Heritage Sunday on the fifth Sunday in November with dedication ceremonies for both its church building and cemetery.

“Pleasant Hill was organized in 1860 so we will be celebrating our 149th year,” said Deacon David Lampley. “This celebration will be very special, too, in that both our church and our cemetery have been accepted for listing on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Historic Places. The historic markers will be in place on Heritage Sunday and we’ll have dedication services for both of these historic sites.”

Lampley’s great grandfather, Green Stephens, was one of three original church deacons and Lampley said he is very honored to have such a storied legacy in the church.

“Pleasant Hill originated from Springfield Baptist Church, which was the white Baptist church in Tennille at the time,” he said.

“We were told that some of the old blacks attended church there for a while and then some of the older ones asked for permission to start a church for the blacks. The land was purchased by a gentleman called Mr. Faulk.”

The Rev. Ethan Smith was the first pastor to conduct services under a brush arbor on or near the site of the present church.

“A church was later built and, if you take the bricks away, you could see the old wood walls of the early church,” Lampley said.

Over the many years, Pleasant Hill has been a part of Tennille and Brundidge, many pastors have served the communities.

“At times, the church was left without a pastor but was never without Divine guidance,” Lampley said.

“We thank the Lord for each of the ministers and what they meant to us. And, we cannot forget those old soldiers that have gone on that worked so faithfully, with God’s help, to give us the foundation for a serving church.”

Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church currently has 150 members under the leadership of the Rev. C.L. Foster.

Sunday morning services are held weekly with special events on the fifth Sunday of the month.

The Wednesday night Bible studies are weekly events for the members of Pleasant Hill.

“We are a growing church and have great confidence that God will continue to let us grow bodily as well as spiritually.”