THE SPRINGHILL C.M.E. CHURCH
The Springhill C.M.E. Church, rich in heritage, serves as a hub for worship and community support. It offers programs focused on education, social justice, and development.
HISTORY OF
THE SPRINGHILL
C.M.E. CHURCH
(The earliest history of Springhill CME Church dates back to about 1864. The church is now located at 146 Christian Methodist Road – Ringgold, LA 71068)
IN MY JOURNEY, The present History was given by Bro. Ivory Love on November 24, 1974, about the Springhill C.M.E. Church located in Ringgold, Louisiana.
The record was started at Jerry Ashley’s place. The earlier church has a history starting back in 1865. It was called the Marsh Field, which was a bush harbor. Tom Scott, Friday Colly. Jerry Ashley ( Great Grandfather of our present Associate Bishop, Othal Harthorn Lakey ) gave the land where the present church is built). Jerry Ashley’s place had water on it, and the others did not have water, so they decided to build on Jerry Ashley’s place. The church is named Springhill because the land has running springs through it. The large oak tree in the front yard was here before the 1st church was built.
The community was called together, and a log cabin was built to serve as the church. They met in this log cabin until it became too small for the members. Then the community was called together again, saints and sinners alike, to make pledges to build a larger church. During this time, when you joined the church as sinners if you did not confess Christ in six months, you were turned out of the church. Mack Ashley pledged $15.00. So did Scott
Johnson and Bob Cook. Some of the saints pledged as much as $25.00.
With other pledges like these, the second Springhill was built. Rev. J.M. Stone laid the 1st
cornerstone there in 1905. Rev. Stone was also the youngest minister to ever pastor this church. Rev. W.M. Hill was the presiding elder during this time.
The 1st cornerstone reads as follows:
SPRINGHILL C.M.E. CHURCH – MAY 1905 – ALEXANDRIA DISTRICT
TRUSTEES: J. H. Hightower; Wm. Rasco; H. J. Jackson; H. R. Rasco
A. Ashley; L. Ashley; G. Garner
In the year 1975, the church family was called together again under the leadership of Rev. Edward Fuller, Jr. It was decided that our present church was old and outdated and in need of major repairs, so it was decided to build a new church. At that time, the membership was around 270 members.
The present Springhill church was built and this is where we presently have services. We dedicated this church on December 11, 1978, at 2:00 P.M. Our pastor was Rev. Edward Fuller, Jr., and The Local Preacher was Rev. Bobby Cunningham. Our Presiding Bishop was Rev. Joseph A. Johnson, Jr., who also did the dedication services. We worked long and hard to pay for our church. We set up a building fund with the purpose of paying for our church.
We set up our church anniversary and our homecoming programs, and all monies raised in these two programs were to be used to pay for our church. Our church was financed for 15 years, but with the help of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and our faithful members, we paid for the church in 8 years.
On June 10, 1983, we made the final payment on our present church building. Our cornerstone dedication services were held on March 11, 1979. The sermon was delivered by Rev. G.C. Jaggers. Rev. Edward Fuller, Jr. was our pastor. Springhill has had numerous pastors that helped lead us to where we are today.
In July 2008, the Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Louis Brown, Sr., appointed Rev. A. B. Caesar, Sr., Presiding Elder and the grandson of Springhill’s former pastor Rev. L. R. Caesar, Sr. as our pastor and leader. Standing by his side is ever present with him Mrs. Daisy Millican Caesar, his wife.
Upon his arrival, Pastor Caesar was presented with the hope of one day building a New Fellowship Hall by the church trustees. At this time, Pastor Caesar asked how much money was on hand for the project, and he was told that there was about $14,000.00 on to build. At that time, Pastor Caesar outlined an approximate cost to build a minimum 3,200 square foot building at $100.00 a square foot to be over $300.200.00.
Two years passed, and Pastor Caesar presented to the church a detailed Church Vision, which included a four-part plan, “VISION QUEST BUILDING FUND.”
This project started in 2013 and included
1.) Vision Quest
2.) Vision Quest Realizing
3.) Vision Quest Realized and
4.) Vision Quest Liquidation.
In a 3-year period, the church raised about $40,000.00 for Vision Quest. Also, during that time, Pastor Caesar, working with the church Trustees and building contractors, was able to get a third bid, a God-Sent contractor who presented a God-directed bid to build the building at 3,200 square feet for about $242,00.00. To the Glory of God, upon completion, the new building was appraised and insured for $375,000.00. The building was financed for 15 years. Currently, we are scheduled to pay for our building sometime next year, 7 years early!! “The people had a mind to work!”… From 2011 to today, we have painted our church building, installed 2 state-of-the-art digital P/A systems, installed a new a/c unit, 2-wide screen televisions, purchased a new computer system and new copy machine, added new bathroom fixtures in church building, new ceramic tile floors in the church building to match floors in the new addition, constructed a New Fellowship Hall with a Memorial Garden between the two buildings, started media podcasts, PowerPoint, and webcast ministries, Started online donation platform, established a new cemetery next to the new fellowship building, made tithing a church mandate, re-activated the Class Leader System and set up Vision Quest Liquidation Groups. REVISED CHURCH HISTORY MAY 29, 2018
The cemetery sign
THE VISION HAS BEEN CAST, AND THE QUEST IS STILL ONGOING AFTER 154 YEARS. THE CORNERSTONE CEREMONY FOR THIS NEW BUILDING WAS LAID ON MAY 27, 2018, BY THE M. W. UNIVERSAL GRAND LODGE. REVISED CHURCH HISTORY MAY 29, 2018.
The cornerstone reads
SPRINGHILL C.M.E. CHURCH
FELLOWSHIP HALL APRIL 24, 2016
TRUSTEES
FREDERICK LOVE, PRESIDENT
LARRY COOK, VICE PRESIDENT
ANNETTE COLLINS, SECRETARY
WILLIE T. COOK
KING COOK
DIANE EGANS
DIANE EGANS, CHURCH SECRETARY
REV. ARNOLD B. CAESAR, SR.
PASTOR AND PRESIDING ELDER
RT. REV. THOMAS L. BROWN, SR.
PRESIDING BISHOP
M. W. UNIVERSAL GRAND LODGE
AF & AM
MAY 27, 2018
JOSEPH L. THOMAS W.M.G.M.
KENNETH THOMPSON, JR R.W.G. SEC
Springhill continues to strive to keep God first and serve the community.
Autobiography Of
Elder Elmer T. Jones
Elder Jones was born and reared in Claiborne Parish in Homer, LA. He is the ninth child and baby child born to the late Jessie T. and Jessie Mae Jones. He attended and graduated from Homer High School with the class of 1978. He continued his education at Grambling State University.
He is happily married to Timolene Jones. They are the parents of two children, Leontyne and Elmer Jr. They have one grandchild, Braeden.
In 1988, he was licensed to preach in the Christian Methodist Episcopal church. He was appointed to preach in the Louisiana Region as Senior Pastor. The churches he pastored in the Minden District are as follows: Springhill CME North, St. Rest CME, Kirks Chapel CME, Ford Chapel CME, St. Matthew CME, Forest Grove CME, Evening Star CME. He pastored in the Shreveport District at Calhoun CME. He pastored on the Monroe District at Young’s Chapel CME, Burks Chapel CME, and Willis Chapel CME. During this time, being proficient in ministry, he enrolled in the Interdenominational Theological Center. He completed the course and received a Certificate in Theology Program in 1998. He has contributed nearly 36 years in the CME Church of leadership and pastoring. He has served on the Joint Board of Finance of Trustee for the Louisiana Region.
He was employed by the State of Louisiana Department of Transportation for 38 years. He retired in January 2018 as the 1st black Superintendent in Clairborne Parish for the State of Louisiana.
Elder Jones is now the pastor of Springhill CME Church South in Ringgold, LA. He serves as Presiding Elder for the Monroe District. He is employed by the City of Homer as a Consultant.
