125 Years of "following the Word of God through the teaching of Jesus"

As with most African American churches that are over 100 years old, we have had a very humble beginning.  Poplar Hill is believed to have been organized shortly after the slaves were freed in 1865.  There are no written record to verify this, but information handed down through the generations place Poplar Hill's beginning during the late 1860's or early 1870's.  However, records are only available to verify Poplar Hill's existence from 1883 to the present.

During the time that Poplar Hill was being organized, it was common practice for African Americans to gather under large oak trees near pastures, where cooled spring waters flowed to fellowship and exchange information about family, friends and landlords on whose land they were tenant farmers.  So it was only natural that Poplar Hill was organized under the sweltering summer weather.  The Reverend Frank Wells thought it was benefiting that this small nucleus of people form a church and build a house of worship.  A house of worship in those days served many purposes - it was a schoolhouse on weekdays, a town meeting hall on Saturday afternoon, and a place of worship on Sunday.  Many communities were known by the name of the church.  It served as a landmark and represented unity in the community.
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It was not long after the official organization of Poplar Hill that a little wooden structure took shape to house the old "God Fearing Christians", who began to nurture our love of God.  This little wooden sanctuary served the community for many years until it was destroyed by fire.  The location of the church was moved to it's present site where the current brick structure was erected and still stands today.

Many improvements have been made on this structure over the years, such as central heat and air.  Benches were uprooted to make way for cushioned pews.  Kerosene lamps were replaced with electrical lighting systems and stained glass windows enhance the beauty of the sanctuary's architecture.  Dinner is now served throughout the year in the modern equipped kitchen and fellowship hall..   Additional modern conveniences included indoor plumbing and lounges.  Plush carpeting absorb the sound of members entering for worship.  Hymnals are housed on the backs of pews while the baby grand piano accompanies the celestial voices that grace the choir stand.

Poplar Hill was once surrounded by numerous trees where horse and mule drawn wagons and buggies were parked for the day.  Construction made way for a gravel parking lot as automobiles replaced mules and horses.

During the past 125 years, God has allowed Poplar Hill to improve and renovate this structure to continue to reach lost souls, renew the saved, and most of all bring HIM the glory.  Through the years, God has blessed us in many ways.  He has provided a comfortable physical structure that could better fulfill His purpose in the lives of His saints.

In the eighties, we began a vision God has given us.   We embraced this vision and, through our pastor, Reverend Freeman J. Kellam, Jr. guidance and insight, named it the Nehemiah Project.  

In 1988, we recognized a need to restore and rebuild our structure in order to have a suitable and lovely facility to reach the lost souls and fellowship as brothers and sisters.  We have shared the glorious joy of a spiritual and emotional ground breaking service, a beautiful dedication service, and a continuing ministry of morning service and weekly Bible study.