Hillcrest/Bass United Methodist Church

In April of 1821, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Lundy donated a plot of land and a building fund to be used by the community for either a school or a church. The result was Lake Academy School that functioned as both a school and a meetinghouse for a number of years. The donated land had been the site of the last battle between settlers and Indians in Middle Georgia. And during the Civil War, Confederate forces built breastworks in the area to defend the railroad behind the property.

In December of 1868, Dr. William Capers Bass arrived in Macon to teach at Wesleyan College and to serve as pastor to the community. Lake Academy School was put to use again. Dr. Bass held the Chair of Natural Science until 1874 and then was elected President of the college. Due to Dr. Bass’ early work in organizing a Methodist church in Macon, the church was named in his honor.

A volunteer committee met in August of 1879 and appointed a building committee to be headed by William H. Cason. This committee supervised the demolition of the Lake Academy building and the construction of the new Bass Methodist Church. The original building was white clapboard with a porch the width of the building. The structure did not have a steeple.

Until 1882 Bass was part of the Macon Circuit. From 1882 until 1889, Bass and Jones Chapel (Second Street) were joined as a charge. In 1889, Bass was one of several churches of the Bibb Circuit. That circuit included as various times, Bass, Doles, Ebenezer, Holton and Wilma, Lizella, Dixon and Bethel. For two years (1929-1931) Bass and Ingleside were on a charge under the Rev. R.L. Whitehead.

In 1947 Bass became a station and an extensive building program began. The original sanctuary was brick veneered, the front porch converted to a narthex and circular brick steps added. New Sunday School rooms were built and the church began having an annual Homecoming Day.