Three churches were established in the 1800s in a small area along Peachtree Road in Chamblee. The building that was once Prospect Methodist Church, built in 1885, still stands at 5576 Peachtree Road. All three churches evolved and moved through the years, two churches finding homes in new communities. Their first locations were close to where the Native American trails known as Peachtree and Shallow Ford Trail (also known as Hightower Trail) met and near the boundary between Chamblee and Doraville. Each had church cemeteries which remain today.
According to Vivian Price Saffold’s History of DeKalb County, the congregation of Prospect Methodist Church gathered in a log building located behind the existing church as early as 1827. The 1885 church was originally built with two entrances, one for women and one for men, which was common at that time. The church remained in use until the congregation voted in 1963 to build a new church on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. This church was called Chamblee Methodist and is still active today as Chamblee First United Methodist Church.
The 1885 church building became home to Cagle Auction house, followed by Biggar’s Antiques. In 2019, the building was renovated, and the central portion became home to the City of Chamblee Planning and Development. As of 2024, the building is being used as commercial space, but not by the City of Chamblee.
Photo from A Century in North DeKalb
The history of Prosperity Presbyterian Church begins with members meeting at the home of Samuel McElroy in 1836. In 1849, Joseph Stewart, one of the founding members, gave land for a church to be built. That church was located along what is now Peachtree Road, just north of Prospect Methodist. Although the church is gone, Prosperity Cemetery is well maintained and identified with a plaque identifying the church timeline.
The second sanctuary was built in the same location. According to History of Doraville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, by Flora McElroy Miller, the church had a wood stove which was used not only by worshippers on Sunday, but by those traveling in covered wagons and needing a place to spend the night. Prosperity Presbyterian also played a role in the organization of New Hope Presbyterian in Dunwoody and Antioch Presbyterian near Embry Hills.
In 1871, the church moved to Doraville and began meeting at Doraville School at the intersection of Central Avenue and Church Street. The name was changed to Doraville Associate Reform Presbyterian Church in 1890. In 2000, the church moved to 5918 Spalding Drive and became Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church.
Corinth Baptist Church is another early Chamblee Church. Corinth Baptist became Chamblee Baptist Church, then First Baptist Church of Chamblee, and eventually Johns Creek Baptist Church. More on Corinth Baptist Church coming soon.