To help get this started ER Shipp documented this in the Heritage of Rockdale County, GA book published 1998:

This church, originally known as the Pine Bluff Baptist Church, was organized around 1868 by former slaves who worshiped in a brush arbor. With the advent of a new century, they sought a more permanent home. On Dec. 30, 1899, William L. Peek, a leading white planter-politician, sold a plot of land near the Salem Camp Ground to four of the church's deacons - Smith Harper, John Reagan, Osborn Reed and Edmond Bryant - for $20. Under the stewardship of the Rev. Anthony O. Robinson - who led the church for 39 years until his death on December 1, 1932 - Pine Bluff became Peek's Chapel, in honor of its benefactor. According to J. C. Printup, a member of the church since 1919, Peek financed the construction of the first church building in 1901. Members pledged to pay so much each year until their debt was extinguished. Services were held once a month: the third Sunday. Robinson, who lived in Stone Mountain, took the train to Conyers and often walked to the church from the depot in town. As early as 1883 (perhaps before), Peek's Chapel provided a school for black children in the area. Church schools were phased out eventually, and black kids attended the J. P. Carr School. The congregation, which now (1998) holds services every Sunday, moved into its present facility on August 20, 1978 - Homecoming Sunday - under the leadership of the Rev. J. B. Guthrie. Baptisms, once held in Williams L. Peeks's pond, are now conducted in an indoor pool in the sanctuary. Among Peek's Chapel's oldest families are the Fosters, Gileses, Heights, Printups, Shepards, Webbs and Williamses. The Rev. J. H. Battle has been pastor since 1980.

Roxan H. Caillett, Church Secretary documented this in the Heritage of Rockdale County, GA book published 1998:

Peek's Chapel Baptist Church was established in 1868 under the name of Old Pine Bluff Baptist Church. The church was located approximately one mile up the street toward Conyers from the present location. In the year of 1900 or 1901 the church moved to its present location. There was a great march from the old church to the new church. Rev. A. O. Robinson led the congregation by singing and praising the Lord for the one mile journey. How Peek's Chapel Got Its Name: A well known prominent man of the community by the name of W. L. Peek (white brother in Christ) was a great support of the church family and Pastor Robinson. He donated the land for the building of the new church and enough land to have a cemetery. Mr. Peek was the contractor and builder of the church and he gave a generous donation to be used as a down payment in getting started with construction. Mr. Peek was assisted by Pastor Robinson and various members of the church. A business meeting was called by Pastor Robinson to discuss the progress of the construction. During tat meeting the members decided to change the name of the church from Old Pine Bluff to Peek's Chapel baptist Church in appreciation to Mr. Peek for his love, dedication, contribution and support he had given to the church. The building that Mr. Peek and members build stood until 1977 with various repairs and an overall renovation. In August 1978 we moved into our present building which was built to accommodate the 350 membership. Rev. J. B. Guthrie was the pastor during the planning and organizing of the construction. When Rev. J. H. Battle became pastor in 1981, he presented a plan to get the church paid for in five years. Thus, the church mortgage was burned in 1987 and the Corner Stone was laid. Since our existence in 1868, fourteen pastors have served including our present pastor, J. H. Battle. Rev. Robinson served longer than any other with 39 1/2 years. During that time we have grown spiritually, financially and in membership. Eight members of the congregation have been called to preach the Gospel, with most of them now being pastors. We are blessed to have one evangelist in our congregation. The church family will be celebrating our 129th anniversary and we give all the praises and thanks to our Savior Jesus Christ and to all the pastors and dedicated members who carried on in spite of hard times as well as the good times.

Compromise, a word that seems to have disappeared in Washington, DC. Compromise is an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.

The Peek’s Baptist Church on Old Salem Rd, voted to build a new church around 1977 under the Leadership of the Late Rev.J. B. Guthrie. Rev. Guthrie appointed four (4) men to lead this project. Two were middle aged and two were rookies. They were the late Deas. Charlie “Buddy” Williams and Willie”Bobby” Printup, they were the middle aged guys. Then the rookie Deacons: Calvin Flanigan age 30 and Aldren Sadler Sr. age 27.

At the time, I didn’t think about how young Calvin and I were to be leaders of a project like. My cousin Christopher D. Williams, reminded me, today the congregation would never let anyone this young lead this project. At that time the congregation was so proud to have Etta Sue (Calvin)and Eddie Mae (Aldren) boys working in the church.

Well in order to have a new church, the old church would have to be torn down. Older members like my mother did not want to see the old church torn down. I asked my mother “why are you so strong about holding on to this old building when we are going to have such a nice new building?”

What I didn’t understand was what this building meant to her. It was where she had gone to school, her grandparents had made great sacrifices for this church building. So as a 27 year old, I couldn’t relate to that history. Later she told me my late grandfather Dea. Robert Williams, had helped to build the steps on the front of the church in the picture.

So to have a compromise, some of the old building was saved. The annex on the right of the picture was saved so the older members could see something from the old building. Today it serves a garage for the Church Van.

Today many Older Churches struggle with how to preserve history while continuing to move forward.

Submitted by Aldren Sadler, January 9, 2018 to the Black Heritage of Rockdale Facebook page