The Little Church on The Hill

The Reverend H. Hobart Barber, tenth rector of The Church of the Good Shepherd, arrived in Augusta in January of 1919. He later wrote that his first impression of the little church was that it was the light of “The Hill”, an opinion which he noted was shared by many. He was immediately aware of the pride in which the parishioners held their short, but rich history, the value that they placed on their traditions, and their devotion to living out the Gospel. “No one could have read even the meager records the writer has been able to find without feeling the nobility and fineness of many of the spirits that wove their lives into the early history of The Church of the Good Shepherd. The fragrance of their zeal and devotion still lingers among us. It hovers in and about the beautiful Church; it speaks to us in the many memorials; it lives on in our traditions; it is sensed by strangers who come among us; it is treasured by successive Rectors who remain long enough for it to reveal itself.” (from the notes of The Reverend H. Hobart Barber’s History of the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1932)


In 1869 Good Shepherd, the Church on the Hill, was born. Over the last 150 years, she has served and honored God through acts of Christian worship, spirituality, mission, outreach, education, service, and philanthropy to the community. God has blessed this place over the years and there is an awareness among those who worship here of God’s love, grace, mercy, and generosity. God’s presence permeates each and every decision and action at Good Shepherd. The Reverend Robert Duncan Fain (15th Rector) states that in knowing our history here at Good Shepherd, “we become aware of the great debt that we owe to those who have gone before us in this place. I am confident that they are best honored by our taking up and carrying on the ministry of reconciling, sharing, and serving that belongs to the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Let the Hills Hear Thy Voice, A History of the Church of the Good Shepherd Augusta, Georgia 1869-1994, Forward)

And now, 100 years after Father Hobart’s arrival, the Church of the Good Shepherd, the little church on “The Hill”, still serves as the light to all who know her. The traditions and values that have been passed from generation to generation in this place are regarded with much esteem and continue to live on as part of our mission. The light of Christ continues to guide us as we strive to show God’s love and mercy, not only to those who enter here, but to others who know Good Shepherd through only the arm of her mission work.

This Sunday we celebrate the legacy that is Good Shepherd. We praise God and thank him for the many blessings that he has bestowed upon this place and these people who are Good Shepherd. Our history and our traditions have given us our legacy. Jesus has given us our mission in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. With God’s help, we the people of Good Shepherd, will continue to carry on our legacy through the ministry of reconciling, sharing, and serving. With God’s help we will continue to reflect the light of Christ in our worship, our prayers, our decisions, and our work. With God’s help, the light of Christ will continue to shine through Good Shepherd as we answer the call of Jesus.

Godspeed,