An Atlanta Congregation Born from a Sunday School
Radcliffe Presbyterian Church has anchored faith life in northwest Atlanta for more than a century. Its story begins in the early 1880s, when Reverend Harris organized a Presbyterian Sunday School not far from Fort and Houston Streets in Atlanta. That venture led to the founding of the first church, New Hope Presbyterian Church, by Elders Upshaw, Love, and Brown, erected at the convergence of Markham and Maple Streets. Reverend A.R. Wilson was called as its first pastor.
As Reverend Wilson traveled north seeking financial support for his missionary work, the Radcliffe family took note of his friendly disposition and gave generously. The gifts, along with support from the headquarters board, made possible a new church named after the family. It was dedicated in 1901 as Radcliffe United Presbyterian Church.
Around the 1950s, Greater Atlanta's expansion plans pressed the congregation to relocate. Members purchased land at Hightower and Collier Roads in Northwest Atlanta. On a winter day in 1958 they gathered to break ground for the new building. For the next twenty-two months, Sunday morning worship moved to the Westside Y.W.C.A. while construction continued. On the second Sunday of December 1958 the membership entered the new Fellowship Hall, and on March 8, 1959 the neighboring community filled the sanctuary for the dedication ceremony. By the close of that first year Radcliffe had welcomed fifty-nine new members. Reverend William S. Mercer, a Lincoln University and McCormick Theological Seminary graduate who had guided the congregation through the move, called Radcliffe "the church of the creative spirit."
That creative spirit lives on. Successive pastors have shaped the church's ministry for generations, and the organizations that formed during the building years - the Presbyterian Women, the Men of Radcliffe, the Volunteer Service Guild, the C-Ladies, the Hymn Singers - continue to minister to the church and community today. After Reverend Mercer retired in 1987, Reverend Lawrence Bottoms and Reverend Mitchell Johnson served as interim pastors before Reverend Dr. Lloyd Green, Jr. was installed on April 29, 1990. Dr. Green retired in 2010 after twenty years of service, and Reverend Dr. David L. Wallace, Sr. served as interim pastor for two years before Reverend Dr. Andrew L. Stephens, Jr. was installed on February 24, 2013.
Sunday Mornings at 286 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive NW
Worship is at the center of life at Radcliffe. Church School begins at 9:30 AM each Sunday, followed by worship at 11:00 AM at 286 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive NW. The Sunday bulletin, called the Worship Guide, is posted in advance so that members and visitors can follow along; recent guides include messages such as "The Lord (YHWH) Is Your God" and "Forgiveness," delivered by the pastor and by Minister James Koranteng.
Worship follows the liturgical rhythms of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), with readings, prayers, congregational singing, and a sermon rooted in Scripture. The church is a member congregation of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and is guided by the denomination's Book of Order and Book of Confessions. Members preparing for confirmation around age thirteen attend the Communicant's Class led by the pastor, learning Presbyterian principles before being received as members of the church.
The musical life of the congregation is rich. Two choirs serve in worship - the Hymn Singers and the Every Sunday Choir - and the Presbyterian Praise Dance Ministry, founded in 2004, brings movement and reverence to services for children ages five and older. Drums are part of the ensemble, lending rhythm to the gospel-inflected praise that fills the sanctuary.
Visitors who cannot attend in person can watch services on Facebook Live and YouTube Live. A Zoom link is also available for those who wish to join virtually, and sermon recordings and weekly worship guides are archived on the church's YouTube channel.
A Pastor's Path from Nashville Home to Atlanta
Reverend Dr. Andrew L. Stephens, Jr. has served as Radcliffe's pastor since 2013. He is a 1997 honor graduate of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, the Presbyterian member institution of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, and holds the Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. His wife, Dr. Gerilyn Metoyer Stephens, shares his life and ministry.
His call to Radcliffe was a homecoming. Born in Columbus, Georgia, in a section known as Short Six where six white one-level wood frame homes sit in a row, he grew up surrounded by a large extended family that turned three rooms into a home large enough for ten. The son of Ethel Ree Morgan Stephens, a schoolteacher, and Andrew Stephens Sr., a second-generation brick mason and former Negro Leagues baseball player, he absorbed lessons of faith and justice from an early age. He earned his way through Delta Airlines work, ran cross-country despite hostility on the roads, led a high school demonstration for Black cheerleaders, and led a college lay-in protesting silence around violence against young Black women in the Atlanta University Center. He once played saxophone in bands that opened for Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes, and Donald Byrd before feeling called into pastoral ministry.
In Nashville he founded a ministry he calls The Village, serving single parents, recovering drug users, and children in a low-served, high-poverty neighborhood for fifteen years. When he sensed the call to leave, he prayed, and recalls, "God drops a bomb and tells you it is, again, time to change. Time to change your address, your zip code, your congregation and your church." At Radcliffe he now leads an intergenerational congregation with a focus on social justice, community-building, and Afrikan unity. His reflections appear in "The Village Griot" blog, and he writes a regular "Thought of the Day" message for the congregation. Pastoral Assistant James Koranteng supports the ministry with a focus on teaching, pastoral care, leadership development, and media outreach.
Youth and Children at the Heart of the Church
Radcliffe's youth ministry nurtures the spiritual, emotional, and social development of young people in the church and community. Several programs run throughout the year.
Radcliffe Active Youth Serving (RAYS) gathers teens ages thirteen to nineteen for worship, service, and fundraising, engaging in scripture reading, Black History facts, and community projects. Acolytes, drawn from the Greek akolouthos meaning servant, assist church leaders during worship and embody servant leadership from biblical times. Praise Dance Ministries, founded in 2004, nurtures children ages five and older, fostering creativity, commitment, and faith through performances during worship. ESP - Etiquette, Social Graces, and Practical Skills, launched in 2006, offers workshops for youth ages ten to eighteen in life skills and modern maturity.
Boy Scout Troop 290 has been based at Radcliffe since its founding by Brewer and Easley, and is now led by Scoutmaster Joseph Ingram, Sr. The troop serves West Atlanta. Children and youth also participate in the Margaret L. Walker Vacation Bible School, a week-long summer program supported by volunteers and congregation giving.
Each summer, Radcliffe partners with Broadway On Bankhead for "Faith In Action," a two-week theatre Bible camp for ages five to eighteen. Participants engage in interactive Bible study on the theme of readiness from Matthew 24:3-8, professional theatre instruction, and an African Cultural Celebration through music, dance, storytelling, and art. The camp culminates in a theatrical production performed during the 11:00 AM worship service.
Education, Confirmation, and Christian Formation
The Education Ministry's main focus is Christian Education. Its session committee provides opportunities for spiritual growth through Bible study, Church School programs, Vacation Bible School, and adult, youth, and young adult ministries. Workshops introduce the congregation to the organizational structure of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and related topics that improve daily life.
Church School meets on Sunday mornings, with classes for all ages led by Christian educators. The Communicant's Class, for youth around age thirteen, is taught by the pastor and culminates in confirmation as members of the church. Children's Ministry carries the Isaiah 11:6 vision: "The wolf will live with the lamb... and a little child will lead them."
Music That Spans Hymnals and African Drums
The Music Ministry, grounded in Psalm 105:2 - "Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!" - leads the congregation in worship through the Hymn Singers and the Every Sunday Choir. Minister of Music Johnathan McGill serves as a dynamic leader combining spiritual leadership with artistic excellence. Assistant Minister of Music Funmilayo Eke Harmon supports the seamless integration of music into worship, fostering an atmosphere of praise and spiritual connection. Abigail Popwell provides drums, contributing rhythm and creativity to the dynamic, spirit-filled worship experience.
Worship at Radcliffe is enriched by the Giwayen Mata ensemble, the award-winning, soul-stirring, all-sistah dance, percussion, and vocal group that celebrates the richness of traditional Afrika through exemplary art forms. Giwayen Mata performs traditional, contemporary, and original pieces addressing people of color, women, and the environment. The ensemble is a program of the Volunteer Service Guild.
Women, Men, and the C-Ladies
Three long-standing organizations shape the life of the church.
Presbyterian Women in Radcliffe (PWIR) brings together women ages twenty to ninety in a vibrant, energetic community. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, members nurture their faith through prayer and Bible study and support the mission of the church at home and worldwide. PWIR hosts its Annual Women's Day Celebration each May, supports Church Women United and the Atlanta Women's Day Shelter, promotes Breast Cancer Awareness, and encourages young women of the church and community. Members take part in national, regional, and local Presbyterian Women activities.
The Men of Radcliffe gather monthly to study the Word of God, pray together, and reflect on the challenges facing their community. They sponsor Boy Scout Troop 290 and provide annual scholarships for students transitioning to college, supporting academic advancement for young people who demonstrate a commitment to their faith. Their work is grounded in Psalm 133:1-3 and Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
The C-Ladies, envisioned by Elder Margaret Walker, gather women active in the church and community who exhibit mutual love and respect for one another. The organization continues its involvement with the support of the church and community.
The Volunteer Service Guild and Life Groups
The Volunteer Service Guild came into being in 1957 during construction of the new Radcliffe Church. Twelve charter members - Louise Bolar, Mary Ellen Boazman, Anne Cox, Elsie Foster Evans, India Harris, Verna Henderson, Margaret Jacobs, Cecilia Mercer, Montee Odom, Gladys Scott, Myra Staley, and Betty Williams - organized to supplement the church's resources and enhance its cultural life. Their first project was furnishing the church kitchen, a dream of the late Cecilia Mercer. Today the Guild's signature program is Giwayen Mata.
Life Groups are a vital component of Radcliffe's disciple-making process, following Jesus' model of making disciples. Each group meets regularly to study, fellowship, serve, and introduce others to the Good News about Jesus Christ. Two Life Groups meet on Thursdays: Life Group Alpha at 4:30 PM and Word on the Street at 7:00 PM. Locations are shared by calling the church weekly.
Health Ministry, Walks, and Community Initiatives
The Health Ministry sponsors regular educational events that promote the physical and spiritual well-being of members and the surrounding community, addressing health disparities prevalent in minority communities. Subject-matter speakers and regular health care events and screenings are open to the congregation. Radcliffe supports the Hunger Walk/Run, raising funds for the Atlanta Community Food Bank and partners aiding food pantries, shelters, and hunger relief programs since 1984. Each year the church joins the Multiple Sclerosis Walk to raise funds and awareness, and October brings recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The Community Initiatives Ministry extends Radcliffe's mission beyond its walls into the surrounding neighborhood. Outreach programs promote education, health, and social well-being, with early projects that organized food drives, hosted health fairs, and provided school supplies for local students. Current partnerships include Seven Courts and Douglass High School. The church also keeps an active calendar of Juneteenth observances, framing the holiday as "Justice, Liberation and Salvation" and connecting the Exodus story and Jesus' Luke 4 proclamation of freedom for the captive with the ongoing pursuit of equality.
Worship Online, Giving, and Joining Radcliffe
Services are livestreamed on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, with a Zoom link offered for online participation. Sermon recordings are posted on the church's YouTube channel, and weekly worship guides are archived on the church's website.
Giving is offered in three ways: online through the Realm giving platform, by texting RPCATL to 73256, or by mailing a check to Radcliffe Presbyterian Church USA, 286 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. Donations can be designated for general support or for specific ministries such as the Sunday School Ministry.
Those wishing to join the church can fill out a Join Us form to express interest in becoming a member or in participating in a ministry area, choosing from worship, education, outreach, youth, hospitality, or diaconal service. Visitors seeking prayer can submit a request through the Request a Prayer page, where the pastor and congregation commit to praying for each named need.
Radcliffe Presbyterian Church stands at 286 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive NW in Atlanta, a congregation that has welcomed neighbors for more than a century and continues to live out its calling to love God, love neighbor, and pursue justice and liberation for the oppressed.