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Tag Archives: Churches of Brooks County GA
Mt. Zion Campground United Methodist Church, 1881, Brooks County
The Georgia Historical Commission marker placed here in 1956 reads: The first Camp Meeting was held on this site in 1828 by a “few scattered Methodists” before any Methodist Church in the area was organized. William Hendry, William Blair and Hamilton W. Sharpe, as a committee, selected the site. Rev. Adam Wyrick was the first visiting preacher. In 1831 Sion and Enoch Hall deeded the land on which the Camp Ground stood to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Housed first in a brush-arbor, the weeklong meetings were held without interruption until 1881. Then the camp meetings ceased and the nearby church was built. Meetings were practically continuous each day from sunrise until after “candle-lighting.”
The sign on the church states that the present building dates to 1856, which is plausible considering the architecture, but according to the two sources I have access to, the historical marker and the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, the date is 1881. I hope to learn more about this discrepancy.
Filed under --BROOKS COUNTY GA--
West End Cemetery, Quitman
Quitman’s first cemetery, West End was established in 1859. It has the inviting park-like atmosphere typical of Victorian cemeteries and is a nice place to walk around. When I was here, the camellias were in full bloom, providing nice contrast to the Spanish moss hanging from old oaks.
Seventeen unknown Confederate soldiers are buried near the rear of the cemetery.
The grafted camellias are a highlight when they’re in bloom.
Filed under --BROOKS COUNTY GA--, Quitman GA
Harmony Primitive Baptist Church, Barwick
This historic congregation dates to 1855.
Filed under --BROOKS COUNTY GA--, Barwick GA
Saint James Episcopal Church, Quitman
Terry Miller writes that though founded in 1898, this is not the original location of the church.
Quitman Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --THOMAS COUNTY GA--, Quitman GA
First Presbyterian Church, 1909, Quitman
Located just behind the courthouse, this church with its beautiful and unusual copper dome is a real architectural gem for Quitman and South Georgia.
Quitman Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --BROOKS COUNTY GA--, Quitman GA
Liberty Baptist Church, 1858, Grooverville
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in August, Liberty Baptist is one of the few surviving examples of an antebellum church structure in South Georgia. Though nearby Grooverville Methodist is thought to be antebellum, as well, it’s privately owned and not listed, to my knowledge. The following images show the sanctuary and slave gallery.
The “balcony” seen in the images above is the slave gallery. I’ve photographed several churches with slave galleries, mostly near the coast, and they are generally larger there.
And finally, this historic marker placed by the Georgia Historical Commission in 1956: Between 1837-1841 the Baptists in this section were stirred on Missions, Sunday Schools and ministerial support. In 1841 the Ocklochnee anti-Missionary Baptist Assn. passed a ruling to dismiss members believing in the “new fangled institutions of the day.” Disagreeing, Sister Nancy Hagen asked for her letter from Mt. Moriah Church and, at her request, was excommunicated. With Elisha Pack Smith, R. T. Stanaland, James I. Baker, Mrs. Sarah Ann Groover, Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. Amanda Denmark and Sam Whitfield, she organized this church. The first pastor was Elder R. J. May. Mt. Moriah Church ceased to exist long ago.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under --BROOKS COUNTY GA--, Grooverville GA
