Laurel Hill Lutheran Church and its sister church, Wingard Memorial Lutheran Church, make up the Clyo Lutheran Parish. Located outside town, Laurel Hill is a beautiful country church. The present structure was built in the 1880s. According to the parish website: In December of 1860 Mr. William Washington Metzger made a Christmas gift of two acres of land to his community to start a congregation. The church, Laurel Hill was established on December 27, 1862. The name Laurel Hill was suggested by Mr. John Israel Reiser and was accepted by the members. In 1871 the Reverend J. N. Derrick became the first called Pastor of Laurel Hill.

While the Lutheran Church has congregations throughout the state, Effingham County remains the historical home of the faith in Georgia. I’m fascinated not only by the churches but by the Salzburger pioneers who first settled the area in 1734.