It took some detective work, but I finally identified this old church. A recent sign indicated it was the New Life United Holy Church, but I knew it was an older church. The mission-inspired belfry led me to believe it was a Catholic church, and it turns out it was Sacred Heart Church.
Their parish history notes that the first Mass took place in Griffin in 1879, with just five people in attendance. From this small group the church grew to the point over the next three decades that a permanent home was needed. This chapel was dedicated on 2 May 1910 to serve that purpose, with Reverend Harry Clark of Saint Joseph Church in Athens serving the congregation on a monthly basis. The Redemptorist Fathers took over the mission in 1942, and Sacred Heart became a parish in 1943, with Reverend John Walsh serving as the first resident pastor.
The congregation outgrew this structure and services were last held here in 1973. After meeting in their parochial school for nearly a decade, Sacred Heart dedicated their present home on MacArthur Drive in 1982.
For a time, the practice within the US Catholic Church was to build a school prior to the church when a new parish was established. The parish church congregation also financially supported the school.