Tag Archives: Churches of Berrien County GA

Oaky Grove Primitive Baptist Church, Berrien County

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Oaky Grove Primitive Baptist Church was constituted on 22 February 1890 as a member congregation of the Brushy Creek Association. Elder John Churchwell was the Moderator. Founding members were: David S. Robinson; Nancy F. Robinson; David M. Robinson; Melissa Robinson; Eliza Baker; Martha Baker; Peter C. Lastinger; Joanna Lastinger; Elder Jacob Young; Elder John Churchwell; and Fredonia Churchwell. It was constituted in the Union Association on 9 August 1929.

The church and cemetery property were given to the congregation by David S. Robinson in consideration for the love of the dead and the Church of God, on 26 March 1904. I’m unsure, considering this fact, if the church building dates to circa 1890 or 1904. It’s an unusually decorative example among the Primitive Baptist churches I’ve encountered in South Georgia and a real landmark in this sense. The church yard and cemetery are very well-maintained.

This information was taken from the granite marker [visible at right in above photographs] placed by descendants of David S. & Nancy Robinson in 1974.

Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church, Berrien County

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Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church [originally known simply as Pleasant Church] is the oldest congregation in present-day Berrien County. It was constituted on 27 June 1835 with charter members James Connell, Sarah Connell, Jeremiah Shaw, James Price, Resby Wilson, George Harnage, Anna Harnage, and Logan Sanders. E. J. Williams served as the first clerk and Elder Nelson Thigpen was the first pastor. The name “Pleasant” seems most appropriate as it’s located in one of the most scenic and beautiful areas of the county. Though the present structure is not original, some of the original timbers remain inside the framework.

Rules of Decorum for the church were fairly typical of the era. Some might seem unusual today: Rule 1: Church meeting or conferences shall be constantly and duly attended by every member, more especially the males to whom government more particularly belongs...Rule 10: No member shall whisper, talk or read in the time of a public speaking, but give due attention. John P. Webb, Sr., who compiled a historical sketch of the congregation in 1956, noted: This church carries on the customs of old with footwashing and communion once a year with wine from the vineyard prepared by the deacons and using unleavened bread prepared by the wives of the deacons…At Pleasant Church, the pastor sometimes lines out the songs, a practice that started when there were not enough song books. A member still will heist a tune to which the song is to be sung (books do not have musical notes)…

First Baptist Church, 1916, Nashville

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First Baptist Church of Nashville was founded in 1852. The present building was constructed in 1916. The tower was originally about twice the current height but was remodeled and lowered in 1989.

Nashville United Methodist Church, 1900

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Nashville United Methodist Church is one of Berrien County’s most historic congregations. Founded in 1858, the church likely first met in members’ homes. There isn’t much information about the first church building, but in 1871, Benjamin Sorsby sold the congregation land for a church and parsonage for $13. The facility was located across the street from the present education building. In 1898, it was destroyed when a tree fell on it and construction on the present sanctuary began. It was completed in 1900.

Enigma United Methodist Church, Berrien County

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The first Methodist church in Enigma, a simple frame structure, was built near this site in 1886. In 1887, a more formal church was built. During the ministry of N. H. Olmstead, the structure was destroyed during a storm and the present example rebuilt with its timbers.

 

St. Ann Catholic Church, 1942, Alapaha

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St. Anne’s grew out of the need for a new facility for St. Bridget’s. It’s quite unusual for a town as small as Alapaha to have had two Catholic churches.

St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, 1902, Alapaha

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From the history, One Faith, One Family: Diocese of Savannah: 1850-2000: “A Catholic community established a church on the James C. Murray farm 2.6 miles from Alapaha in about 1840…The Catholic community was then known as Saint Patrick’s and was commonly called “Murray Church.” [As the need grew for a more substantial church than the log cabin located on the Murray farm] land was purchased near Alapaha Station in 1901 for the token sum of $25 from John J. Paulk…the new church, Saint Bridget’s, was completed in 1902…[by 1942, this structure was vacated and the present St. Ann’s Catholic Church built].

This is now home to Greater Macedonia C. M. E. Church, and is undergoing renovation.

St. Stephen’s African Baptist Church, Enigma

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Old Mt. Paron Primitive Baptist Church, Berrien County

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This congregation was constituted in 1879. This church was moved a few hundred yards from its original location in the 1960s to make way for a more modern structure.

This view, from the Berrien Historical Foundation, shows the old church in the 1960s. Please visit their wonderful collection and get ready for a trip back in time. I’m so impressed with the site this preservation group has created and maintains. It really is one of the best of its kind in South Georgia.