Tag Archives: Churches of Burke County GA

Green’s Cut United Methodist Church, 1910, Burke County

The South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church notes: The March 16, 1888, edition of the True Citizen weekly newspaper talked about the community “agitating the idea of building a church at the Cut.”  This agitation was the beginning of Green’s Cut UMC. During the early months of 1901, construction was underway and the first services were held on March 31, 1901. Mr. Herrington taught the first Sunday school class and Rev. Francis McCullough officiated at the worship services. On November 17, 1901, the church was officially organized by Mr. H. C. Reese, Mr. W. E. Usher, and Mr. L. P. Rogers appointed as trustees. Mr. Reese also acted as steward and Mrs. Annie Rowell was Sunday school superintendent. A deed for the property was recorded on November 24, 1902, by Henry C. and Carrie Bell Syms Reese for the sum of five dollars. 
 
According to newspaper articles and courthouse records, the present sanctuary was built from 1909-1910, with the parsonage built around the same time. On November 18, 1909, H. C. Reese and Carrie Bell Syms Reese deeded an additional acre of land to be used for the parsonage. The
True Citizen newspaper noted on February 26, 1910, “The new church building at Green’s Cut has been completed and services will be held in it next Sunday”. Rev. Theo Pharr was pastor at this time.

Haven Methodist Episcopal Church, 1891, Waynesboro

Burke County freedmen organized Haven Academy in 1868 and after operating the school and church in a more utilitarian structure for 20 years, laid the cornerstone for this structure in 1888.

The church was completed and held its first services in 1891. It was originally known as Haven Memorial. Reverend James Jackson was the pastor at the time and Reverend John Watts and A. H. Williams were instrumental in getting the church built. It’s an important example of early formal architecture in the Georgia African-American community.

Despite the positive attention brought to it by a National Register designation in 1996, it remains highly endangered.

UPDATE: At 2:00 yesterday (16 September 2017) Sarah Barber sent me a  message that this church was on fire. Rob White confirms: This Waynesboro icon burned and was completely destroyed on September 16, 2017. There are now only 2 sites in Waynesboro on the National Historic Register. I was very concerned about the future of this structure the last time I saw it and now the worst possible end has come to it. The Augusta Chronicle reports that it was a case of arson.

Waynesboro Historic District, National Register of Historic Places