To my knowledge, this is the only antebellum structure standing in Guyton. There was a Confederate hospital in the community and General William T. Sherman’s forces occupied the area in their approach to Savannah so I was intrigued to learn that this wonderful old church was somehow spared. I’d appreciate further information on its history. It’s known today as Guyton United Methodist Church.
Guyton Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This beautiful church was organized no later than 1873 as Antioch Christian Church. It is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation. Its name was changed in 1900 to Guyton Christian Church. The congregation cemetery, located nearby on Little McCall Road, dates to 1873, but I do not know the date of this structure. It may be contemporary to the cemetery.
Guyton Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Guyton Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Thought to be the oldest camp meeting in continuous existence in the South, the Effingham County Methodist Campground has been held at several locations since 1790, with the present tabernacle dating to 1910.
The family “tents” which line the campground are actually permanent structures where people gather during events, which were once much longer in duration than today.
A historical marker placed by the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1990 notes: Effingham Camp Meeting has the longest record of continuous service in South Georgia-from 1790 according to oral tradition. The first camp ground was off Sisters’ Ferry Road on land of George Powledge, later sold to Gideon Mallette. In 1864 the site was burned during Sherman’s March to the Sea. In 1865 and 1866 encampment was held at Turkey Branch Methodist Church. In 1867 the camp ground was rebuilt on the Edward Bird tract at Springfield. In 1907 the present site was occupied after an exchange with G. M. Brinson. August encampment includes the third Sunday.
Organized as a branch of Georgia’s oldest church, Jerusalem Lutheran in Ebenezer, Zion Lutheran Church traces its origins to 1845. Around that time, a meeting house was built on this site near the Ogeechee River to accommodate members who found it difficult to make the journey to Ebenezer. On 8 December 1864, Major General William T. Sherman headquartered in this historic churchyard en route to Savannah. The present structure was built in 1872 and continues to serve an active congregation.
For several years I suspected this church to be antebellum due to the second-floor windows, which often indicate a slaves’ gallery, but thanks to Pastor Greg McAlister, I now know that isn’t the case. McAlister is the pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church, the congregation presently calling this beautiful old building home and he notes that it was established as the Meldrim Christian Church in 1896.
From the church website: Elim Baptist Church was constituted in the summer of 1870 about two miles north of Egypt. A man of great influence and social leader in the community brought about a split in the church at Oliver (Little Ogeechee Baptist) over the use of an organ in their song services. Dr. A. B. Lanier organized Elim Baptist Church because of this issue. He and others who favored the use of an instrument left the Little Ogeechee Baptist Church and founded Elim Egypt Baptist Church. The first church building was erected in 1871. After the rift over the organ was healed, Elim Baptist and Little Ogeechee joined together in a union Sunday School from 1874-1876. In 1902 Elim changed its name to Elam Egypt and moved to the Egypt community. By 1902 the Egypt community was growing… There was also a 17-room hotel, two grocery stores, a post office, and a train deport. The present sanctuary was built in 1902 and the same year a pump organ was given to the church.
The South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church wrote: In 1884, Mr. Edward J. Purse deeded to the trustees one acre of land in the village of Marlow to be used as a place of worship for the MECS (Methodist Episcopal Church, South). However, it wasn’t until 1905, that Marlow was organized and the present sanctuary built using timber donated by the Presbyterians living in the area. Known charter members were Mr. and Mrs. B. N. Shearouse, Mr. and Mrs. Dugger and A. J. Shearouse and family. Among the first to join the church were O. Newton Mingledorff, Jr., and Mildred Shearouse in 1907. It’s still active as a United Methodist Church.
