There is very little history to be found in regards to New Harmony Methodist Church. Our friends at Historic Rural Churches of Georgia date the structure to 1890, tentatively, but two local surveys I’ve consulted date it to 1870. Both dates are believable, since this style church was the most common in Georgia in the last half of the 19th century. These surveys also point out that it rests on a newer foundation, which is obvious.
The cemetery is quite interesting, as many of the graves are reburials, moved here when the Mt. Zion Cemetery was inundated by the creation of Lake Hartwell in May 1961.
There are more historic interments at New Harmony, perhaps, but the most fascinating marker is this yellow brick structure. It’s not quite a crypt and not quite a grave house. The brick is probably local to the area.
As a fan of vernacular monuments, I really liked this cross.
