Mystic Baptist is best-known for its association with the Royal Singing Convention; it’s the oldest congregation in Mystic, to my knowledge.
Mystic Baptist Church, Irwin County
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Tag Archives: Churches of Irwin County GA
Frank Primitive Baptist Church, 1918, Irwin County
Frank Primitive Baptist Church is a beautiful place set among abundant fields and is always well-maintained. Founded in 1913 by thirty-four members of the Willacoochee Church (now Ocilla Primitive Baptist) and Brushy Creek Church who felt the need for a Primitive Baptist church in the Frank Community, the congregation met in the old Frank Schoolhouse until construction of this building was completed in 1918. Elder L. M. Ball was the Moderator of the Presbytery and Elder J. A. Sutton the clerk. Over a hundred years later, Frank remains one of Irwin County’s most historic and active congregations.
Big Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Irwin County
Big Creek is one of the most historic and well-loved congregations in Irwin County. Many members have shared memories over the years.
In almost every story about Big Creek is an appreciation for its long-serving pastor, Reuben J. Eldridge. A memorial in front of the church notes the years of his pastorate (September 1937-August 1980). His grandson, David Martin, writes: “Pap” Eldridge was my granddaddy and he pastored at Big Creek for 40 years…literally until the day he died. He and Granny Eldridge lived next to me and I remember him teaching other young preachers about the Bible in his home. The pastor of Big Creek, now, was one of those young men. Brother Reuben, as some called him, was one of the most gracious men to ever set foot in a pulpit. He could preach hard, but he could also love gently.
Arp Missionary Baptist Church, Irwin County
Brushy Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Irwin County
Brushy Creek Primitive Baptist Church is the oldest congregation in Irwin County and remains one of the largest churches in the area. Its historic cemetery is the final resting place of many Irwin County pioneer families and its setting, surrounded by vast farmlands, is idyllic. The church itself is a fine building.
The following history is from a 1958 historic marker, and gives insight to the early foundations of the congregation: Dorminy’s Meeting House was constituted December 17, 1831, on a site 1 mile Northwest of Irwinville, near the home of John B. Dorminy, Sr. The Church was of the Primitive Baptist faith, and the elders constituting it were the Rev. J. Baker and the Rev. John Marshall. Organizing members were: John Dorminy, Sr., Rachel Dorminy, Samuel Goff, Tabitha Goff, Susan Jernigan, Richard Tucker, Thomas Woodard, Nancy Woodard, Sarah Smith. John Dorminy, Sr., was Clerk.
The Rev. Archibald Odum was the first regular pastor, beginning his pastorate February 21, 1835.
In 1836, by unanimous agreement of the members, the church was moved to Young’s Meeting House in the 3rd District of Irwin County. The church remained at the Young’s Meeting House site until 1853. On March 26, of that year, upon motion duly made and carried, it was agreed to move the church to Brushy Creek, the present site. Only the old cemeteries remain to mark the locations of Dorminy’s Meeting House and Young’s Meeting House.
Mt. Olive A. M. E. Church, Ocilla
This is one of Ocilla’s most historic Black congregations. Notably, Dave Prater (1937-1988), of the famed soul duo Sam & Dave, sang in the church choir here in his youth. The seventh of ten children, Dave and his brother J. T. were members of the gospel group the Sensational Hummingbirds before Dave moved on to secular music. Dave grew up in Ocilla and his mother, Mary Pressley Prater (1902-1997) was a longtime member of Mt. Olive.
Karen P. writes: “This church is located on 7th Street, just east of the former railroad track that virtually separated the town by race. This was a grand building with a small balcony. My 87 year old mother remembers that it was a white church purchased by the African Methodist Episcopal congregation and moved to this site...”
Pinetta Baptist Church, Irwin County
This historic church is located between Irwinville and US 319, on Pinetta Road.
Ocilla Baptist Church
This beautiful church has a near-identical twin in the Rochelle United Methodist Church, about 30 miles away. This style was widely popular between the late-19th and early-20th centuries and plans were often prefabricated and built by local contractors.
Springfield Baptist Church, Irwin County
Irwinville Methodist Church, 1940
The first Methodist church in Irwinville stood near this location, but by 1903, congregants were dissatisfied with their facility and began to meet in the old courthouse. A large church was built sometime around 1907, but was torn down in the late 1920s and rebuilt. That facility served for about twenty years, until the present one was built.*
*Willie Mae Smith, The Ocilla Star, 1 February 1973.