Founded in 1857, Shady Dale Methodist was originally located about two miles distant. The present church, though modernized today, was built just before the Civil War.
Calvary United Methodist Church, 1859, Shady Dale
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Tag Archives: Churches of Jasper County GA
Concord Baptist Church, Jasper County
Organized in the early 1800s, Concord is one of the most historic churches in Jasper County. It has served both Baptist and Primitive Baptist congregations. Though I don’t believe it’s active today, it appears that it’s still in use for special events. It appears to be well-maintained.
The stacked stone pillars are an indicator of the structure’s age, but not a specific one. My guess is that the church dates to the late 1840s or just after the Civil War. I’d love to know more.
The slat-back pews are among the most unique I’ve seen in any church.
Hopewell Baptist Church, Jasper County
Samuel Blackwell. a large landowner in this area, was instrumental in the founding of Hopewell Baptist in the late 1840s. The structure likely dates to the 1870s. Blackwell’s family is well represented in the small adjacent cemetery.
The building is in very unstable condition but hopefully, it can be saved.
Monticello United Methodist Church, 1895
This beautiful church was vacated in 1960, when the congregation constructed a newer facility for their growing membership. It was sold and was later used for a funeral home, the Jasper County Library, and by another non-denominational church . The wing on the right side was a later addition to accommodate offices and a Sunday school. Scott McElheny writes that it was purchased in the early 2000s with hopes of restoration for use as an events center but due to myriad stumbling blocks this never materialized. I have no idea what the plans are for this structure, but it seems a waste to let it just stand empty. Maybe a cultural or arts center would be a good use for the city of Monticello to explore; anything would be better than its present dilemma.
The congregation is one of the oldest in Jasper County. The cemetery dates to 1805 and visitors are welcome to explore the beautiful headstones, statuary, and wrought iron Victorian fencing.
Monticello Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Monticello Presbyterian Church
This congregation dates to 1829, and the present church building to the turn of the last century. This photo really doesn’t do it justice; it’s one of the largest churches I’ve seen in any small town in Georgia.
Monticello Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Adgateville Baptist Church, 1915, Jasper County
The congregation, dating to about 1812, was originally known as Hebron Primitive Baptist Church. It reorganized as Adgateville Baptist in 1915 and built this structure, still in use. It’s all that remains of the late-19th-century village named for H. L. Adgate, a large landowner in the area.
Hillsboro United Methodist Church, 1913, Jasper County
This historic congregation dates to 1808.