I’ve always been intrigued by homemade signs, especially church signs. I photographed this one in 2010.
Church Sign, Long County
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Tag Archives: Churches of Long County GA
Greater Historical Elem Missionary Baptist Church, Ludowici
Elim and Jones Creek are the two oldest churches in Long County, and after the Civil War, freedmen from both congregations formed their own churches. St. Thomas Missionary Baptist grew out of Jones Creek and I understand that the Greater Elem Historical Missionary Baptist Church was connected to Elim Baptist. It was established in 1873.
Praise House, Circa 1930, Long County
Driving the back roads of Long County the other day, I came across this gem and soon met Mr. Worthy, the landowner. He explained that this was an original praise house and that it was at least 80 years old. [This particular area has a long history of Black farmers and in earlier times, there was a large turpentine operation nearby. This likely explains its remote presence here]. To my knowledge, it’s the only surviving praise house in Long County.
Praise houses were tiny shelters used by Geechee-Gullah, and other African-Americans, for worship and as community gathering places. They are the rarest examples of religious architecture in Georgia, with just a few surviving in the coastal region.
The sign, reading “Thee Body of Christ”, is what initially got my attention.
Mr. Worthy noted that the sign, and other work in the yard, was done by his wife, Shelly Worthy.
Mrs. Worthy also created this small chapel as a place of worship and reflection.
Her inspired handiwork can be seen all over the property.
It is a fascinating place and an important example of a passion for history and a passion for faith coming together to protect a resource of great significance.
Rye Patch Baptist Church, Long County
This historic church is the center of Rye Patch community, as it has been for well over a hundred years.
Pigot Branch Missionary Baptist Church, Long County
Pigot Branch Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1883, though this isn’t the original structure. Columbus Howard donated the land upon which the church and cemetery are located.
Middleton Memorial Methodist Church, Long County
This congregation was founded in 1925, formed from Sand Hill Methodist Church.
Tibet Baptist Church, Long County
Tibet Baptist Church is the most visible landmark of the Tibet (prounounced tib-it) in southeastern Long County. I have been unable to locate a history of the congregation, though I believe this structure replaced an earlier building.
Walthourville Presbyterian Church, 1878
The first retreat of the Midway colonists was located about fifteen miles inland, on higher and sandier ground. Initially, it was known as Sand Hills. Midway member Andrew Walthour built the first dwelling in the area in 1795 and was soon joined by a multitude of others. By 1800 the settlement became more permanent, and the name was changed to Walthourville. In 1820 a Union building was erected, since the retreat population were still congregants of Midway. At first, they went back and forth to the main church for baptisms and communion, but eventually the congregation at Walthourville was established. A new church was built circa 1845, and in 1855 they officially became Presbyterians. At this time they were given independence from Midway, but still maintained a spiritual bond. They were vastly successful as a congregation, being the second largest in the Savannah presbytery and the largest in terms of benevolent gifts. The journal of Judge John LeConte Harden, who spent much of his boyhood in the 1840s in Walthourville, fondly recalled a place called Tea Grove Farms. It was one of the most prosperous in the county, and quite early for a commercial farm; everything from tea, which was in cultivation in several locations around Liberty County at the time, to peaches, pears, apples and scuppernongs was produced at Tea Grove. The descendants of the Midway congregation who now made Walthourville their home were quite industrious and also grew sugar cane and were pioneers in the Southern naval stores industry. Fire destroyed the 1845 church and the present Walthourville Presbyterian Church was built in 1877-78. [The church building itself is actually located in Long County, just over the Liberty County line, but is associated with Liberty County and Midway and therefore included here].
Though the present church was built after emancipation, the slave gallery was retained in the architecture. I’m not sure if this was just an attempt to copy the design of the earlier church, or simply to accommodate larger crowds from time to time.
National Register of Historic Places
St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church, Long County
Founded in 1879 by the freedmen of Jones Creek Baptist Church, St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church is one of the most historic African-American congregations in Long County.
Jones Creek Baptist Church, 1856, Long County
Jones Creek Baptist Church is the oldest and most historic church in Long County. The congregation was organized in 1810 and first met in a brush arbor until building a log meetinghouse in 1819, which was used until the construction of a frame building in 1832. To accommodate a growing congregation, the present structure replaced it in 1856. From A History of Jones Creek Baptist Church, Long County, Georgia by Elmer Oris Parker.
Note: The cemetery photos originally posted here have been removed as of January 2025. I’m updating the images and will replace as soon as possible.