Tag Archives: Churches of Montgomery County GA

St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church, Montgomery County

The only indications I have regarding the history of St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church come from the cemetery, as is often the case with rural churches. The earliest decedent in the cemetery, that I can determine from Findagrave, is Willie T. Thomas, who died in 1854. There would have been no independent Black congregations at that time, but St. Mary may have originated as a brush arbor church on a plantation. There are a couple of other 19th century burials with legible memorials, indicating this was a Freedmen’s church, but those dates are exceptions, and most burials dates to 1940 or later.

Sarah Wilson Tyre Chapel, Mount Vernon

This quaint little chapel is located on the campus of Brewton-Parker College.

Nepsey-Warren United Methodist Church, 1877 & 1970s, Ailey

Nepsey Methodist Church originated as Old Wesley Chapel in 1872, on the plantation of William James Peterson. The congregation built the church at this site in 1877 and renamed it Nepsey Methodist Church, in honor of Sister Nepsey Johnson, a beloved member known as “a steadfast and immovable Christian”. Samuel P. Bryant was the first pastor and the construction of the church was completed during the pastorate of the Rev. M. P. Moore The church was remodeled and bricks added between 1974 and 1977. Nepsey merged with Warren Chapel, which was organized in Mt. Vernon in the early 1900s, in 1983.

Live Oak Missionary Baptist Church, Ailey

This congregation was founded on 19 May 1891. It’s located adjacent to Ailey’s historic Rosenwald School and has been an integral part of the local African-American community throughout its history.

Long Pond Methodist Church, 1877

Long Pond is a real treasure. It retains its two historic churches, an old school house and store. Most places like this have long disappeared and are nothing more than a name on a map, but not so Long Pond, where history is truly appreciated. When the congregations of this church and its neighbor, Long Pond Baptist, got too small to sustain services, the community came together and decided to meet in both houses of worship on alternating schedules. Both congregations date to 1802, when Montgomery County was filled with pioneer settlers taming Georgia’s interior.

I first went to Long Pond in February of 2012. At that time I met Mr. James Fowler, to whom I’m grateful for sharing  the history of this wonderful place, and for granting me access to it’s beautiful interior. He was a true Southern gentleman, of the kind you never find anymore. His charisma and love for this place and the surrounding area was inspiring.

I hope someone in the community will work to place this church, as well as the Baptist Church, on the National Register of Historic Places.

Long Pond Baptist Church, Montgomery County

Founded in the same year as Long Pond Methodist, the present Baptist church was built in the late 19th century.

McGregor Presbyterian Church, Montgomery County

This congregation dates to 1897.

Charlotte United Methodist Church, 1925, Montgomery County

The first church was built here in 1910, on land donated by Farquar Adams. It was destroyed by high winds in 1915 and the congregation met in the local schoolhouse until the present building was constructed in 1925.

Ailey United Methodist Church, 1890

Soon after Ailey was settled, Methodists began holding services in their homes. When the church was constructed, there were 24 members. Reverend J. S. Lewis was the pastor at the time.  The building is of native pine painted white.  In 1942, the existing structure was raised to add a lower floor for Sunday School rooms.