I’m not sure when Moses Chapel was established but like most African-American churches in Reconstruction-era Georgia the congregation likely counted many recently emancipated slaves among its members. The church, built in 1877, is a real treasure of the vernacular Gothic style common in the late 19th and early 20th century. It is the most notable landmark of the historic African-American neighborhood known as Pea Ridge.
Rutledge Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
The original church, built in 1893, burned in 1956. This was built thereafter to replace it.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This was built in the Queen Anne style after the Civil War and following a complete renovation in 1967, it became the Parish House for the Episcopal Church of the Advent, located next door.
This chapel was built by the Methodists in 1844 and was acquired by the Episcopal diocese in 1961. It was named Church of the Advent after the first Episcopal congregation in Madison, whose Greek Revival chapel once stood at the entrance to the Madison Cemetery.
In 1846, the first Episcopal congregation was established in Madison. During the 1850s, they built a Greek Revival chapel which served them for over 80 years. The hardships of the Great Depression caused a significant loss in membership and the church was deconsecrated in 1937 and razed soon thereafter. The church was re-established in 1953.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Founded in 1807 as part of the Apalachee Circuit, Madison Methodist Church has been a part of this community since its founding. In 1849, the congregation had an active role in the founding of the Madison Female Institute, one of the oldest women’s colleges in the United States. The Institute was active until the Civil War. The present sanctuary, of the Akron plan so popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, was completed in 1914. Tiffany stained glass windows are among the most prominent decorative features. The congregation remains among the most active in Morgan County.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This history of Madison Baptist Church, from their website: The Madison Baptist Church, organized November 13, 1834, was located originally on the site now occupied by the Calvary Baptist Church on Academy Street. Twenty-four years after its founding, the church moved in 1858 to its present location on Main Street when its new building was completed. Costing $11,436.89 (plus $1,900 for the purchase of the lot), the new structure, and the fence, which stood in front of it, was built of handmade brick monogrammed “J.B.W.” for John Byne Walker, who contributed the brick made on his plantation, probably by slaves. Eventually, the fence was dismantled and the bricks were used in the construction of the chimneys for a pastorium, which was erected, where the Educational Building now stands.
In the years since the building’s completion in 1858, the outside of the structure has undergone several renovations and modifications. Initially, the front of the building was flat, with access to the second-floor sanctuary provided by inside stairways. In 1917, however, the front of the church was remodeled and the outside steps, which now lead to the sanctuary, along with the columns across the front, were added.
While the present sanctuary maintains a close integrity with the initial structure in design and appearance, it reflects several modifications, which have been made over the years. The slave gallery remains as it was; but the baptismal pool in a front corner of the sanctuary, constructed in 1896 and still used regularly, replaced the old baptismal pool, which had been built in the basement of the church in 1869. The other part of the front of the sanctuary remained largely unchanged through the years until a new pipe organ and console were purchased in 1965, and the choir loft was remodeled to accommodate the changes necessitated by the purchase. The new organ replaced the pipe organ, which had been installed initially in 1919, and the new console replaced the console, which had been in use from 1956.
Most observers agree that the most striking feature of the sanctuary is the beautiful, large, memorial windows, which grace the church’s worship center. Installed in 1906, the leaded, stained glass casts a diffusion of rich color from the penetrating rays of the sun which permeate the worship environment each Sunday morning. Just here, it might be noted that, while ten stained glass windows are visible from the outside of the building, only eight can be seen from the interior of the structure. This is because of the modifications made to the front of the building, which dictated the closing off of two of the windows in the vestibule.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
In a city of beautiful churches and homes, this is one of my absolute favorites. The congregation of Madison Presbyterian dates to 1821 and during their first 21 years they met at the court house and various local schools. Architect Daniel Killian was hired to design this beautiful sanctuary in 1842, and it remains largely unchanged today, a testament to the architect’s skill and the congregation’s appreciation of history.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This congregation dates to the late 1850s, with a different name in a different location. According to an article by Joyce Morehouse [Landmarks ‘ramble’ historic churches] in the 9 May 2019 Morgan County Citizen: …Pastor Alan Cagle, who has served the church for 24 years, shared some interesting details about its history. The back door of the building was in the original church, Bethlehem Baptist Church that burned. In 1888 the “New Bethlehem Baptist Church” was built on the current property. The name was changed to Apalachee Baptist in the early 20th century. After World War II, Sunday School was started. Men returning from service dug out the basement by hand, using a “flip scoop.” The indoor baptistry was built in 1990 – earlier baptisms were performed in the Apalachee River or a member’s swimming pool. Ten years ago, the interior of the church was redecorated – many of the original features were kept…
The first Methodists met in a home in Apalachee. They built their first church around 1840 and it was known as Comfort. A new structure was completed around 1857 and the congregation changed its name to Philadelphia. A fine wooden church was built in 1903 and served until destroyed by fire on 13 April 1923. The present structure was built in 1925. It was associated with the Methodist Episcopal [M. E.] sect at that time.
A granite slab table for dinners-on-the-ground is located behind the church, as well as this playhouse which I think is meant to represent Jonah’s whale.
The cornerstone notes that Buckhead Methodist was founded in 1824, and that the building committee for this church included R. N. Pirkle, Chairman; H. M. McWhorter; A. J. S. Jackson; J. W. Wright; Mrs. Julia Shouse; and J. A. Mason. Lawrence W. Neff was the pastor at the time. The present structure, built in 1915, is now home to Grace Bible Church.
Buckhead Historic District, National Register of Historic Places