Tag Archives: Churches of Randolph County GA

Hopewell Church, Randolph County

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I’ve been fascinated by this old church since first running across it back in 2008 and have photographed it several times. It’s in a low area near Pachitla Creek and I’ve seen the surrounding lots flooded on more than one occasion. I’m guessing it was a Primitive Baptist church, considering the inclusion of a door on the side.

There’s an old precinct house located adjacent, but I now believe the church and precinct house were moved here from the nearby Martins Crossroads community for preservation purposes. First, I imagine the cinderblock piers aren’t original to a structure of this age, and second, an historic survey of Randolph County I found on Rootsweb stated that Hopewell Church was located in Martins Crossroads, and gave a different GPS location. That being said, this whole area may be considered the Martins Crossroads community and I may be incorrect. Caitlin Jones wrote, a few years ago, that the property is now owned by her grandfather, Robert Odom, and someone else noted that there was once a grist mill across the road from this location. I look forward to learning more.

Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Randolph County

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Kuanita Evette Murphy states in her book, The History of the Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church: From the Brush Arbor to the Sanctuary, that the congregation dates all the way back to 1834 and began as a brush arbor church. From the era of enslavement to the present day, Piney Grove has been a spiritual resource for its members and is among the oldest black congregations in present-day Randolph County.

There’s a large historic cemetery beside the church. The following memorials are presented randomly, for their vernacular importance.

Nellie Fillingame (Birthdate unknown-17 January 1938)

The roots of this tree look like they’re going to topple this nice old vernacular headstone.

Elijah Stergis (Birthday unknown-16 September 1916)

These two memorials by renowned sculptor Eldren Bailey were purchased through the Haugabrooks Funeral Home in Atlanta.

Roy Stergis (Birthdate unknown-died 1945)

It’s in a beautifully secluded location, far back in the woods down hilly roads of orange-red clay. This area of northwestern Randolph County is known locally as the Upper Corner. This historic congregation is still very active.

Virgil Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 1934, Cuthbert

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Virgil Chapel is one of the earliest African-American congregations in Randolph County. It was founded in a brush arbor in 1868. Rev. Green McCarthy of Benevolence Baptist Church appointed Rev. J. Simpson as the first full-time pastor. Deacons were: Jake Gilbert, Green Johnson, John Thomas and William Jones. The congregation met for many years in the brush arbor. It was circa 1880 before the first permanent church was built. As the years went on the membership continued to grow. The present church was constructed during the pastorate of Rev. C. C. Scott in 1934 to accommodate this expansion.

Vilulah Church, Randolph County

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Vilulah Baptist Church was organized in a brush arbor in 1867, with seventeen original members. The name Vilulia, from a hymn in the old Sacred Harp Song Book, was chosen for the congregation. It was changed to Vilulah later. The first permanent church, a log structure, was built on land given by “Uncle Bobby” Knowles. It was later replaced by a wooden frame structure. I believe this may actually be the third church home of Vilulah.

Early members of the congregation included James N. Bigbie, who lost an arm while serving with the U.S. Army in the Mexican-American War, and William Forsythe Davis, a Confederate Army captain. Other founding members were: Albert Bailey, Jarrett Ragan, Abner Belcher, Judge Irvine Saunders, Baal Smith, Dr. Thomas Bigbie, A.S.A. McLendon, Alexander Morgan, Andrew Blackburn, and Benjamin Joiner.

Brooksville Methodist Church, 1874

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My date for the church construction comes from a survey of local historic resources. I’m unsure when the congregation was established.

Brooksville Baptist Church & Sunday School, Randolph County

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The Brooksville Baptist congregation was established in 1858.

I’m unsure when the present structure was built.

I believe this served as the Sunday School building.

Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, Randolph County

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I’ve been unable to locate a historical background for this church, but judging by the architecture I’d presume the structure dates to early 20th century, late 19th perhaps. It may be a Freedmen Church. The church is best known for its association with civil rights martyr Lena Baker (8 June 1900-5 March 1945), the only woman ever executed in Georgia’s electric chair. She sang in the choir at Mt. Vernon and is buried in its historic cemetery.

Springvale Baptist Church, Circa 1910, Randolph County

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Springvale Baptist Church was constituted in 1843 and originally known as Bethel. Its first home was a log structure near Pataula Creek. Two more churches, built in 1849 and 1870, would follow and both were gifted to the African-American congregation that grew out of Bethel after the Civil War. In 1893 the name was changed from Bethel to Springvale and the present church constructed about 1910.

Benevolence Baptist Church, 1906, Randolph County

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Though the present church building dates to 1906, Benevolence Baptist Church was constituted on 16 May 1840; it succeeded nearby Walnut Grove Baptist Church (known as Mt. Paran when organized with nine members in November 1831). In 1840, Missionary Baptists accepted five acres of land from Thomas Coram, first settler of this area, with the intention of forming a separate church. For this generosity, Abner Ward suggested the name Benevolence for church and community. Members hauled lumber from Dawson and built the first church building, dedicated 17 May 1842, with Reverend James Matthews, Pastor, and A.M. Albritton, Clerk. First deacons were James Sherman and John Winfrey. Other early clerks were David Holman, Abner, E. H. Keese and G. W. King.

An Act of Benevolence, a play by Anna Kirsten Beard and Karan Pittman detailing the lives of the church’s pioneer members, provides historical and genealogical information. I’ve abridged it here as a list of these early settlers: Reverend James Matthews; Isaac Osteen; Simon D. & America Jane McLendon; John & Nancy Winfrey; Samuel, Edith & Mary Sherman; John M. Frazier; Ansel & Ann Crawford Albritton; Eleanor Collins; Mary Walker; Isabella Wamble; Sarah Stapleton; Thomas Coram.

 

 

 

 

Presbyterian Church, 1900, Cuthbert

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This congregation was organized in 1850 and first known as Berea. The present church was built in 1900.

Cuthbert Historic District, National Register of Historic Places