This is another historic African-American church for which I can find no historical background, but I’ve become fascinated with the vernacular architecture that features prominently on these buildings. The steeple, or tower, is usually the focal point, and even on a newer structure, like this cinderblock example, creativity is in the details. The use of the open sides of the cinderblocks to create a pattern and opening was a clever idea that adds great visual appeal, in my opinion.
Beginning as a Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) congregation, this church was last known as Omaha United Methodist. It was a successor to the Florence M. E. Church, located nearby. It has been converted into a residence, while retaining its important architectural features. The shingle-sided tower with its louvered Gothic vents is perhaps the most striking. I think it’s wonderful that someone made this a home while respecting its historical appearance. It’s always an option with old churches and I wish more would be saved in this way.
Based solely upon early burial dates in the church cemetery, I would guess that this congregation dates to the 1920s. I can’t locate any other history at this time.
Athen Hill Baptist Church is located on the highway that goes to Omaha from Lumpkin. Its in an isolated setting on the side of a large hill, with a small cemetery beside it.
The church appears to have been abandoned for quite a few years and I can’t locate any history.
Historic resource surveys were unable to assign a date to this structure, but it probably dates to the late 1800s or early 1900s. Obviously, the windows have been changed. It features two front doors, typical of a time when women and men entered the sanctuary separately. It’s located in southwestern Stewart County, near the Quitman County line.
A large cemetery is located beside the church, indicating that it has been an historically large congregation. Interestingly, there are a few burials dating to the 1850s, but the vast majority date from the 1890s onward.
Located in rural Stewart County, Sardis Methodist Church was established in the 1840s. According to Mr. Joe Barge, who gave us a fascinating tour of the property, the church building dates to circa 1855. It was built by Joseph Sessions (1794-1856) and his nephew, Benjamin Franklin Barge (1810-1873).
The Barge family has been a part of the congregation since its inception and much of the farm and timberland around the church has been in the family during that time. The area is known as Trotman, though appears on maps, incorrectly, as Troutman. If I recall correctly, Mr. Barge said that seven generations of his family are buried in the cemetery.
The church had fallen into serious disrepair by the 1970s. Restoration was the only option members felt was viable and the work was completed by 1982. One gets a sense of the pride that members have in their church, from the well maintained cemetery and churchyard to the interior. I believe the congregation meets just once a month now, but they’re still active and take excellent care of this special place.
Country churches like Sardis are becoming much less common these days, as families disperse from rural areas, but they’re still among the great rural landmarks of Georgia. It’s inspiring to see congregations embracing and preserving their history, and Sardis does as good a job as any I’ve seen in my travels.
A lightning strike took out the historic Red Hill Christian Church near Richland on 21 June 2023. By early December, the congregation had already rebuilt it in the same manner as the original, and it looks like they’re nearly ready to move back in and begin holding services.
The first Christian Church [Disciples of Christ] in Georgia was constituted at this site in 1837. Services were held early in the 1830’s by Rev. George Lynch Smith, first in a brush arbor and later in a log schoolhouse. It was first known as Providence Chapel. The structure lost in June was built in 1857 during the pastorate of Rev. Smith’s son, Dr. Jubilee Smith, who served the congregation until 1895. It was originally a two-story building, with the second floor serving as home to Smith Lodge No. 233, F. &. A. M. Dr. Smith organized Co. I, 17th Georgia Infantry here in August 1861. The second floor was removed much later; I’m not sure when the name was changed to Red Hill.
According to the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church: This church is thought to have been constituted in 1834. Henry Audulf gave the land for the first church, but there were no recorded deeds so, on May 7, 1845, W. A. Scandrett paid Henry Audulf’s son, John, one hundred dollars for the land. The first building was constructed on half an acre north of Broad Street but it was destroyed by a tornado… The second building was also destroyed by a tornado. Services were conducted in the school building until a church was built north of the present business section. The sanctuary was used until 1912. Under the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Allen, a new lot was purchased on the corner of Phillips Street and Hamilton Avenue and the present sanctuary was constructed.
Richland Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
The only information I’ve been able to locate on the history of Wesley Chapel, located in the forgotten community of Beatrice, is that it was established in 1838.
That date comes from the old South Georgia Conference-provided sign at the front of the church. The sign is of a type used by the conference in the 1930s-1940s or thereabouts.
An architectural survey dates the present structure to 1890. The stained glass windows appear to be later additions.
Perhaps as interesting as the church itself is the historic cemetery which lies adjacent to the structure. The earliest burials I noted dated to the early 1840s. The cemetery affords excellent views of the surrounding countryside and is characterized by two large enclosures made of local stone. They are great examples of early vernacular funerary architecture.
The shady respite of the Sims Plot is enclosed by a local stone fence, abundant with Resurrection Fern.
The plot of pioneer Thomas Turner House [18 April 1787-14 June 1851] & Elizabeth Young House [20 Jun 1787-5 December 1863] and family is made of local red stone and is a massive enclosure.
A gate once guarded the plot but is long gone.
The fence was well built and has survived largely intact, though this section has collapsed. It is likely descendants have made repairs over the years.
Update: I drove past this site in early December 2023 and the church has been demolished. There’s just a patch of red clay where it once stood.
This historic African-American congregation is located near Kimbrough, just inside the Stewart County line.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 