Tag Archives: Churches of Ware County GA

Gone But Not Forgotten: Ware County’s Ezekiel Church

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I’ve learned that the historic Ezekiel New Congregational Methodist Church, a landmark with locals and a favorite with photographers, has collapsed in recent months. I’ve not been able to find out when, but it’s been at least a couple of months. In October of 2023, per Google Maps, the steeple was leaning backward and it was probably a matter of time before it all fell. (I don’t know if it fell or was bulldozed). The church was established in the 1870s and active until the 1970s. It fell into disrepair after the congregation disbanded and has been in derelict condition for many years. A lightning strike a few years ago did further damage.

Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church, Circa 1875, Manor

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Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church, near Manor, is the 14th Crawfordite meeting house I have documented in Georgia, the culmination of work that began well over a decade ago.

In that time, I’ve come to consider them an architectural and cultural treasure and admire them as landmarks of vernacular architecture.

As I’ve said before, they inspire even those without religion in their simplicity and practicality, and architecturally, are examples of sound construction and periodic restoration in the traditional sense.

The churches are all isolated but form a collective resource nonetheless.

Some are still in use while others are not, but in one way or another, they are all watched over by the families with connections to the congregations.

The Crawfordites, whom I’ve already discussed at length elsewhere on this website, were/are a subset of the Primitive Baptists who began forming congregations in the 1860s and 1870s, according to historian Dr. John G. Crowley.

Manor Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Ware County

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St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1898, Waycross

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The first St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waycross was dedicated on 12 May 1889. On 3 October 1896 it was destroyed by a hurricane. Father P. J. Luckie, who had come to Waycross in 1897, led the effort to construct the church seen here. It was built by local contractor T. J. Darling and the work was completed in October 1898. Unbelievably, another hurricane ravaged Southeast Georgia soon after the church was finished and during the storms, it was lifted off its foundation and badly damaged. Father Luckie had it repaired in short order.

It was moved just a short distance from another position on this lot in the 1920s and served the congregation until 1981, when a larger modern structure was built on Darling Avenue. In recent years, the old St. Joseph’s was used by the Lutherans but it may be empty at the present time.

Jason Canon recently reached out to share a bit of the history of St. Joseph Academy, a school established by the church. “The Order of the Sisters of St. Francis of Allegany opened the Academy in September 1948. It served both Catholic and non-Catholic students until its closure in 1976.

Downtown Waycross Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Holy Temple Church, Waycross

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I’m not sure as to the early history of this church but it has been home to the Holy Temple Church of Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith for at least ten years. I first photographed it in 2007.

First African Baptist Church, Circa 1905, Waycross

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Now known as Antioch First Baptist Church, this was built by the congregation of the First African Baptist Church, who were the first and “mother” church of all the other African-American Baptist congregations in the area. It has its origins in a group of ex-slaves who were first organized as Zion African Baptist Church in 1870. Reverend Frank S. Hazzard was the first pastor. He was the founder in 1880 of the first private school for black children in Ware County, known as Hazzard Hill Baptist School. After meeting in a log cabin for many years, they built a more substantial frame church around the turn of the century. It was destroyed by a storm just a few years later and the present structure was built to replace it in 1905.

National Register of Historic Places

Waresboro United Methodist Church, 1935, Ware County

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The South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church notes: Shortly after the town of Waresboro was settled, there were Methodists gathered for services.  In the early records, the preacher from the Waresboro Circuit preached at the beginning of the church in Waycross…It was as part of the Waresboro Mission that the first services were held in Waycross.  In 1888, this church was organized; Reverend J. G. Stern was the first pastor.  There were 17 members and they met in a new building. The present frame building was built in 1935.

St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church, Waycross

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Manor United Methodist Church, 1894, Ware County

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This church is located on US 84 and is next door to the old Manor School. FYI: Manor is pronounced with a long “a”, as in May-ner.

Ezekiel New Congregational Methodist Church, 1874, Ware County

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This congregation was still active in 1974, when they held their centennial, but I don’t know when it disbanded, nor do I know when the fire damage that partially gutted the roof occurred.

Ezekiel New Congregational Methodist, as well as the old Ruskin Church and the old Trinity Methodist in downtown Waycross (now demolished) are, in my opinion, all the work of the same builder.  J. Gregory Smith writes: Once as a child, I marveled at a 10 foot rattle snake that was hung on a pole on the highway in front of the church. My grandmother, Mina Jordan Smith once ran a filling station and grocery in Dixie-Union . In later years. my cousin Twiman Smith ran a store just down the road.Good memories!!

Gathering at Ezekiel New Congregational Methodist Church, Ware County, Ga., Circa 1935-1945. Photo Courtesy Leigh Nelson.

Leigh Nelson shared this wonderful historic photo, likely made during a revival or homecoming. She is unsure of the date but some of her relatives were part of the congregation. [Just looking at the clothing, I’d date this between-1935-1945].

Thanks to Anna Gay Leavitt for helping me locate this church.

Update: As of late August 2024, I’ve been told the church has collapsed.