This historic African-American church was organized in 1892. It was re-established in 1954 by Reverend A. Goram. Deacons at the time of re-establishment were L. J. Robinson, H. Geter, Sr., C. H. Gillis, Jr., S. E. Chapman, J. A. Williams, and W. B. Bennett. Trustees were Rufus Mincey, Jessie Dixon, Charlie Little, and Jim Nesbit.
This church is located just past the Towns community and near the Telfair-Wheeler county line.
In 1884, a small Methodist congregation began meeting near Landsburg in a log structure. They relocated to to this location sometime thereafter and built the present church which is still in use today.
This congregation was established in 1947.
I haven’t been able to locate any history about this site, as yet, but it’s a nice example of a “camp ground” where outdoor preaching and singing would have taken place. This one is a bit plainer than most, but a great survivor. Stephanie Miller writes, via Facebook: This is the old camp meeting arbor built according to the hand painted date behind the pulpit in 1904 (if my memory is correct)..I also found the date on the wall reads, “August 22, 1907.” Not sure if that was the first sermon, when it was built, or of another significance...My Grandmother used to talk about how her family would pack up their wagon with food for the week and go to the church for the meeting all week long. They would cook all their meals and stay on the grounds. Her Daddy would wear his overalls and white long-sleeve shirt. There is a small church near this today, and after all these years it is starting to finally show signs of decay. I noticed one of the corner posts looked to be leaning. I sure hope it is preserved. The old pews and tables for spreading out food are still under the arbor.
Shawn Roberson writes: I can remember going to camp meetings there as a very young child with my Granny and cousins. I remember the fresh woodchip smell. The woodchips were put down for the flooring at the camp meets. We would play in the tabernacle during the summer months. Too many memories to type. The building to the right of the church is where the preacher would stay. We have most all of our family buried in the cemetery across the road.
Thanks to Paul Wetherington for suggesting this location.
A historic marker placed in 1991 by the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church at the road leading to the church (now a United Methodist Church) reads: Spring Hill, settled in 1807, was a preaching place on the Ohoopee Circuit by 1814. In 1850 John Carmichael gave land for a campground. A tabernacle replaced the brush arbors about the church. Campmeetings continued seven decades. Clements Institute evolved from pre-Civil War schools and in 1871 became the first Methodist District High School. C. C. Hines and W. A. Huckabee led in founding South Georgia College at McRae in 1891. From 1879, J. D. Anthony, “Bishop of the Wiregrass”, made this his home. Here, Bascom Anthony entered the ministry. In 1991, the church worships in its 1879 frame building and the social hall is in the school.
A modern steeple has been added and it appears the social hall is now located next door. The schoolhouse, seen in the next post, is just across a dirt road from the church.
This congregation was organized in October 1885. To my knowledge, this is the original church building and was probably built soon after the congregation formed. I believe some of my Browning relatives attended this church as it’s located across the road from the old Browning’s Grocery. It’s one of the most beautiful country churches in the area and features one of the best-kept churchyards and cemeteries I’ve ever seen.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 