This church was constructed between 1979-1983, likely replacing an earlier building. I believe it was established by Freedmen from nearby plantations. Set in a beautiful grove of moss-draped oaks, its of a style typical among African-American congregations in Coastal Georgia. [“Carneghan” is a phonetic spelling of Carnochan The community was named for William Carnochan, who was an early industrialist and enslaver on the McIntosh coast. It has been changed to “Carnigan” on modern maps.]
Second Credit Hill Baptist Church was established by freedmen in 1878. The cornerstone notes that it was “rebuilt after the second fire” under the leadership of Rev. G. H. Jackson in 1946. The first deacons were Jeffrey Hazzard, Smart May, Harry Grant, and George Givins. The first pastor was Rev.. Burnett Fulton.
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.
Established in 1832, St. Bartholomew’s is the oldest active African-American Episcopal congregation in Georgia. The Episcopal church was actively pursuing the evangelization of slaves by the early 1830s. In 1832, a white family in the area initiated religious education for its slaves and by 1845, the bishop appointed the Reverend William G. Williams as the area’s first official pastor. He established a church and school on the three plantations he served and was so successful that by 1860, on the eve of the Civil War, his congregation was the largest, black or white, in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.
A gift of $400 from St. Barholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York City to the Ogeechee Mission Congregation in 1881 helped stimulate interest in the construction of a permanent home. The present structure was consecrated in 1896 and named in honor of its first major patrons. Known officially today as St. Bartholomew’s Chapel, the church which was once so integral to the life of the Burroughs community still meets on a limited schedule.
National Register of Historic Places
This church, founded by Freedmen in 1868, is the center of the African-American community in Odessadale.
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
This church is located in The Level, a historic Black community near Hagan. Thanks to Greg Threatte for the identification. He notes that it was founded sometime around 1880 as Eureka Congregationalist Church. Apparently, it was later known as Mt. Zion Methodist Church. The establishment date suggests it was a Freedmen’s congregation.
The structure is near collapse. It features the pale green wainscoted walls typical of many vernacular churches dating from 1870-1920 and the historic cemetery across the road features several significant vernacular headstones.
Update: As of 2018 the church has collapsed.
This historic African-American congregation located a few miles east of Claxton was founded in 1868 by Reverend K. Williams. The first deacons were: Sampson Brewton; Jonah Brewton; Robert Hendrix; Samuel Hendrix (Treasurer); P. W. Bacon (Clerk); Berry Bacon, Reuben Jones, Jr.; John Byrd; York Collins; Sam Levant; and J. L. Lee. Under the guidance of Reverend W. F. Underwood the church was rebuilt in 1939 and renovated in 1985 by Reverend William Wright.
Folk Art & Decoration in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
Silk flowers in a variety of colors decorate graves of the recently deceased; a whimsical cookie jar stands sentinel over the grave of Lula Lee.
Though less common today, folk art headstones, as well as abundant decoration, were once found in many African-American cemeteries, a nod to the traditions of slave ancestors and the tribal customs of their native continent.
This memorial to veterans is likely the work of a Primous family member, as well as the concrete cross. It is painted white and marks nine gravestones of the Primous family. I first thought the elliptical rings beside the name to be eyes, but one viewer, Laurinda Norris, suggested they were more likely halos. I agree.
The most architecturally significant church in Hog Hummock, St. Luke was formed by 33 dissenters from the First African Baptist Church, who initially named it Second African Baptist. Like the other churches on Sapelo Island, it was formed by Freedmen.
Hog Hammock Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This historic Freeedmen’s congregation dates to 1895. It’s one of the most significant landmarks of the built environment in this vanishing Black community.