Located in McIntosh County on Highway 17, Christ’s Chapel is better known as the “Smallest Church in America.” Initially constructed in 1940, the current church was rebuilt after it was destroyed by arson in 2015.
Christ’s Chapel-Townsend, Georgia
Category Archives: Churches and Temples
Darien United Methodist Church-Darien, Georgia
From the historic marker, “On November 29, 1841, the cornerstone was laid for Darien Methodist Church on Vernon Square. This church, set afire twice by Federal troops in 1863, did not burn and became the rallying site for the rebuilding of Darien. Destroyed in 1881 by a hurricane, it was replaced in 1883 by the present sanctuary. The Women’s Society, begun in 1878, raised funds for rebuilding.”
First African Baptist Church-Darien, Georgia
Built in 1868, the First African Baptist Church in Darien is a replica of an earlier-built 1834 church on the same site. It was burned during the 1863 burning by Federal troops during the Civil War.
Circular Congregational Church Burial Ground-Charleston, South Carolina
Founded in 1681, the Circular Congregational Church is one of the oldest churches in continual use in Charleston. The burial ground, also known as graveyard since it is next to the church, is the oldest one in the city. The first burial occurred in 1695.
Many of the grave markers are made of slate and carved in New England. The tympanic markers illustrate the evolution of grave symbolism. Skull and crossbones were part of the earlier designs, but they evolved to angels and portraiture. The graveyard contains the most slate markers in a Southern state.
Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin-Sharon, Georgia
Built in 1883, the Church of the Purification is tied to the oldest Catholic congregation in Georgia. Started in 1790 by several families from Maryland, the congregation began in Locust Grove in Taliaferro County. This church is the third building of the church. The church no longer hosts regular services.
Little Union Primitive Baptist Church-Roberta, Georgia
Founded on November 19, 1825, the Little Union Primitive Baptist Church sits just outside Roberta, Georgia, in what was known as the Friendship Community. The land for the church and cemetery was given by Jasper Taylor, a local farmer and enslaver. The church was built with enslaved labor. Like many white churches at the time, enslaved men and women attended the same church services as their white enslavers. Unlike many churches, there was no slave gallery, but a wall was built to separate the Black parishioners from the white ones.
The church cemetery is unusual because most Primitive Baptists believe in a simple, unadorned look. This applies to their cemetery, too. This cemetery has three Victorian monuments of note, which is a rare find in the state of Georgia.
A brief history can be found here.