This is the view that caught my attention driving down the road. No one else may see this, but I was reminded of one side of the House of Seven Gables.
The Lovetts have businesses that still carry their name and a cemetery less than a mile from where this house stands.
The Newington Historical Society is working to restore this historic Black church in Screven County. You can read more about this church at Vanishing South Georgia and Historic Rural Churches of Georgia.
You can follow along with the restoration at Walker Grove Restoration on Facebook.
At the moment, the only information I know is that the church was founded in 1868, and the building was erected in 1914. I know they were an active congregation prior to COVID.
Oak Grove Methodist Church in Screven County was founded in 1876 by freedmen and women. The current church building dates to 1919. While the church is no longer in use and has fallen in disrepair, the cemetery is still active. This is one of my favorite church buildings. Between the setting and the colors, it’s one I am glad to have seen in person.
I am unable to find much about this church, but it is located outside of Sylvania in Screven County, Georgia.
The Brick Church was built in 1827 on land donated by Reverend Payton Wade. Enslaved labor from the Lebanon Forest Plantation built this church building, and it’s a testament to their skills that this is simultaneously the oldest church and oldest brick church in Screven County.
According to 1859 member rolls, there were 419 Black members and 150 white members. Considering the Wade family enslaved over 400 people, it is likely that most of the Black members were enslaved by the Wade family. There was a slave gallery at one point, indicated by the covered windows at the top. The gallery has since been removed.
The church and cemetery are still in use today. The Wade plantation still exists as a pecan farm, but it is no longer owned by the Wades.
