Bethany Baptist Church

Bethany Baptist Church was chartered on Sept. 8, 1828, with six charter members: James Garrett, Levin Collins, Uriah Jones, Lucy Garrett, Catherine Simmons, and Mary Jones. Its first pastor, John W. Cooper, served from 1828 to 1847. In 1847 the current building was constructed on a 7.5-acre parcel deeded by plantation owner Joel Culpepper. Slaves attended with white families and were accepted as members, and in 1885 all “colored brethren” were granted letters of dismission to constitute their own church, also named Bethany. In 1887, 37 members were granted letters to establish Chipley Baptist Church, now First Baptist Church of Pine Mountain. The 1847 church is a small vernacular building in front gable form, and an attached annex added in 1972 replicates the church’s form. The interior retains beaded board walls and ceilings. Electricity was installed during a revival in 1939, replacing four original oil lamps. The church has 23 memorial stained glass windows installed in 1962 and 1963, and the adjacent cemetery contains graves dating from 1847 to the present. It has also served as a school and farmers' grange, and it has been in continuous use as a church since its organization in 1828.

Georgia · United States