Historic Rural Churches of Georgia
by Sonny Seals; George S. Hart
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Pub Date Sep 01 2016 | Archive Date Jan 16 2017
Description
Aspects of Georgia’s unique history can only be told through its extant rural churches. As the Georgia backcountry rapidly expanded in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the churches erected on this newly parceled land became the center of community life. These early structures ranged from primitive outbuildings to those with more elaborate designs and were constructed with local, hand-hewn materials to serve the residents who lived nearby. From these rural communities sprang the villages, towns, counties, and cities that informed the way Georgia was organized and governed and that continue to influence the way we live today.
Historic Rural Churches of Georgia presents forty-seven early houses of worship from all areas of the state. Nearly three hundred stunning color photographs capture the simple elegance of these sanctuaries and their surrounding grounds and cemeteries. Of the historic churches that have survived, many are now in various states of distress and neglect and require restoration to ensure that they will continue to stand. This book is a project of the Historic Rural Churches of Georgia organization, whose mission is the preservation of historic rural churches across the state and the documentation of their history since their founding. If proper care is taken, these endangered and important landmarks can continue to represent the state’s earliest examples of rural sacred architecture and the communities and traditions they housed.
A Note From the Publisher
John Thomas Scott is a professor of history and director of the Honors Program at Mercer University.
Advance Praise
—Dan Roper, editor, Georgia Backroads Magazine
“The sight of an old church strikes a chord deep within us, as if the
hymns and prayers that rose in them transformed the structures
themselves into sanctums. Surely we have entered sacred ground with this
rich and lovely book of photographs of Georgia’s historic rural
churches. . . . In many ways this splendid book is a pilgrimage into the
heart and soul of Georgia’s history and culture. It is deserving of a
mighty mighty praise.”
—Janisse Ray, author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood and Drifting into Darien
"Rural churches offer a unique window on the soul of Georgia. Through
them we gain insight into the architecture, culture, history, and
geography of our state. This beautifully illustrated and engagingly
written book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in this
vanishing part of Georgia’s landscape and a must-read for anyone seeking
to understand what it means to be a Georgian and an American."
—W. Todd Groce, president and CEO, Georgia Historical Society
"To understand the history of Georgia, it is essential to understand the
role that religion played in the lives of the people. . . . I am proud
to be associated with the book and the movement to preserve the historic
rural churches of Georgia."
—President Jimmy Carter
"Historic Rural Churches of Georgia has a foreword by President
Jimmy Carter, a preface by Seals and Hart telling why they did it and
an informative introduction about early religion in Georgia by Mercer
University historian John Thomas Scott. It also has some cool old maps
of Georgia and excellent, evocative photography by a group of
volunteers. . . . Erin Kirk New’s elegant design uses the large format
well and enhances the plethora of pictures with just enough text of
sufficient size to tell this multilayered story without keeping the
congregation overlong. . . . This big, beautiful, informative book is
well worth its price . . . and is a fine gift for anybody interested in
Georgia and how it came to be."
—Pete McCommons, Flagpole
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780820349350 |
| PRICE | $44.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 432 |
Links
Average rating from 10 members
Featured Reviews
John S, Librarian
Aside from the obvious historical value of this photo essay
delving into the architectural and social history of Georgia and as a snapshot of the South as a whole
it provides insight into how deep the roots of religion go in the that often mis-understood part of the US
Filled with beautiful photos of not just the incredible churches but the surrounding landscape that cannot
have but helped shape the lives and the faith of these people
January G, Reviewer
When I opened to the first page of this book, I gasped! Stunning photography on EVERY page and interesting historical information is given.
I was given a free copy to download on my desktop from the publisher via NetGalley and it was beautiful on-screen, so I imagine the hard copy would make a lovely gift, and amazing coffee table book that you will look at over and over.
Simply stunning and informative!
Media/Journalist 81423
The photos along with the history of Georgia is fascinating. History buffs will love, photographers will love, and people of the South will love.
Reviewer 284405
I love old churches. Historic Rural Churches of Georgia is a fascinating book about the oldest churches in Georgia. The pictures are gorgeous and show the true beauty of each of these churches. The history of the churches adds to the interest of the book. Once I started I could not put the book down. Even my husband who is not a reader came over to look at the pictures and started reading the historic profiles. This book would be a wonderful gift for the hard to buy for history buff on your Christmas list. This is an excellent book and one of my favorites from this year!
Tanya A, Reviewer
"Historic Rural Churches of Georgia" features forty-seven Protestant churches all over the state in almost three hundred truly stunning photographs. It was a great pleasure looking at this amazing research. The photographs were accompanied with stories of each building as well as some personalities. Some buildings are preserved in an excellent shape while others have been literally destroyed or they are on the way there.
I would only add one thing to this book - more historic black and white pictures with people of the time in them. There was one photo like that and it really brought out the story.
Michelle K, Reviewer
Historic Rural Churches of Georgia
by Sonny Seals; George S. Hart
University of Georgia Press
Arts & Photography, Christian
Pub Date 01 Sep 2016
I am volunatarily reviewing a copy of Historic Rural Churches in Georgia through the publisher and Netgalley:
From Baptist Churches to Methodist churches, from churches dating back to 1788. Ch
Church buildings of course did not begin in Georgia, but Georgia is full of unique, quaint Church buildings. The oldest Church structure being Jerusalem Lutheran, in Effingtan County the church was built in 1733 and the oldest Baptist Church in Georgia is Powerlton Baptist, in Hancock Country which was built in 1798. During the times of Slavery and up until recent times Churches were segregated as well as schools. Black Christians would often turn to Evangelical Christianity for hope in the midst of the darkness.
Hebron Presbyterian was founded in 1797, in Banks County. Mt. Olivet Methodist originated in 1868 in Banks County.
The vivid photographs, and histories behind each church in this beautiful book. We are taken on a visual journey through the Historic Rural Churches of Georgia through these beautifully photographed churches.
I give Historic Rural Churches of Georgia five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Killian P, Reviewer
Having lived in the Deep South/Bible Belt all my life I've been inside a fair number of historic churches. Though I'm not personally Christian, I've always been attracted to the sense of peace and joy that emanates from these places that isn't present (for me at least) in their modern cousins. There's something to be said about a place of worship that has been standing for longer than you can trace your ancestry back.
This book is published by the University of Georgia Press, and was created by the founders of the Historic Rural Churches of Georgia non-profit. There is a deep love you can feel throughout the pages as you see the incredible preservations as well as the devastating ruins. The authors do an incredible job of providing history specific not just to GA generally, but also to these specific churches and the communities that worship there, or in some cases left the area and disbanded.
It took me quite a while to finish this book because I was trying to savor the stories and images from each church. The authors give a truly beautiful look at these rural churches that were so important to their communities. Buildings don't just spring out of the ground, people need a reason to build them and they also need a reason to preserve them. Even though many of the examples no longer have active congregations they have been restored. One can only hope that the few sad examples of near-ruin will also have a happy ending.
And with that, I'll leave you with a few of my favorite images from this incredible collection.
The author doesn't specify but considering the time period I would guess the galley was for slaves. You can also see the separation in the pews for women to sit on one side and men on the other. How far we've come... (Penfield Baptist - Greene Co - 1839)
photo Penfield Baptist - Greene Co - 1839_1.png
Natural baptismal pool. (Powelton Baptist - Hancock Co - 1786)
photo Powelton Baptist - Hancock Co - 1786_1.png
In desperate need of love and restoration. (Ezekiel New Congregational Methodist, Ware County, 1899)
photo Ezekiel New Congregational Methodist - Ware Co - 1899_1.png
This is an amazing example of restoration potential. Before picture, then After. (Barnett Methodist, Warren County, 1876)
photo Barnett Methodist - Warren Co - 1876_1.png
photo Barnett Methodist - Warren Co - 1876 2_1.png
Review also posted on my blog.
Copy courtesy of University of Georgia Press, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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