Sunday, October 28, 2007

Universalist Church in Georgia


All we know about this photograph is that it is an Universalist Church, probably in Georgia.
- the design makes identification harder, as this was a popular style for rural Universalist southern Churches. It is NOT the Saluda SC church, nor does it appear to be Woodington NC. It doesnt seem to be Liberty in Mississippi (all of those churches have this design).

Do you know what church this is?

14 comments:

Scott Wells said...

Not Canon, Georgia. Perhaps Harmon/New Windsor/Loganville?

Anonymous said...

This looks like a church known as Shoal Creek in the Gratis community in GA. This is the same community where John Adams lived. The church building is no longer standing, however.

Anonymous said...

My husband does not think it's the church in Gratis. Maybe it's the Rockwell Universalist in Barrow County GA, 2.8 miles N of Hwy 11 on Hwy 53. That is one of the 1st Universalist church in GA. This is not far from where Ellen Park lived. She married John Adams,one time the president of Universalist group. Ellen Park Adams was a Universalist.

Steven Rowe said...

Indeed, Ellen Adams was clerk of the Gratis Church (known as Consolation) in 1902. J. H. Park (no known kin to her that I can find) was pastor and living in Gratis then. (Ellen was daughter of Russel Park, J. H. the son of Moses Park).
The graveyard is going to be the deciding factor as to which church this is.

Anonymous said...

I looked at the Rockwell Church in Barrow Co. recently. There is no cemetery on the side so I don't think that's it.

Steven Rowe said...

thanks, my guess is that is probably going to be one of the church buildings now gone --- which would mean would have to ID by the grave yard.

Anonymous said...

I still haven't given up on the idea that it is what we knew as Shoal Creek Baptist in Gratis. There is a cemetery across the road. Depending on the perspective, if you were standing in the cemetery, there is a road between the cemetery and the church. I can't tell if there is indeed a road there in this picture or not.

Steven Rowe said...

True, a dirt road wouldnt show up too well on the picture, so there could be a road. I dont feel the owner of the photo thinks it's Baptist - but I'm more open to that. I hope to be in Gratis in May 2009, and if the graveyard is easy to find, then I will see what I think of it as Shoal Creek. (Unless your view of the graveyard is that it is it).

Anonymous said...

Well, we knew it as Shoal Creek Baptist, but it could have been something else early on. As I mentioned, the Shoal Creek building is no longer standing. As the crow flies, we live on Bradley Gin Road directly east of the Adams Cemetery.

Anonymous said...

I am very interested in any history associated with the Adams family - particulary John and Ellen, my direct descendents. Where specifically is the "Adams" cemetery? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Michael Hearn

Steven Rowe said...

Michael:
I hope you looked at
http://scuniversalist.blogspot.com/2007/06/john-adams-of-walton-co-ga.html

where i talked a little more about john Adams. And there you can see that the anonymous poster above you is also a family descendant of John and Ellen - so yall are cousins. They say that the maintain the cemetery.
which is at Latitude: 33.874N
Longitude: -83.659W
and listings of interments are at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GScid=32460

Anonymous said...

Much appreciated! It's ironic to consider that there is a "Hearn Street" in Gratis and that the Mount Vernon CC cemetery full of Hearns is literally around the corner from the Adams Cemetery.

Michael Hearn

Anonymous said...

Could this be Burress Memorial Universalist Church near Ellisville, Miss.? I visited there several times in the early 1990s when they still held once monthly services and an everage of about five members attending. As best as I recall it was a very similar looking white frame church with a cemetery on the side. Does anyone know whatever became of this church or who owns it now? It no longer appears in the UUA directory, though I don't know when of if it ever officially disbanded. --Ed

Steven Rowe said...

thanks Ed, Burruss disbanded in the mid to late 1990s. Itwas damaged in Hurricane Katrina, although I dont know how bad the infrastructure was damaged. The families are doing upkeep - the grounds look very nice. I was there when the Universalist Convocation was held at "Our Home" - and even did a look at the jumbled library - and found a copy of D.B. Clayton's autobiography - which was "rescued". I cant recall exactly where it was put - at "Our Home" Church?
I'll see if I can find my photos and compare them. while I dont quite think its the right place, it is similar, yes. thanks