I spotted the marker first and then stopped to check out this amazing historic rural church. There…read morewas nothing going on a Sunday evening - it was locked and empty. But that gave me the opportunity to explore the grounds and view the buildings undisturbed.
There are two markers here. The first, "On Dec. 5, 1827 the Rev. Peyton L. Wade conveyed to John Green, John H. Smith, Robert W. Lovett, Richard Herringtom, Sr., Jacob Lewis, Elijah Roberts and John H. Nessmith, Trustees, two and three quarter acres of land on which to build a Methodist Episcopal Church to be known as "Brick Church." Construction was started immediately. The building now on the site is the original. "Brick Church" was a successor to Lessing's Meeting House, a log building, on nearby Rocky Creek at Scott's Spring. Rev. John Crawford, who died in 1822, was the founder of Methodism in this community. His widow, Sarah Maner Crawford, married the Rev. Wade in 1823."
This one is marker number 124-20 and it was erected in 1956 by the Georgia Historical Commission.
And the second, "In 1792 Bishop Francis Asbury on his yearly visit to Methodist Societies and Churches in Georgia held services while staying with the Lovetts, owners of Burton Ferry Landing, Savannah River. In 1811 Bishop Asbury stopped with "David Lovett, Scriven Co., preaching on Monday and Wednesday." Robert Watkins Lovett is the first member recorded, 1825. Rev. Peyton L. Wade, a Methodist minister, gave the land and this "brick church" was built in 1827.
"Brick Church", with a parsonage near, headed the Bethel Circuit (1858-1897). Since 1897 Bethel has been on the Girard Circuit and is Screven County`s oldest continuing Methodist Church."
This one was erected in 1977 by South Georgia Conference Commission on Archives and History.
It is a grass parking lot and such. If you're driving, be respectful of this.
[Review 1317 of 2025 - 856 in Georgia - 24869 overall]
