After my latest post on quilts posed at New Hebron Baptist Church in Pike County, I thought you might like to see more photos of this beauty from the past. On an earlier visit, Jim captured images of the vicar and the interior of this church while I enjoyed memories of my childhood that this place triggered.
We visited this idyllic spot for the first time as part of the Slow Exposures Photography Exhibition in 2019. The organizers included a display of some of the photographs from the volume Historic Churches of Georgia.
A church that should be in the second edition of the book “Historic Rural Churches of Georgia,” New Hebron Baptist Church near Concord, Georgia is an idyllic and picturesque place and is what you might expect when you first open your eyes in the afterlife. Thanks to Vicar Dwain Penn for the tour of New Hebron and his hospitality.
A church that should be in the second edition of the book Historic Rural Churches of Georgia, New Hebron Baptist Church near Concord, Georgia is an idyllic and picturesque place and is what you might expect when you first open your eyes in the afterlife. Thanks to Vicar Dwain Penn for the tour of New Hebron and his hospitality.
Jim’s words from his facebook post about New Hebron
In my journal writing of that day I noted that Vicar Penn doesn’t call himself a pastor since he “has no sheep.” He explained that the church has had no members for several years, and is therefore no longer affiliated with any denomination.
At the time of our visit, services were conducted once a month, on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. That allows people to attend their regular church and enjoy this spiritual place, too.
They sometimes host special events here, too. Sacred Harp Singing Schools have been held in this church. Oh, how I would love to hear those songs echoing off these unpainted timbers!
The church, built in 1908, was seen in the movies Cold Sassy Tree and Mama Flora’s Family, but most of the time, it’s maintaining its position in a bucolic scene on a quiet country road.
For more information, check out the entry on the Historic Rural Churches site https://www.hrcga.org/church/new-hebron-baptist/ .
And this article includes more of Vicar Penn’s story: http://www.thegospeler.org/ChurchBrochure.htm
Dots and Vines went along on this trip, too. Here she poses on the back door of the church. The story of this quilt is here: https://sandygilreath.com/dots-and-vines/