New Ogeechee Missionary Baptist Church

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners listed New Ogeechee Baptist Church as a historic property on the Chatham County Register of Historic Places at its June 11, 2007 meeting, upon the recommendation of the Chatham County Historic Preservation Commission.

New Ogeechee Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1891 as a result of a split from the nearby Bethel Baptist Church on Ogeechee Road. The land, originally part of Wild Heron Plantation was subdivided in the 1870s and 1880s and former slaves were given the opportunity to buy the land on which they lived. The land was donated to the church by J.D. Campbell on March 29, 1891 and, in 1893, the current structure was built. An addition was added to the rear of the structure in 1965. The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 8, 2001.

The church is significant in the area of architecture, as an excellent and intact example of a church building constructed for rural African-American congregations throughout Georgia in the 19 th century.

Additionally, it is significant in the area of ethnic heritage, as one of three African-American historic churches to serve the Burroughs community of Chatham County.

 

For more information, please contact Ellen Harris at harrise@thempc.org or 912-651-1482.