Elbert County GaArchives Churches Eliam United Methodist Church ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Transcribed by Chandler Eavenson 4 April 2006 Churches Eliam United Methodist Church The following was taken from a church history which appeared in The Elberton Star newspaper, compiled by Rev. Alton Whittemore: "We do not know exactly when or how or by whom Eliam Church was organized.The deed on record shows that on the 25th day of August, 1817, for the sum of $10.00, Archibald Burton and his wife Elizabeth deeded one acre of land to Peter Oliver, McCarty Oliver, David Hudson and David Clark as Trustees of Eliam Methodist Episcopal Church. This land is about one mile from the present location of the church. On the original plot there are graves of the ancestors of many of the present members of the Church.The first Church building was also used as the community school. A small log building nearby housed the Justice Court. "Early Conference records show evidence of Sunday School activities in the Church. Sixty-eight church members were recorded in 1881. By 1890 membership in the church was almost equal to the present membership and many of our members now are descendants of those of that time. "About 1903 the building was rebuilt or remodeled and enlarged to accommodate the growing congregation. About fifteen years later, the land on which the Church now stands was deeded to the Church by George T. Fortson, and the old building was placed on rollers and mule-drawn to the present site. At this time a new building program added space and formed the 'T' shaped building which stood until the 1950's. This building was torn away and the present modern brick structure was completed and consecrated for service in 1958." Contributed by: Chandler Eavenson