Elbert County GaArchives Church Records.....Rock Spring Methodist Church Copyright Date July 1868
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Malcolm Faust malcolmfaustjr@gmail.com April 29, 2025, 6:39 pm

Before 1868, there were no Black churches in the community of Nickville. 
According to records, three years after the civil war, two formerly enslaved 
sons of Peter Moon named Elzie Moon (1820-1916) & Byrd Eberhardt (1834-1923) 
were given two acres of land by former slave owner Robert Eberhardt (1803-1873) 
for the sole purpose of having “a negro church for religious worship”. Elzie and 
Byrd along with their families were owned by different slave masters, that is 
why their last names were different. 

On these two acres, Elzie and Byrd established The Rock Spring Methodist Church. 
The acts of the original deed read as follows, "as long as there is a Rock 
Spring Methodist Church, you will have two acres of land." The deed lists the 
original Trustees as Elzie Moon, Thomas Hailey, & William Rucker and it was 
later filed in 1872 before Robert Eberhardt's death the following year.

The name Rock Springs came from a spring about three-quarters of a mile down the 
hill located behind the church. There, the water flowed from the ground between 
two rocks and it still flows in that same spot today before eventually 
depositing into Little Doves Creek.

The sons of Peter Moon and their families worshiped together for many years 
until the two brothers eventually began to feud. As a result, Byrd left Rock 
Springs and started our sister church, The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in 
1884, located over the hill from where the present Rock Springs Church now 
stands. 

Though there was a separation, both churches remain connected not only in 
history, but also by blood as many parishioners are related to each other 
throughout both congregations. 

Both churches even shared the burial ground at Rock Springs until the early 
1980s. This is the story told by Reverend J.H. Heard.

In September of 1969, under the leadership of Reverend W.L. Whelchel, we 
purchased three-quarters of an acre of land from Mr. Hoyt Webb. Originally, 
Reverend Whelchel and the members decided to renovate the old church. However, 
after having two men check the edifice, the congregation learned that a new 
building was needed. 

In 1971, a block church was erected. The congregation bid a final farewell to 
its original building after 102 years of service on second Sunday, July 11th, 
1971 at 3:30 p.m, in which the congregation marched from the old sanctuary to 
the new under the leadership of Reverend Whelchel. The right Rev. P. Randolph 
Shy was Presiding Bishop while Rev. H.H. Davis was Presiding Elder at that time. 
Trustees in 1971 were Rev. Robert L. Davenport Sr, Chairman; Bro. James Clyde 
Blackwell, Bro. William Bell, Bro. Johnny Reed Jr., Sis. Hassie Blackwell, Sis. 
Mattie Carter, & Sis. Reedie Hood. Class Leaders were: Bro. Earnest ‘Jack’ 
Rucker, Class No. 1., Sis. Marie Tate, Class No 2., and Sis. Willie Mae Bowens, 
Class No 3. Ushers at this time were: Sis Mattie Moon, President., Sis. Margie 
Blackwell, Sis. Gladys Fortson, Sis. Leslie Hood, Bro. T.J. ‘Will Seabon’ 
Thornton, & Bro. Larry Taylor. 

Rev. Whelchel remained the shepherd of Rock Springs until 1975, before becoming 
the full time pastor of White’s Chapel C.M.E. Church.

In 1976, we were without a pastor. Reverend W.H. Holloman replaced Reverend 
Stark Brewer in 1978. He retired two years later due to illness.

The church has been renovated two times. The first renovation was the kitchen 
and fellowship hall in 1999 under the leadership of Rev. Ron Bullock. The second 
renovation of the sanctuary was completed in 2002 under the leadership of Rev. 
Frances Hubbard. 

The church is still operating and holds services each 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th 
Sunday of each month.


Additional Comments:
Prior to Emancipation, Elzie Moon, his brothers and their family attended 
Antioch Baptist Church, the historical white congregation that was organized in 
1848 as an offspring of Doves Creek Baptist Church. Many of the founding members 
of Rock Springs Methodist Church are listed in the original records of Antioch 
Baptist Church (White-Congregation). This is not to be confused with Antioch 
Missionary Baptist Church which was organized in 1884, by Elzie Moon's younger 
brother, Byrd Eberhart.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/elbert/churches/rockspri446gbb.txt

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