TALBOT COUNTY, GA - CHURCHES  Valley Grove Baptist - Woodland Baptist

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Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm

RESOURCE: There Was a Land,by Judge Robert H. Jordan,  pg 133

"In 1828 a number of Baptist, most of them living between
Oak and Pine mountains in the northern part of Talbot
County, assembled themselves together in Valley Grove
community and unanimously petitioned for and obtained a
presbytery from the Echonconnah Association and Valley Grove
Baptist Church was regularly constituted.

Membership was obtained in the Echoconnah Association, then
a letter of dismission granted and the church joined in the
Constitution of the columbus Association.

pg 375
16 April 1834
James Gassaway to Baptist Church of Christ, Valley Grove 
Donated land   23rd Dis LL268
Road leading from Grenwell to Talbot, spring
Wit: Peter F. Mahone, John Flemming, JP
Recorded: 24 Jan 1835
[note: north east section of Talbot Co]

Rev. Andrew Hood was the first paster, followed by Rev.
Hiram Powell. Membership increased during this time to 157. 
In 1837 the church divided because many of the members
advocated missions, tracts and Sunday school.

Jan 5, 1838 a deed of four acres was given to the trustees
of the church. 

B.R. Harris was baptized into the fellowship of the church
in 1863. He moved his membership to Mt. Gilead and was
ordained to the ministry by that church.

In 1864, the Fourth District Genearl meeting was held at the
church. Contibutions were made to army missions as well as
to other causes and the church tried to keep in touch with
its members who were serving in the Confederate army.

The church has been destroyed by cyclone twice! On May 1,
1875 at 2pm, just after the Saturday services at the church,
the cyclone hit.  Eddie Kendrick was instantly killed and
many injured severely.

Again on April 10, 1910 a cyclone destroyed the church
building. Only slightly damaged were two light stands which
had been made by Deacon hardy Bryan around 1880....the
building was totally demolished.  At this time the
Presbyterians offered their building for services during the
rebuilding.

Valley Grove Baptist Church observed its 100th birthday on
July 29, 1928.

===========================
According to Davidson, in Volume 1, pages 462-463, etc.
Valley GMD 902, he states that "Generations knew it as
Valley Grove, for the Primitive Baptist Church constituted
there July 30, 1829.  In spite of 2 terrible cyclones,
Valley Grove rebuilt each time and the church stayed there
until 1907, when membership moved to the new town of
Woodland and built a church, Woodland Baptist."  The
crossroads later became known as TAX.  

Shared by: Lynda