Georgia:  Wilkes County: Brief history of Locust Grove 
(CHURCH OF THE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED 
VIRGIN MARY)

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Brief history of Locust Grove (CHURCH OF THE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED 
VIRGIN MARY) as written on the flyleaf of the Sacramental Register for 
1822-1844 by Bishop John England.

The Counties of Warren & Wilkes in Georgia were by me placed under the 
special charge of the Revd. Francis O'Donoghue on the 1st day of 
December 1822.

+John Bishop of Charleston

In the year 1790 the Rt. Revd. Doctor John Carroll was appointed & 
consecrated first Bishop of Baltimore with jurisdiction over the United 
States, in which union, the State of Georgia was comprehended.

In the year 1794 the Revd. Mr. O'Reilly visited the State & remained for 
a short time in the vicinity of Warren, Wilkes & Columbia. In the year 
1797 the Revd. L. LeMercier visited the same place. The Revd. Mr. Souzi 
arrived about the end of the year 1800 or the beginning of 1801. A log 
church was then built & a cemetery was laid out and enclosed. In about 
17 months time he departed from the State.

In the year 1808 Baltimore was raised to an Archdiocese of which Georgia 
still continued part. The duties of Warren, Wilkes &c were performed by 
the Priests of Augusta.

In the year 1820 the Diocese of Charleston was created & the Rt. Revd. 
Doctor John England was appointed & consecrated the first Bishop 
thereof. Georgia was a part of this Diocese. In the latter part of 
January 1821 the Bishop first visited a part of this Diocese. In the 
latter part of January 1821 the Bishop first visited Warren & Wilkes. In 
that year the old Church was taken down & a frame building was erected. 
The Revd. Francis O'Donoghue continued until the end of 1823.

On the 8th of December 1823 - The Revd. Partick O'Sullivan was appointed 
to the charge.

+ John, Bishop of Charleston


Upon visitation on February 2nd day of April 1824

I ordered that a mass be celebrated every year some day convenient to 
the 9th day of February in the Church of the Purification of the B.V.M. 
for the repose of the soul of Joseph Thompson - And that the Pastor of 
the said do celebrate the same, or cause it to be celebrated & that he 
do on the day previous to said celebration publish the same to the 
congregation & request their attendance, there at, to pray for the 
repose of the soul of the said Joseph as a principal benefactor who 
bestowed ground for the Church & burying place & for the support of the 
Pastor.

+John, Bishop of Charleston

Note: John England (1786 -1842) was first Bishop of Charleston from 
1820-1842.

Transcribed from the original document in the Archdiocese of atlanta 
Archives by Anthony R. Dees, July 20, 1999.