Our Founding Story

Historic Rural Churches of Georgia was founded in 2012 by Sonny Seals and George Hart with a mission to research, document, and preserve the history of our historic rural churches across the state. The movement started when Sonny inadvertently discovered his great-grandfather’s grave in the old graveyard of an inactive Methodist church in the “lost village of Powelton”.  That discovery began a personal journey for George and Sonny to honor the old rural churches and the history they represent. 

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

From that beginning, HRC has grown over the years.  We have recruited a group of very talented and passionate photographers to document these old treasures. We try to capture not only the beauty of the sanctuaries, inside and out, but the history behind them as well.  We also research “tales from the crypt” in the old graveyards that tell us about the lives of the early pioneers found in the cemetery.