Photography by Scott Farrar

Antioch Baptist

Taliaferro County | Organized in 1886

In November 1886, a group of formerly enslaved men and their children from Powelton New Hope Baptist Church, led by Deacons Willie Peak, Abe Frazier, and Philic Jones, founded Antioch Baptist Church. The deacons purchased two acres from the Veazey family estate, with an additional two acres donated for a cemetery. Soon after the church’s dedication, a one-room school was built on the grounds.

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Before integration, schools like these were often the only educational opportunity for rural African Americans. Until the mid-1950s, Black children in the area were not permitted to ride county school buses. Church-affiliated schools served these communities until the “equalization schools” of the 1950s, and it wasn’t until after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that African American students began to gain access to equal facilities. Even then, the transition was far from smooth—nearby Crawfordville saw significant unrest in 1965, widely covered in national news. Sadly, the original Antioch school, once standing to the left of the church, is now gone.

Though the sanctuary may appear abandoned, a dedicated group of descendants still gathers for an annual reunion every August. As seen in the gallery below, one such reunion brought together four generations from multiple states, touching their roots, sharing stories, and passing history to the young. For many years, these efforts were led by George Turner, whose father was Antioch’s last active deacon. Under his leadership, repairs were made and the grounds kept, but more support is needed to ensure Antioch’s survival.

The cemetery holds at least 75 recorded burials. Before his passing, Deacon Turner documented 71 additional unmarked graves, common in early African American cemeteries, where headstones were often financially out of reach for farming families. His careful record-keeping preserves a vital piece of this community’s history.

With renewed commitment, Antioch can once again serve its community, just as it has since 1886. Preserving this site honors the resilience of those who built it and ensures future generations can learn from its story.

Please click the audio tour link to hear fascinating stories from Antioch.

 

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16 responses to “Antioch Baptist”

  1. Susan Bush

    My husband and I love learning about historical places in our state, especially old churches and buildings and the Indian heritage of our state.

    Reply
  2. Daniel Fitzpatrick

    Is it possible to visit this church and see the interior?

    Reply
    1. Kelly Gomez

      The church is currently having work done so let us find out what the status is and we will get back to you.

      Reply
  3. Matt Collins

    It’s sad that nothing has happened at Antioch in terms of restoration (unless it has and I’m unaware)

    It’s the family’s responsibility and they’ve dropped the ball over and over – since the inception of HRCGA.

    For example – the link to donate goes to a Private Facebook page with 8 members.

    Lack of a Leader is devastating to any organization.

    Reply
    1. Kelly Gomez

      Matt, we appreciate your concern for Antioch. There is movement on this project, but we can’t make any official announcements yet until our partners are ready to share their news. Hence why we aren’t currently fundraising for this effort. Please stay tuned to our newsletter for announcements!

      Reply
  4. Kimber Paul

    I would also like an address to make a donation. My Grandfather is buried in the cemetery.

    Reply
    1. Kelly Gomez

      Hello Kimber…you can make donations on this site: http://www.friendsofpreservation.org/

      Reply
  5. Matt Collins

    I was at Heavy’s BBQ yesterday and the owner said work has been ongoing at the church.

    What’s the latest ?

    Reply
    1. HRCGA

      Nothing going on at Antioch that we know of.

      Reply
  6. great great grand

    Any donations I make are NOT given over the internet and I prefer to make them to a specific legitimate address which can be verified as being Friends of Antioch Board of Trustees. As I am a descendant of Pryor G. Veazy, (great-great grand), I wish to keep up his legacy for this church.

    Reply
    1. HRCGA

      Thank you very much. We will send you a mailing address. We appreciate the support.

      Reply
  7. Matt Collins

    The links to make a donation don’t work on my iphone, fyi.

    Timing is everything and there’s no time to waste to restore Antioch. Lots of corporate money available for this project in the current environment.

    This church is not far off I-20 so that makes it easier to get to than many of the churches on HRCGA.org

    Anitioch conceivably could host small destination events of some sort.

    It’s spectacular.

    Reply
    1. HRCGA

      Thanks Matt. Good thoughts. We will take a look at the link.

      Reply
  8. Michael Cantrell

    Hi. I’d like to contact anyone involved in the preservation of Antioch Baptist Church in Talliaferro County. My father, Jim Cantrell, has been involved in preserving many other historic buildings, including a water mill, court house and church in Banks County. My dad has access to period building materials and is willing to help. He heard that someone named Jackie Butts is involved; should we talk with him? Any help you can offer is much appreciated.

    Reply
  9. Jennifer K.

    Would love to find the Google map with all of these plotted on it. It would be handy to have on a day trip. Thanks.

    Reply
    1. HRCGA

      Good thought. We are working on a format for this. Easier said than done but we are getting there.

      Reply