The history of Canon Methodist resides not so much in the history of the church but the history of the location. There are three unique churches in the small village of Canon, located on the western edge of Franklin County. In addition to Canon Methodist, the village contains Canon Baptist and Canon Universalist. The Canon Methodist church was organized in 1905 and completed in 1907. Canon Baptist was organized in 1895 and Canon Universalist was organized in 1885. You can get a quick glimpse of the Baptist and Universalist churches in the gallery photos below. All were placed on the National Register in 1985.
Canon, located on the western edge of Franklin County is a picturesque little farm village located three miles from Bowersville, in Hart County. It was called West Bowersville when laid out in 1875 but, when the town was incorporated in 1902, the name was changed to Canon to avoid confusion with Bowersville. Franklin County, created in 1784, was the first county established in Georgia after the Revolutionary War. It was inhabited by the Lower Cherokee Indians until they ceded the land in the treaty of 1783. This part of Georgia was settled by the descendants of Job Bowers, who was born in Virginia in 1755 and settled in Georgia around the time of the Revolution. He served in the war and while home on furlough in 1779, he was dragged from his home by a group of Loyalists and murdered. His wife, Charity, was subsequently given substantial land in gratitude for Job’s service. The Bowers family roots run deep in this part of Georgia.and many of Job’s descendants are still here and very active in the community.
It is very unusual to have three historic churches in one small (population is just over 800) rural village. The other two, Canon Baptist and Canon Universalist, are visible in the gallery photos below. We are grateful that these treasures have been saved and two of them, the Universalist and the Methodist, have active congregations today. The Baptist church is also still active but the congregation worships in a newer and larger facility.
Be sure to click and scroll the photos below for more history and information.
In this shot we can see that Canon Methodist is in remarkably good shape for a 110+ year old wooden frame church. The entry way with its colorful red doors, spotless, white painted siding and frames and well kept foundation plantings is a sign of the excellent stewardship of this congregation.
Here we see the sanctuary interior from the rear gallery. The suspended truss, vault-like, long leaf pine ceiling is a warm brown and provides striking and attractive contrast with the cream walls. The chancel, pulpit and apse stand decorated and ready for the next service.
Almost all of the windows throughout Canon Methodist are gothic and the frames are made of heart pine. All the panes are colorful stained glass. In this view, we can also see the lovely, heart pine wainscot that is also found throughout the church.
This dramatic photograph of a single window provides a stunning example of the decorative impact these jewels can have on the atmosphere within this lovely sanctuary.
Here is an example of how the contrasting white walls and warm brown pine ceiling and window frames come together to produce a cathedral-like atmosphere within the sanctuary.
Looking from the pulpit, we can see the vestibule. It sits in the space created by the bell tower. The gallery is also visible.
This is a photo of the nearby “sister” church, Canon Universalist. It is one of the three historic churches in this small town. A full history and photo gallery of this church is available at our web site.
Here is an exterior shot of Canon Baptist Church. It is the oldest of the three, turn-of-the-Century structures which collectively make up the Historic Structures of Canon Historic District. Its steeple, like those of the other two churches, is quite attractive and, in the case at Canon Baptist with its multi-gabled, Victorian bell tower, is architecturally unique.
ORGANIZED
1905
LOCATED IN
Franklin
DENOMINATION
Methodist
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My family has attended this church for generations. Thank you for these gorgeous pictures!
The second paragraph states Job Bowers was dragged from his home in 1799 and murdered. However, the war ended in Georgia in 1782 when the British were driven out.
Thanks for catching this typo Ron. It should have read 1779 and has been corrected.
A glorious and beautiful place to worship. The congregants are to be greatly commended for preserving and caring for a wonderful piece of our religious history in Georgia.
We agree. Canon has done a good job of taking care of their history.
What a great red door! It invites you in. Please do the other 2 churches also. They look interesting.
Reading the opening paragraph of the history of the Canon Methodist Church, I noticed a typo. See the sentence beginning with “The other two churches are Canon Baptist, organized in 1895 and Canon Methodist, organized in 1905.” The paragraph does not mention the Canon Universalist…. your copy: “There are three unique churches in the small village of Canon, located on the western edge of Franklin County. In addition to Canon Methodist, the village contains Canon Baptist and Canon Universalist.”
Thank you John. It is corrected now.