Phillips Mill Baptist
Wilkes County | Organized in 1785
Phillips Mill Baptist is one of the most historic and influential Baptist churches in Georgia. Its beginnings trace back to 1785, when sixteen people gathered in Joel Phillips’ grist mill to organize a church under the leadership of Rev. Silas Mercer. Just one year later, on October 15, 1786, the newly formed Georgia Baptist Association held its first regular meeting here—cementing Phillips Mill’s place in Georgia’s Baptist heritage.
Read more...Silas’ son, Jesse Mercer, was ordained at Phillips Mill in 1789 and succeeded his father as pastor in 1796. For the next 37 years, Jesse Mercer became one of the most prominent voices of the Baptist faith in the South. His influence shaped Baptist life across Georgia and left a lasting legacy in Mercer University, which bears his name.
Over the years, some confusion arose over the church’s location and cemetery history. Original minutes clarify that the church first stood on land donated by Joel Phillips in 1785. In 1848, the congregation purchased the Salem Presbyterian Church, about four miles away, for $350. That building served the members until the present sanctuary was constructed in 1907.
The cemetery adds to the historical mystery. A few graves predate Baptist ownership, but only four headstones survive from the period between 1848 and 1900. As with many rural cemeteries, numerous unmarked graves complicate the historical record.
Today, Phillips Mill Baptist stands as a testament to the roots of Baptist life in Georgia. Its story reminds us that while written records may fade, the old sanctuaries and graveyards still bear witness to the faith and resilience of the communities that built them.
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21 responses to “Phillips Mill Baptist”
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Is the church open on Sundays for service to the general public? If so, when?
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Did this church have a member named Susanna Haile, Hales, Hale. her husband Edward Hales was my 3th great uncle.
Thank you, Lewis Hales
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I’m not sure about that Lewis. We are not directly affiliated with the church so we don’t have access to their church records. Looking through the records at FindAGrave.com, it looks like there were members of the Hall Family, but I don’t see anyone by the name of Haile (Hales, Hale).
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My name is David Henry Mercer, a descendant of James and Thomas Mercer, cousin and brother of the same family that founded Phillips Mill Baptist Church. Silas and his son, Jesse, were my great-great-uncles. All were Baptist ministers and church founders. The family continued onto Amite, MS and later to East Texas. We live in the Pacific Northwest now, after my grandparents transferred to Longview, WA in 1926. We’re planning a ‘Heritage Trail’ tour of our family’s farms and church foundings, from Mississippi to North Carolina. Glad we found you.
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What a fascinating pursuit to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors!
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Until I joined Ancestry.com, I had no idea Phillips Mill Baptist Church existed. I’m so grateful to find this out. Joel Phillips Sr. was my 5th great grandfather.
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Such a delight to find this website. Joel Phillips Sr. was my 4th Great Grandfather
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Is there more information on the early years of Silas Mercer? Also, was Nancy Hart and her family a part of the congregation?
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Where are the original church records kept? I’m looking for early marriages of Ragans/Reagans and Callaways.
Thank you.-
We do not know anything about the original records. You might contact someone at the church.
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Are there any pictures of the old baptism pool?
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No. We don’t have any. Sorry.
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I am a descendant of Joel Phillips. Very interesting. Thank you ancestry.com
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Where is original Phillips mill church site
Seeking information where Silas Mercer home place is today
Who owns property to get permission to visit
Aware of Silas Mercer road near ficklin
James Mercer buried on propertyGreat great grandson to James mercer
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L West, please email me. I believe to have a section of Silas Mercers Land. I am currently researching the area and would be interested in speaking with you. steffy14800@comcast.net. Please put Silas Mercer as subject line so I don’t delete or overlook. Thank you!
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Doing genealogy research and believe we may have an ancestor buried there; John Flynt.
Who may I communicate with about historic graves?
Thank you,
Eli Flint
EliFlint@yahoo.com-
We are not sure Eli. Your best resource would probably be Findagrave. Or you can reach out to the Wilkes County Historical Society. Good luck.
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On a tour with the Georgia Baptist Historical Commission, I heard Rev. John King, former pastor of Philip’s Mill, tell this story. The grave of Silas Mercer was discovered out in a wooded area and the church wanted to move the grave of Mercer and his wife to a prominent place in front of the church. The church brought in state forensic officials, received the necessary paper work to move the remains, etc. When the body of Silas Mercer was exhumed, the folks gathered were immediately taken aback and surprised that there was a round hole in his skull. Some in the group that day thought: preacher shot! As it turned out, Silas was kicked by a mule or horse and a drilled hole was the remedy for the swelling of the brain.
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Brantly, thanks for passing this along. What a story.
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Some of my ancestors are from Wilkes Co. Georgia. Would be curious about their congregation records from 1785-1900.
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The largest archive for these records would be in the Tarver Library at Mercer University.
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