If you’ve ever traveled along Interstate 75 between Cordele and Vienna, you’ve likely noticed the beautiful church pictured above. Clearly visible from the highway and framed by the rich agricultural fields of Dooly County, it stands as a striking example of rural church architecture. The congregation was organized in 1874, and the church has stood on this site since 1883, when James T. Jackson donated one acre of land. Samuel Anthony served as the presiding elder at the time.

Dooly County itself was formed in 1821 as a result of the First Treaty of Indian Springs, which ceded all land between the Ocmulgee and Flint Rivers. Agriculture has always been its lifeblood, and today Dooly County is recognized as the largest cotton producer in Georgia and a leading grower of peanuts. The county was named for Colonel John Dooly, a Revolutionary War hero who, alongside Andrew Pickens and Elijah Clarke, commanded patriot forces at the Battle of Kettle Creek.

Adjacent to the church is an impressive cemetery, the final resting place of some of Dooly County’s earliest and most prominent citizens, as well as several Civil War veterans. Many of the headstones are made from fine Georgia granite and feature beautiful craftsmanship. The church itself is as commanding inside as it is from the road. Step through its doors and you’ll find an interior that reflects both the simple elegance and enduring spirit of this rural congregation.