Turin Methodist

Coweta County
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Org 1828
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Photography by Brandon Westerman

Turin Methodist, located in rural Coweta County, was organized in 1838 by a group of families who migrated from Newberry County in South Carolina in 1828, shortly after the county was created by the Treaty of Indian Springs in 1825.  The treaty was signed by Chief William McIntosh, who was later assassinated by fellow tribesmen who contended he had no authority to sign such a treaty.  These early families came from Prosperity, South Carolina, and their church was named Tranquil Methodist, as it had been in Prosperity.

The local church history states that …“The earliest church building was located between the large oak and large cedar tree at what is now Tranquil Cemetery and was of log construction. The second building was a large square frame building located on the same site. Land for these first two buildings was given by William Baugh Shell and his wife Nancy…Mr. Shell’s home contained a preacher’s room, kept always in readiness for the preacher whenever he came….. There has always been a direct descendent of William B. Shell active in the church.” 

This history was written in 1982 which means that Shell direct descendants have served the church for over 150 years. Of the 322 recorded interments in Tranquil Cemetery, 42 of them bear the surname Shell.  One of these interments memorializes CSA veteran William Derrick Shell, the son of William B. and his wife Nancy.  William wrote letters to his parents back home in 1861 and 1862, the last being written on June 21, 1862. He died about three months later in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Just one of the thousands of sad stories to be found in the Georgia cemeteries.  Ironically, his father was a delegate to the Succession Convention at Milledgeville and signed the papers of secession from the Union. 

The church prospered and the decision was made in 1886 to relocate to the town of Turin, located nearby.  The name of the church was changed from Tranquil to Turin at that time.  Building the church was a community affair with the members hauling logs to saw into lumber and then gathering to do the construction as well.

We salute members of Old Turin for their stewardship of the church, which can now be enjoyed for generations to come.  Be sure to click and scroll the photos below for more Turin Methodist History.