Ways Baptist
Jefferson County | Organized in 1817
Tucked just east of Wrens, Ways Baptist Church has been a cornerstone of Jefferson County life since 1817. Its roots trace back to a log cabin, where thirteen men, thirty-three women, and eighteen enslaved people gathered after being dismissed from Brushy Creek Baptist. The congregation named the meeting house for John Way, who donated the land, and from these humble beginnings grew one of the county’s most enduring churches.
Read more...The present sanctuary, completed in 1851, is the third to stand on this site. Over the years, it has seen baptisms in a large pool built in 1877, the laughter of children in classrooms, and the heartbreak of war. During the Civil War, a company of soldiers was formed from its members. Many never returned, and in 1862 alone, eight congregants died. By the war’s end, thirty-five African American members left with letters to form Ways Grove Baptist Church nearby, carrying their faith into a new chapter of freedom.
Education was always central here. Ways Baptist fostered schools, including one in Stellaville, which became the only high school in Jefferson County outside of Louisville by 1868. Stellaville itself was once a thriving town, remembered for its shaded oak-lined streets, baseball team, and even a reputation as a village so peaceful its marshal never had to make an arrest. Today, little remains but the church and cemetery, with nearly 700 burials bearing witness to its past.
When space for youth was needed, members took an inventive step: digging a basement beneath the church to preserve its historic appearance while meeting modern needs. In 2017, Ways celebrated its bicentennial, a testament to the perseverance of generations who carried forward its mission of faith, education, and community.
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14 responses to “Ways Baptist”
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Beautiful history of resilience, to God be the glory.
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My Great Grandfather was Oscar Lee Way Sr. My family is originally from the Wrens, Stellaville and Augusta area.I am in need of any information on the Ways Church Homecoming.
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Lee- we don’t have information about that, but hopefully someone will come along that can respond to your comment.
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Way Baptist Church’s Home coming is the First Sunday in August with a Guest Speaker that starts a Revival on the following Monday night at 6pm after Sunday Morning service and dinner in the fellowship hall building behind the church and no service the Sunday night Revival starts Monday through Wednesday night on Wednesday at 5pm they will have supper in the church fellowship hall and then service at 6pm. Or a little after 6pm. Thanks May God richly bless you all. Psalm 139&34 Prayerfully Ms.Bear
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I drove through Stellaville on Monday July 26th on my way back to North Carolina after visiting Vidalia Georgia. I stopped and made pictures of the church and cemetery. Oh, if those walls and monuments could talk!!! Love scenes like this but they make me sad at the same time. Sad because I hate to see our history and culture so rapidly disappearing.
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Ways Baptist is one of the best profiles out of the more than 340 churches here on HRCGA.org. Thanks to Gene Powell for giving me a guided tour just recently !
The church is stunningly beautiful and bigger than one would expect for such a small county and really tiny community, Stellaville.
The history here is deep and wide and tells a much bigger story when the Ways Grove history is included.
Great write up by HRCGA although they need to correct information about the founder, who was John Way. The church’s oldest member says she has never heard mention of any ‘Bill Way’ in her 83 years of attending Ways Baptist.
I was taken aback by the grounds of the church and it’s cemetery across the street which itself is massive (600+ graves). This entire property is in pristine condition and it’s a historic treasure.
The spring fed Baptism Pool is just remarkable, I’ve not seen anything like it.
HRCGA has put these historic churches back on the map in a way that Facebook can’t.
Many small churches don’t have any website at all. Some use Facebook for that purpose since it’s free. But, some small churches, like Ways Baptist, don’t even have a Facebook page – or even a phone or a monthly bulletin for the members.
So, there is simply no way to communicate with their congregation – or receive communication from others who are interested in Ways Baptist or maybe interested in attending the church. They do have church services and Sunday School every week.
HRCGA is the only way for some people to see Ways Baptist. I think this is true for many churches here on HRCGA.
Awareness has always been a key reason for the existence of HRCGA, hoping that awareness will save some very important history and physical buildings. Many old country churches are in disrepair and need work ASAP.
No one viewing Ways Baptist in person would see anything to worry about. It is flawless and dreamy, in fact. It’s difficult to believe Ways Baptist even exists, it’s so perfectly maintained (and in such a remote area) – and it is so incredibly gorgeous !
But … Ways Baptist lacks people. They survived the Civil War, but they will not survive going forward without a new influx of members.
Lack of money is not a problem here – it’s a shortage of human capital that will be this church’s downfall.
As in many Christian churches in this country, the average age of the Ways congregation is way up there.
There doesn’t appear to be any effort to change that unfortunately. It will be too late real soon.
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Great observations Matt. Thanks.
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John Kirkland’s photos are Masterful. I saw where the HRCGA Book is in its 3rd printing now.
I also noticed it in a very prominent spot in Barnes and Noble’s Newnan Ga location. Congrats !!
Hopefully, HRCGA will be able to add new volumes in the future to promote more of the churches.
I’ve watched a few episodes of the Saving Grace series on GPTV which was really well done.
Many of Georgia’s Old Rural Churches are thriving but so many need restoration (physical and/or an influx of new blood)
HRCGA’s efforts will lead to more Victories.
People who desire to preserve Georgia’s History can help by contributing money to the cause by buying the Book or simply by donating on this website.
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Thanks for the kind words Matt. We appreciate the support.
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My Great Grandmother is Caroline Way (Carrie). She married my great Grandfather and became Carrie Way Swann. (Originally Swan) and they lived in Stellaville, Ga.
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I grew up always hearing about Ways Baptist Church. My grandmothers maiden name was Way. She grew up in Wrens Ga and would always tell us the story of how it started and the families in the area. She was always so proud of the church and that town. I look forward to making a very long over due trip this weekend.
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My husband’s grandparents are buried there, G. Absalom & Bell Smith. Also his grandfather’s footprints are in the cement of the baptismal pool. His father, George H. Smith attended Ways as often as he could as an adult. They loved going to Homecoming there.
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Great history. Thanks for sharing.
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Wonderful photographs of beautiful old Way’s Baptist Church, resting place of my great grandmother and great grandmother, Isaac Jackson Gay and Ellen Ponder Davis Gay and Ellen Ponder Davis Gay. My great great grandmother Mary Stewart Barrow And great grandmother Arminta (Mintie) Barrow Wright were residents of Stellaville.
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