Zion Episcopal Church in Talbot County is not what one would expect in this small rural town of Talbotton, located in the upper Chattahoochee Valley not far from the Alabama border. It is a magnificent example of English Tudor Gothic architecture and, although no direct link is known to exist, it is reminiscent of the designs of renown architect Richard Upjohn, author of Upjohn’s Rural Architecture published in 1852. The church was founded and built under the direction of the Rev. Richard Johnson as a missionary church in 1848. It is said that he received financial support from wealthy South Carolina planters who were former parishioners. All we can say is that Zion Episcopal is an architectural treasure inside and out, as you will soon see.
Talbotton was a center of commerce and education when it was founded in 1828. According to Georgia Geneology, “Talbotton, the county-seat of Talbot, was settled by a class of people who were superior in many respects to the average residents of the pioneer belt, and the town became widely known as an educational center long before the war. At Collingsworth Institute, two of the famous Straus boys were educated—Nathan and Isidor—both of whom became millionaire merchants and philanthropists of New York. It was founded by Josiah Flournoy, a wealthy citizen of the State, and was long a famous high school among the Methodists. The LeVert Female College, named for the celebrated Madame LeVert, was another pioneer institution of the town”. The Straus boys referred to above eventually moved to New York after the Civil War and founded a huge retail empire that included Macy’s.
The church stands as built in 1848 in all its original glory. It is another tribute to the longevity of Georgia heart pine, and the local craftsmen who left us this treasure. As pleasing as the vertical boarded exterior is to the eye, the real star of the show is the interior, complete with elegant furnishings of native walnut. The interior roof support beams are thought to be made of rare, white cedar, also from Talbot County forests. The bell tower is supported by massive beams, all connected by wooden pegs and mortise and tenon joints. Some handmade nails were used that were supplied by a local blacksmith’s shop. Candle sconces were originally attached to each balcony support beam and the outline of those sconces can still be seen today. A single oil lamp that was attached to one of the support beams was lowered and raised in the center of the sanctuary.
The key to the massive front doors is six inches long, and the original 1848 lock still works. When you enter the church, you are swept back in time before the Civil War. The slave gallery is just as it was before the war, when cotton was king and enslaved individuals were encouraged to attend but were required to sit separately, above the main sanctuary. In addition to the stunning architecture, there is an organ located in the gallery that is the oldest hand-pumped organ made by Pilcher in the United States. It was installed in 1850, and it still works. According to local history, young boys had to pump the organ and watch a gauge to make sure the pressure was enough, but not too much, so the organ could operate properly.
Thankfully, a Restoration project successfully occurred in the 1980s. However, by 2019, the outside of Zion was in critical condition and required a $300,000+ restoration. The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta deeded Zion to The Georgia Trust who in turn deeded it to Zion Church Restoration, Inc. In 2019, this group received the Public Participation $100,000 grant from the Historic Columbus Foundation. Foundations and Individuals gifted Zion with the additional $200,000. Restoration was completed in early 2021. That year, Zion Church Restoration received the Chairman’s award for “excellence in restoration” by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2023, Zion raised $27,000 to restore the 1850 Pilcher Organ. We are so grateful for their stewardship of this rural treasure. They have even hosted a series of concerts and Blues Festivals in order to raise funds and awareness for the preservation. Go visit to see for yourself!
If you spend some time examining the exterior photo of Zion Episcopal, you quickly become aware that this is not your usual, pre-civil war sanctuary. In design, construction materials, decorative features and countless other ways, Zion’s exterior is unique in this state. When entering the sanctuary interior, one experiences a “Wow” effect similar to the one created when one first encounters the church’s exterior. The interior is bathed in a warm glow throughout because of the light that floods in through the high, Gothic, lancet windows. Original closed pews made of walnut with pointed, trefoil pew ends sit proudly on very wide floor boards. Octagonal, flared- top, wooden columns support the slave gallery above and its Gothic style balcony enclosures. We also have a chance to examine the beautiful, native Walnut, vertical wall boards used it this sanctuary.
The chancel area presents us with an example of master carpenter James Cottingham’s finest, pre-Civil war artistry. In a church history we read, “Native walnut was used in the altar, communion rail, lectern-pulpit and prayer desk. Maltese crosses, cut out as a repeating motif in the communion rail banisters enrich the composition and appear elsewhere in the carvings and decorations.” Rising behind this scene are two medieval-style, crenelated parapets…a reminder of the Gothic design theme seen in the exterior. These parapets enclose two small chancel rooms. In the apse we see a double, three sash lancet window with a six pointed rose motif. Aside from a striking decorative effect, it provides great light in the area.
Here we have another view of the charming and beautiful chancel area within the sanctuary. At this angle, we can see the decorative scroll work within the arches joining the octagonal columns as well as the entry doors to the chancel rooms within the decorative parapets.
This is a delightful photo of the sanctuary ceiling, gallery and main floor. Here we get to understand the complexity and beauty of the trussed rafter system used. The church history reads, ” Six massive beams of the cathedral style interior support the ceiling and roof. Joins are covered by Moline crosses with carved rosettes.” It is the open ceiling design created by the truss system that gives Zion’s interior such an airy, lofty and inviting atmosphere. Finally, notice the difference between the gallery seating and the main floor pews. “The slave gallery was regularly used. Religious instruction of the slaves was urged by the Bishop of the diocese and Zion parishioners.”
This view from the upper gallery provides you with an opportunity seldom offered… getting a glimpse of the past. Other than the electric lighting (even it is a good simulation of the oil lighting of 1848) every thing you are looking at is “as was” 178 years ago. This sight is beyond rare in our state. The open, trussed rafter ceiling, the parapets, the apse rose window, the chancel and furniture, the Gothic, double lancet, ‘operative today’, three sash wall windows, the vertical, walnut wall boards, the gallery, the Gothic, pierced gallery enclosure, the decorative, octagonal wooden support columns and, finally, the original pews are all in place and can be visited today! The pews are very significant. Church history reads, ” Family box pews, laid out in a double row in the center, with a single row of seven pews on each side are as originally installed {a congregant from 1850 could walk in an easily find their place today!}. Each pew has a door with a wooden catch. Seat and backs are formed of two, wide heart pine boards. Please note that the simple, wide seat board with back slats pews for the slaves are also visible and still in place as they were in the mid-19th century. This sort of authenticity and back story is rarely in place with such captivating beauty as at Zion Episcopal.
In the years before the Civil War, this section of the church, formerly referred to as the 'slave gallery' is located in an elevated section above the main sanctuary. During those days, enslaved persons were encouraged to attend services at this church alongside their enslavers, although they were required to sit separately in this gallery. In more recent years, this gallery has been used for the choir.
The modified trussed rafter roof system, and its bare but beautifully decorated scissors trusses, allow for an airy open overhead creating a cathedral-like atmosphere within.
This organ, located in the gallery, is the oldest hand-pumped organ made by Pilcher in the United States. It was installed in 1850, and it still works. According to local history, young boys had to pump the organ and watch a gauge to make sure the pressure was enough, but not too much, so the organ could operate properly.
Zion Episcopal is a magnificent example of English Tudor Gothic architecture and, although no direct link is known to exist, it is reminiscent of the designs of renowned architect, Richard Upjohn, author of Upjohn’s Rural Architecture published in 1852.
ORGANIZED
1848
LOCATED IN
Talbot
DENOMINATION
Episcopal
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Is it possible to visit and go inside Zion Episcople Church in Talbotten, Ga?
Gina, try Talbotton City Hall at (706) 665-8542. Someone there might be able to help you with that.
In some photos of the interior, I see that there is a pipe organ. Does anyone have any information on the organ?
Sorry. We do not have any specific information on this beautiful organ.
I would like to know whether the church keeps records on the slaves who routinely attended services in this church.
Not that we know of.
The parishioners of St. Nicholas Church in Hamilton, GA are tasked by the Diocese of Atlanta to care for this church. We hold quarterly services at Zion. Upcoming Fall Worship Services are on October 7 and November 11 at 4:00 pm. We have a Go Fund Me fundraiser to fund repairs to this church: https://www.gofundme.com/historiczion. Please donate if you can. Zion Episcopal also has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ziontalbotton/. Tours are available before or after these services.
For over 160 years, Zion Episcopal Church has watched over the village of Talbotton, GA. There are not many 160-year-old structures still standing in our country, much less in a small Southern town. While regular Sunday worship has long ceased, Zion stands as a witness to God’s presence in Talbot County and is used for special services and events. Now, this treasured piece of history needs your help. If she is to remain as an example of long-suffering hope and tradition, she needs care and repair.
Over $80,000 is needed to fully accomplish the authentic restoration and preservation of this historic and holy sanctuary. However, as donations are received, the following immediate repairs will be conducted:
–decaying and separating flying buttresses –window glazing throughout –decaying window sill behind altar window –bell tower sheathing, as well as louver vents –decaying outside walls and soffits
When our goal is reached, we will paint the exterior, replicate the wooden tracery of the bell tower, repair deteriorating shutters and rebuild backdoors.
This is all great news Drucye. So many of these treasures are at risk and this is one of the best. Thank you and your colleagues for this wonderful example of historic stewardship.
Are there times available to view the interior of the church? I do not see anything listed on this web site. Thank you
Hi Melissa. We do not know when the church might be open. You may be able to find that online.