A Savior for Antioch Baptist
Taliaferro County, Georgia | Photos courtesy of Scott Farrar and Jay Scott
This remarkable building was constructed in 1886 by a group of formerly enslaved men and their children. They built something truly special, but in recent years, this incredible structure was endanagered after sitting empty.
The future was uncertain for Antioch but things are looking much brighter now!
Antioch’s History
In November 1886, a group of formerly enslaved men and their children founded Antioch Baptist Church in Taliaferro County, Georgia. Led by Deacons Willie Peak, Abe Frazier, and Philic Jones, they purchased two acres from the Veazey family estate and built something that would endure for more than a century.
Antioch’s Remarkable Architecture
Antioch’s two-towered sanctuary with lancet windows whose dramatic architecture has drawn photographers from across the country and made it one of the most visually stunning and endangered sanctuaries in the rural South.
How We Got Here
For years, we watched this place deteriorate and knew something had to be done. We started the Friends of Antioch 501(c)(3), partnered with descendants, and laid the groundwork to fight for its survival. Then came COVID, our efforts stalled, and honestly, there were moments when it felt like we might lose the battle against time. But this place was too important to lose.
We are thrilled to announce that Antioch Baptist received a National Park Service preservation grant, and preservation work is now underway!
Antioch needs a lot of repairs, and work is already underway to bring it back to life. Here is what has been accomplished so far…
THE WORK BEING DONE AT ANTIOCH
A full structural and architectural assessment of the building
New structural supports installed beneath the floor
Environmental remediation completed, with sheetrock removal revealing the original beadboard paneling underneath
Significant rot and water damage repaired in both towers
A colony of an estimated 500,000 honey bees was safely removed and relocated
The Cemetery at Antioch
In the graveyard beside the church, we initially believed that there were about 50 graves, however, a ground penetrating radar survey conducted this year revealed nearly 200 burials here. One of our goals for this project is to develop and produce a thoughtful marker for all of the unknown and unmarked graves to help honor those who are buried here.
I visited this church in January this year, and saw some of the restoration work in progress. I planned another visit for later in the year. Looking forward to seeing this beautiful building restored.
Please install a sprinkler system in the lovely old church. We cannot afford to lose their beauty and history!