Academy Baptist
Jackson | Organized 1810
Academy Baptist Church was organized in 1810 and became a member of the Sarepta Association in 1812. It is the fourth-oldest Baptist congregation in Jackson County, following Oconee (1788), Cabin Creek (1796), and Black’s Creek (1803). The church was founded under the leadership of Jared Cunningham, one of the earliest settlers in this part of Georgia. Cunningham moved from Virginia to what is now Hurricane Shoals on the North Oconee River before later relocating to the Middle Oconee. He established his homestead nearby, and Academy Baptist was organized close to it, at a site chosen for its natural springs. One spring fed a baptismal pool that still exists today, though no longer in use.
+ Continue readingThe next major record of the church appears in an 1818 deed from James Appleby to the deacons of Academy. Appleby relinquished “all rights, title, and interest unto a certain lot of land containing five acres, more or less, including the Academy meeting house.” This five-acre tract became the church’s permanent site. In 1874, additional land was donated by James Roberts, bringing the property to its present size of nearly nine acres, and the current sanctuary was completed that same year.
What makes Academy Baptist remarkable is its continuity. Founded during the presidency of James Madison and in the earliest years of Georgia’s frontier settlement, the church has stood strong for more than two centuries. Generations of congregants have worshiped here, maintaining not only their faith community but also the historic character of this sanctuary. Their stewardship is seen in efforts like the restoration of the old spring-fed baptismal pool in the woods near the church. While the pool is no longer used, it remains a powerful symbol of Academy’s history. For over 200 years, countless baptisms took place in its waters, making it a sacred spot for many families in Jackson County. Today, Academy Baptist continues to serve its community, honoring its past while carrying forward its legacy of faith.