From the North Georgia Conference Methodist Archives: “On January 10, 1857, Joshua Daniel, by warranty deed, granted to James D. Gaines, L. D. Cole, and William H. Black as trustees of the Methodist Church, and to the same persons as trustees of the Sugar Valley Lodge of the Knights of Jericho, three acres of land. The deed included a forfeiture clause stating that if a church was not maintained on that tract, all rights and interests would be forfeited.”

The original church stood in the center of the village of Sugar Valley, a town burned by Federal troops during the advance on Atlanta. Sugar Valley lies in the southwest section of Gordon County along the old Dalton–Rome Road. Union forces traveled this route during the Civil War, and it is said that General Hood passed by here after being wounded.

The first building was two stories tall. The sanctuary occupied the first floor, while the Order of the Knights of Jericho, a temperance organization, met in its lodge hall upstairs. Though not connected to the church, the Knights played a notable role in the community.

As in many historic churches, the early minutes reveal colorful accounts of member discipline. In 1883, charges were brought against four brethren for drinking, two sisters for dancing, and Brother James Stansbury for playing the fiddle in a ballroom. He confessed his wrongs and pledged to live a better life. Two young women were also charged with attending parties.

Yet the record also reflects the congregation’s strong moral reputation. One note states, “These folks lived by the Bible, and brought up their families in the way of the Lord. It is significant to note that there has been no recorded crime, divorce, or major act of violence among any member of this church from its origin to date. Truly an example of the effectiveness of the preaching of the Gospel.” Nearby lies a historic cemetery containing the graves of many of Gordon County’s earliest settlers. Be sure to click through the photos below for more history of Sugar Valley Methodist Church.