The history of Concord Methodist was lovingly compiled in 1951 by Mrs. Rosa Orr, whose reminiscences offer a vivid picture of life in the church and at the old campground meetings. The full account is preserved today in the North Georgia Methodist Conference archives at Pitts Library, Emory University.

Concord was organized in 1844, its name meaning “unity and harmony.” It is one of the oldest Methodist congregations in Walker County, located just two miles from Villanow. The first building was a small log structure, about 20 by 20 feet, which also doubled as a schoolhouse. In 1851, Rev. Henry Cosper deeded two acres to the trustees for a permanent site, and a two-story church and Masonic Hall was soon erected. During the Civil War, Confederate troops used the building as a headquarters, stacking rifles on the lower floor while sentinels kept watch outside.

Shortly after its founding, a large campground was laid out, and for decades annual camp meetings drew people from miles around. A massive open-air arbor of oak timbers, 60 by 90 feet, was the centerpiece, surrounded by rows of log “tents” built for families who camped on site. Visitors came with wagons, livestock, and provisions, and the meetings swelled to crowds of 1,500. Worship and fellowship filled the days, from fiery preaching to the scent of cabbage and bread cooking over open fires. Women prepared stacks of pies and bread, roasted coffee, and shared freely with neighbors and strangers alike.

These camp meetings continued until 1892, when, as Rosa recalled, “the devil had to get in his work.” Disorder and declining support ended the tradition. The two-story church was replaced in 1882 with a new building, remodeled in 1907.

Concord’s cemetery holds many of Walker County’s early settlers, their stories intertwined with the church’s proud past. While the camp meeting grounds have faded, the legacy of Concord lives on as a place of worship, memory, and heritage.