The little town of Stapleton, once known as Spread Oak, found new life in 1885 when the Augusta, Gibson & Sandersville Railroad arrived. The town later took its name from Colonel James Stapleton, a respected community leader and member of the railroad’s Board of Directors. Cotton, timber, and the railroad fueled growth, and soon a school and a new church followed.

Spread Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on September 3, 1902, with Rev. J. N. Peacock as its first pastor. In 1917, the name was changed to Stapleton Methodist Episcopal Church. The wooden sanctuary, still standing today, is the original structure, though remodeled over time. In its earliest years, there were two doors: men entered on one side and women on the other. After years of service to the community, the church was closed and deconsecrated in 2017. In 2020, Stapleton Baptist Church purchased the property, giving it a new life as the Stapleton Care Pregnancy Center.

Across the street stands Stapleton Baptist Church, and together the two congregations share a historic cemetery. Among the early burials is George Lawson Stapleton, Sr., a Revolutionary War soldier who came to Georgia in 1784. His son, Major George Stapleton, Jr., fought under Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 and later served Jefferson County in the state legislature for more than three decades. James Stapleton, George Jr.’s son, followed in his father’s footsteps as both a legislator and a minister.

One of the most remarkable stories of the family comes from 1873, when Rev. George Stapleton, Jr., at age 78, rode 200 miles on horseback to plead for the life of Susan Eberhart, a young woman convicted of murder. Though unsuccessful, his compassion left a lasting mark on Georgia history. Today, the little sanctuary continues to stand as a reminder of the Stapleton family’s legacy and the community that grew around it.