In the decades after the American Revolution, a wave of religious fervor known as the Second Great Awakening swept across the young nation. In Georgia, it inspired the growth of Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations, as well as the creation of camp meeting grounds where worshippers gathered in large numbers. Mt. Moriah, established in 1828, is one of the best surviving examples of this tradition.

The story of Mt. Moriah begins with a British soldier named Camel who fought against his own son during the Revolution. After the war, the son changed his name to Pharaoh and became a traveling preacher. By the early 1800s, he had made his way to Jefferson County, where he preached in a one-room schoolhouse on land owned by William Parker. In 1824, Parker donated thirty acres for a permanent church. A simple building was erected in 1825, and by the following year, the congregation organized a campground. Early meetings were held under brush arbors until the first tabernacle was built in 1828. Tragedy struck the next year when fire destroyed the church, tabernacle, and tents. Members quickly rebuilt, but fire struck again in 1856, followed by a tornado in 1875. Each time, the community restored Mt. Moriah, a testament to their faith and determination.

The tabernacle, built in 185,6 still stands today, making it one of the oldest landmarks in Georgia still serving its original purpose. For nearly two centuries, Mt. Moriah has welcomed families, neighbors, and visitors to worship and fellowship on these sacred grounds. Mt. Moriah remains a living link to Georgia’s past, a reminder of the endurance of faith and community. Thanks to generations of stewardship, its story continues to be passed down, as strong today as it was in 1828.