The sanctuary pictured above, built in 1870, is one of the oldest African American churches in rural Georgia. Designed in the Gothic Revival style, it is as remarkable for its architecture as for its history. It stands in Chubbtown, a community in southeastern Floyd County established in the early 1860s by the Chubb family, a free Black family who migrated there before the Civil War. On August 8, 1870, Henry Chubb and his brothers deeded one acre of land to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church for $200, and Chubb Chapel United Methodist Church was built. Today, it is the only surviving structure from the original town and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1990.

The Chubb family’s roots trace back to at least 1775. Isaac Chubb, born around 1797 in North Carolina, appeared in the 1830 census as a free Black man. By 1833, his first child was born in Georgia, and by the early 1860s, the family had settled in Floyd County. Isaac and his eight sons and two daughters—William, Henry, Anna, John, Thomas, Jane, Jacob, Isaac Jr., Nicholas, and George—built Chubbtown into a thriving, self-sufficient community.

During and after the Civil War, the Chubb brothers purchased land and established businesses that served both Black and white residents. Chubbtown boasted a post office, general store, blacksmith shop, grist mill, distillery, syrup mill, sawmill, wagon company, cotton gin, and casket factory. The 1870 census lists the brothers as blacksmiths, wagon makers, carpenters, sawmill operators, and farmers.

Though many descendants have moved across the United States, some Chubb family members still live in Chubbtown and nearby towns. Over the years, they have contributed to fields including ministry, education, law, medicine, business, and public service. Notably, NFL players Nick and Bradley Chubb are among the family’s modern descendants. Today, Chubb Chapel remains an active congregation, continuing the legacy of faith, resilience, and community that began nearly 150 years ago. The Chubb family’s story is a powerful chapter in Georgia’s history, and their stewardship of this historic treasure is an enduring gift to future generations.